Hours of Service Rule Change Proposal

FMCSA published on Wednesday, August 14, the Hours of Service Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The FMCSA is accepting public comment on the proposed HOS changes now.

October 4, 2019 | Trucker

By: Cliff J.

I bring over 30 years of trucking industry experience to Acuity. I worked my way up from driving to managing the safety operations of a transportation company, culminating in owning and managing my own regional trucking company. My main goal at Acuity is to help you, the motor carrier, the owner/operator and the driver better understand the insurance industry and help shape Acuity’s products and services to better meet your needs. I regularly provide ongoing trucking training to Acuity employees to help them understand the unique needs of those in the trucking/transportation industry. With over 30 years in the transportation sector, as both a company driver and as owner and manager of a trucking company, I have first-hand experience that helps me understand the challenges truckers’ face, and detailed knowledge of transportation regulations. My experience coupled with a background in insurance loss control can help answer and provide solutions to any issues that may arise.

FMCSA published on Wednesday, August 14, the Hours of Service Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). The FMCSA is accepting public comment on the proposed HOS changes now.

The Agency proposes to increase safety and flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by tying the break requirement to 8 hours of driving time without an interruption for at least 30 minutes and allowing the break to be satisfied by a driver using on-duty, not driving status.
The Agency proposes to modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10-hour off-duty period into one period of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and another period of not less than 2 consecutive hours, either off-duty or in the sleeper berth. Neither period would count against the driver’s 14‑hour driving window.
The Agency proposes to allow one off-duty break of at least 30 minutes, but not more than 3 hours, that would pause a truck driver’s 14-hour driving window, provided the driver takes 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of the work shift.
The Agency proposes to modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by 2 hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted.
The Agency proposes a change to the short-haul exception available to certain commercial drivers by lengthening the drivers’ maximum on‑duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles.