Comment period for proposed hours changes closes Monday
Changes in the notice of proposed rulemaking include allowing drivers to pause their 14-hour on-duty clock for up to three hours and extending split sleeper berth options for drivers.
Tanker organization wants FMCSA to allow pulsating brake lights on all tanker trailers
National Tank Truck Carriers wants the Groendyke exemption to apply to all tanker trailers, while also giving the option for a red pulsating light instead of just amber. NTTC’s request also asks that FMCSA allow the pulsating light to be installed in e…
FMCSA grants HOS relief to truckers hauling food, water for firefighters responding to disasters
The drivers can extend their on-duty time from 14 hours to 16 hours, while still driving a maximum of 11 hours in a day. They can also use on-duty, not-driving time to satisfy the 30-minute break requirement under the terms of the exemption.
FMCSA officially adopts rules requiring background checks for hazmat CDL endorsement
The finalization of these interim final rules has no bearing on current drivers or carriers, as the rules have been in place since 2003 and 2005, respectively. The rules require drivers to undergo a TSA background check or hold a TWIC in order to recei…
Drivers, carriers offer mixed reactions to proposed hours changes
Many comments already submitted agree with the proposed changes, while others think it will allow carriers to extend drivers’ working day by three hours. Other commenters mostly agree with the changes but would prefer more flexibility with the 30-minut…
Comment period for proposed hours of service overhaul extended through Oct. 21
FMCSA announced in a Federal Register notice to be published Thursday, Sept. 19, it has extended the comment period from Oct. 7 to Oct. 21. The 14-day extension effectively gives the hours proposal a 60-day comment period from the time it was published…
Trucking rap sheet: Another guilty plea stemming from disabling emissions control devices, CDL schemes, more
Action in five trucking-related crimes – including Clean Air Act violations, CDL testing schemes, defrauding FMCSA and a reincarnated carrier – has recently been reported by the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.
34-hour restart regs rebuffed by Congress in 2014 officially nixed from rulebook
The regulations, which have not been enforced since December 2014, limited truck drivers to one restart per week and required the restart to include two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods. Those regulations were suspended by Congress in December 2014, though the…
Part of drug/alcohol database rule could be delayed; bulk of rule still slated to take effect in January
The proposal would delay the compliance date for states from Jan. 6, 2020. The January 2020 compliance date would still remain in place for all other requirements of the Clearinghouse rule, including the requirement fleets query the database for all ne…
Don’t get fooled by DOT biennial update scams, Wisconsin DOT warns
WisDOT says companies and websites that want drivers to pay are not associated with the U.S. DOT or WisDOT. Filing can be done for free on government websites.