New Hours of Service Rules Proposed

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued its long-awaited notice of proposed rule-making (NPRM) to replace the current Hours-of-Service (HOS) standards that regulate when a heavy-duty truck can be in operation. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register Aug. 14 and will be available for public comment for the next 45 days.

The proposed rule would expand the short haul radius from 100 to 150 air miles, expand the short haul duty period from 12 to 14 hours and modifies the current 30-minute rest break to help provide drivers with more flexibility in their daily schedules.

“We are pleased to see FMCSA listen and work with relevant stakeholders involved in short and long-haul trucking regarding the need to update the current HOS standards that will improve highway safety for all users, establish continuity of HOS policies across various industries that use heavy-duty trucks and help law enforcement, and regulated industries, better follow and adhere to FMCSA’s operating regulations,” said National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) President and CEO Michael W. Johnson. “The aggregates industry is extremely diverse – where it is not uncommon for NSSGA members to haul various materials with an assortment of different trucks, all of which impact the HOS standards drivers must follow – yet the current HOS standards have created confusion and inefficiency for truck operators. The new proposed rule helps NSSGA members and their trucking partners.”    

NSSGA has worked with FMCSA and members of Congress and their staff regarding the need for improved HOS standards and consistency across the trucking spectrum. 

NSSGA has led an industry coalition requesting that FMCSA create clearer and broader HOS exemptions for the construction industry. This exemption would reduce the time trucks would operate at a construction site and expedite road and highway construction work zones, minimizing worker construction worker exposure at work sites, and improve safety for the motoring public.

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