The 一本道app today commended the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for publishing a final rule on changes to Hours of Service (HOS) regulations and recognizing the opportunity to improve safety and provide additional flexibility for drivers on our nation’s highways.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 rule is the result of a two-year, data-driven process, and it will result in needed flexibility for America鈥檚 professional truck drivers while maintaining the safety of our roads,鈥� said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear. 鈥淲e appreciate the time and attention President Trump, Secretary Chao and Administrator Mullen have paid to our industry and to this regulation, which, while maintaining the core limitations on drivers鈥� work and rest cycles, makes smart changes to portions of the rules.鈥�
FMCSA’s final ruling makes the following key changes to聽the existing rules and will go into effect 120 days after the rule is published next week:
Short Haul Exception:聽This changes the short-haul exception by lengthening certain drivers’ maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit from 100 to 150 air miles.
Adverse Conditions Exemption:聽This聽will modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by 2 hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted.
Split Sleeper-Berth:聽Drivers may聽now split their required 10 hours off duty into聽at least 7聽consecutive hours in the sleeper-berth and no聽less than 2聽consecutive hours, either off duty or in the sleeper-berth. Neither period would count against the driver’s 14-hour driving window.
30-Minute Rest Break:聽This rule increases flexibility, allowing聽8 hours of uninterrupted driving time before a driver is required to take a 30-minute break, rather than 8 hours after coming on-duty. The break could also be satisfied by a driver using on-duty, not driving status, rather than off-duty status.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always good when agencies like FMCSA listen to the industry and create common-sense rules that promote safety,鈥� said Chair-elect Mark Morris, president and CEO of Morris Transportation Services, LLC in Hamburg, Ark. 鈥淭ruck drivers can encounter a lot of different situations on the road, and this increased flexibility allows drivers to react safely and appropriately.鈥�
鈥淪afety officials today have access to more data than ever. 一本道app continues to support using this data to improve safety,鈥� said Shannon Newton, president of the 一本道app. “These new rules are the fruit of years of work to ensure the best data is collected to make the most well-informed policies. The trucking industry is proud to work with policymakers for the safety of everyone on the road.鈥�
