May 16, 2012

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV, Chair The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ranking Member Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Barbara Boxer, Chair The Honorable James Inhofe, Ranking Member Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable John L. Mica, Chair The Honorable Nick J. Rahall II, Ranking Member Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senators Rockefeller, Hutchison, Boxer and Inhofe and Representatives Mica and Rahall: On behalf of the organizations listed below, we are writing to ask that exemptions from Federal motor carrier safety regulations be excluded from the final transportation authorization conference report. Section 31315 of Title 49 of the US Code provides a process for those seeking exemptions from Federal safety regulations. This process ensures that exemptions are given based on need and merit, and that exemptions are given only to those who can demonstrate an equal level of safety will be maintained. This requirement is a critical distinction from the various exemptions from Federal safety regulations, such as hours of service and vehicle maintenance requirements, found in language being discussed as part of the House and Senate Conference on H.R.4348. Any and all exemptions from Federal safety regulations should be reviewed and issued through this process. Safety is not unique to certain types of commercial motor vehicles or carriers or cargo. If the same types of vehicles are being operated on the same roadways, the same set of rules should apply.

Simply put, exemptions from Federal motor carrier safety regulations can compromise safety, erode uniformity and weaken enforcement efforts. The undersigned organizations strongly encourage Conferees to remove any such exemptions from the final bill developed by the Conference Committee. Sincerely,

Jacqueline S. Gillan, President Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

Joan Claybrook, Chair Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH)

Stephen A. Keppler, Executive Director Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance

Daphne Izer, Founder Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.)

Steve Owings, Founder Road Safe America

Jennifer Tierney, Volunteer Director Survivors Network, Truck Safety Coalition

Andrew McGuire, Executive Director Trauma Foundation

John Lannen, Executive Director Truck Safety Coalition

Roy Crawford, Administrator Underride Network