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Proposed changes to the federal hours-of-service rule are unwarranted and would harm small businesses nationwide, a trucking executive told a Congressional panel Tuesday.

“These changes, if finalized . . . would restrict productivity and would result in greater congestion and increased emissions,” said James Burg, president of Warren, Mich.-based James Burg Trucking Co. and a member of American Trucking Associations’ board of directors.

Burg said that if the hours-of-service rule changes proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration were to take effect, his 75-truck fleet would need to “add additional trucks and drivers — and their corresponding expenses — simply to counter the loss in productivity.”

He testified Tuesday before the House Small House Small Business Committee’s subcommittee on investigations, oversight and regulations. (PDF)

“By estimates, we would need to increase our retained earnings by between 20% and 25% just to maintain our current level of financial stability,” said Burg, who added that productivity losses would also “likely be felt by small business shippers, manufacturers and retailers in the form of increased costs.”

ATA has repeatedly said that the current rules are working and should be retained rather than changed based on political pressure.