Teamsters Win Key Victories with Passing of Highway Bill

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2005; The Teamsters Union won significant victories with the passing of the Highway Bill by Congress late last week, making important gains in highway safety policy and preventing changes to the current Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. With the passing of the bill without the HOS provision that called for an extension of on-duty time from 14 hours to 16 hours, the safety for everyone who uses the nation's highways will be protected. The Teamsters were able to defeat the push for this change by companies like Wal-Mart that continue their quest to overwork and underpay the workers of America.

"This bill provides more work for our members in the construction trades while providing greater safety to those members who use our highways every day as their workplace," said Jim Hoffa, General President of the Teamsters Union.

The Teamsters worked to secure several provisions that were included in the final version of the highway bill that will improve safety and industry conditions for all truck drivers.

These provisions include:

* Department of Transportation implementation of inspection and maintenance regulations for inter-modal chassis to ensure that they meet all federal motor carrier safety standards;

* Drivers with insulin-treated diabetes will be allowed to drive in interstate commerce and not denied this right due to intrastate driving requirements;

* Requires Mexican and Canadian drivers who haul hazardous materials undergo similar criminal background checks as their American counterparts;

* Members of the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way (BMWE) are now included in the definition of hazmat employees and will be able to receive hazmat training under this bill;

* Allows for a Toll Collector Workplace Safety Study to examine the effects of injuries suffered due to exposure to speeding vehicles, diesel fumes, noise and other workplace hazards.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents more than 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States and Canada.