FMCSA’s Proposed HOS Changes Moved Back to July 31st

FMCSA’s Proposed HOS Changes Moved Back to July 31st

Long-anticipated rule changes originally expected to be published June 7.

July 31 is the new target for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) to publicly unveil changes to the proposed Hours of Service (HOS) rule. The changes were originally expected to be released on June 7, 2019.

A FMCSA spokesperson was quoted in a statement, “FMCSA’s proposed rule on changes to the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations continues to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The timelines in the Department’s regulatory updates serve as goals for the Agency and are reflective of FMCSA’s plan to move quickly during this rulemaking process. The Agency is hopeful the rule will be published soon.”

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been under OMB review since March 2019. The Department of Transportation (DOT) report noted that the public comment period will now go on until September 16th.

In the FMCSA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, released in August 2018, four questions were asked so they could better define what trucking industry stakeholders thought. The DOT received over 5,200 responses which are being considered in the next proposal. The questions that were asked were:

  • Should the agency expand the current 100 air-mile “short-haul” exemption from 12 hours on duty to 14 hours on duty, to be consistent with the workday rules for long-haul truck drivers?

  • Is there adequate flexibility in the adverse driving exception that currently expands driving time by up to two hours?

  • If the 30-minute rest break after eight hours of driving did not exist, would drivers obtain adequate rest breaks throughout a daily driving period to relieve fatigue?

  • Do you have information that would support reinstating the option for splitting up the required 10-hour off-duty rest break for drivers operating trucks with sleeper-berth compartments?

Have questions about HOS or the ELD mandate? Try visiting our ELD HOS compliance page, which features over 20 commonly asked questions about the rulings. You can also check to make sure you’re compliant and get recommendations by taking our free, online ELD assessment.