HOS Changes Announced By FMCSA

HOS Revisions Timeline

According to a recent report from the Department of Transportation, the general public is set to get their first look at the proposed HOS (hours-of-service) changes on June 7.  The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is planning to move quickly on the HOS revisions according to the report.  This announcement comes just 1 month after the Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, announced at the Mid-America Trucking Show that her department sent an NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rule Making) to the White House.  Upon the proposed changes being published on June 7, there will be a 49-day period where the public may comment on the changes that is set to conclude on July 26.

However, the June 7 publish date is not set in stone.  The publish date of the proposed rules is contingent upon how fast they clear the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).  According to the FMCSA Administrator, Ray Martinez, the FMCSA has kept their foot on the gas with the rule to make sure it does not hang in limbo with the OMB.

Regulations Addressed

While a rough timeline on presenting the HOS regulation changes was recently presented to the public, detail of the proposed changes have not been published.  However, the proposed changes to the current HOS regulations come on the heels of a petition from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association addressing the need for change to the following regulations:

  • The 100 air-mile “short-haul” exemption currently at 12 hours on duty
  • The 14 hour on-duty limitation (hindering for trucks encountering adverse driving conditions)
  • The mandatory 30-minute break for drivers after 8 hours of driving
  • Bringing back the option for breaking up the mandatory 10-hour off-duty rest break for drivers in trucks equipped with sleeper-berth compartments

In conclusion, the details of the changes to the current HOS regulations are expected to address increased flexibility for drivers.

BM2 Freight Services, Inc.

Phone: (859) 308-5100

Email: Sales@BM2Freight.com

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