Truckers Group Sues Minnesota State Patrol Over Fatigue Rule

A truck drivers group is suing the Minnesota State Patrol.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is challenging how the Patrol enforces rules against driving while fatigued. It says the Patrol arbitrarily declares truckers fatigued, takes them out of service and sometimes fines them.

The lawsuit says drivers are denied their rights to a hearing, and that the regulation fails to define fatigue or set a standard under which a trucker would know when to stop driving. It seeks an injunction against the enforcement procedures as well as monetary damages.

The association has nearly 160,000 members. It’s headquartered in the Kansas City, Mo., area.

Andy Skoogman, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, says the state agency is reviewing the lawsuit with its attorneys and trying to determine its next steps.

On the Net: Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association: www.ooida.com