Law & Order

Federal Government Proposes More Flexibility for Commercial Drivers’ Hours of Service

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a proposed rule to give truck drivers additional flexibility when calculating hours-of-service. 

Hours-of-service are tracked by electronic-logging devices to ensure that long-haul truckers don't drive for more than 11 hours a day, that they work a maximum of 14 hours a day and that they take a 30-minute break by their eighth hour of coming on duty. The FMCSA proposal would give truckers the option of using their 30-minute break when they are technically on-duty but not driving (i.e., waiting for a shipment at a warehouse).

Among several other changes, the maximum on-duty period for short-haul truckers would also be extended to 14 hours from 12 and the distance limit to 150 miles from 100. Click here for more information.   

Questions? Contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.