FMCSA denies request for 18.5-hour on-duty period from environmental emergency response companies
FMCSA in its denial said there is no basis to allow drivers to drive after the 18th hour of coming on duty. The companies noted its drivers would not exceed eight hours of driving time during a shift, but FMCSA said it doesn’t believe limiting drivers …
More split-sleeper wishful thinking: Specialized carriers association backs sleeper splits up to 5 and 5
A look at the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association’s commentary on FMCSA’s hours of service proposal. It closely mirrors what I’ve heard from so many truckers who remember the split-sleeper-berth rules of days gone by. Namely, that’s somethin…
Machinery transport, repair group petitions for hours extension for short-haul drivers
Kentucky Equipment Distributors, which is made up of seven large machinery distributors operating in several states, is requesting that its short-haul drivers be allowed to return to their work-reporting location after 14 hours instead of 12 hours.
The underappreciated asset of off-duty hours
Gary Buchs on strategies toward effective task/goal definition and prioritization to be wise when it comes to hours: “For too many years, we’ve viewed time off as a liability. … No matter how a person calculates their hours of service, logically ther…
Fireworks haulers seek renewal of 14-hour rule relief
In their request, Illumination Fireworks Partners and Ace Pyro asked that drivers of its 60 commercial vehicles be allowed to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14 hours.
Stress relief the hours proposal stands to deliver
NASTC’s David Owen on the hours of service proposal: “What the unnecessary ELD mandate has required is a closer look at the HOS and relief from the odious stress and pressures created by the current rule. I feel if the ‘advocates’ were true advocates f…
Concrete pumpers get five-year extension of 30-minute break relief
The exemption allows all concrete pump operators, concrete pumping companies and drivers who operate concrete pumps in interstate commerce to count on-duty time while attending equipment but performing no other work-related functions toward their 30-mi…
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.
A dissenting voice on hours reforms: Owner-operators could be undercut by sliding rates
Be careful what you wish for on hours reforms, says broker Jeff Tucker, CEO of Tucker Company Worldwide, who predicts that the DOT’s hours of service proposal could tilt trucking’s supply-demand market forces and cause rates to tumble.
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.