In regards to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Docket Number 2018-0248, ReMA recently filed comments in five specific areas in which the agency is considering changes:
- Change the short-haul exception available to certain commercial drivers by lengthening the drivers’ maximum on‑duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air-miles to 150 air-miles.
- Modify the adverse driving conditions exception, adding two hours to the maximum window during which driving is permitted.
- Increase flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by tying the break requirement to 8 hours of driving time without an interruption for at least 30 minutes and allowing the break to be satisfied by a driver using on duty, not driving status, rather than off duty.
- Modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10-hours off duty into two periods: one period of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and the other period of not less than 2 consecutive hours, either off duty or in the sleeper berth. Neither period would count against the driver’s 14‑hour driving window.
- The Agency proposes to allow one off-duty break of at least 30 minutes, but not more than 3 hours, that would pause a truck driver’s 14-hour on-duty window, provided the driver takes 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of the work shift.
This information is also posted on the
ISRI Transportation webpage. If you have any questions, please contact ISRI’s Transportation Safety Director,
Commodor Hall.