FMCSA to host public listening sessions on proposed amendments to trucker HOS regs

UPDATE: The second public listening session is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 17, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced in the Aug. 31 Federal Register.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will conduct two public listening sessions about a recently announced proposed rule the agency claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.

According to a notice published in the Aug. 20 Federal Register, the meetings are set to take place:

• Aug. 23 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.
• In September at the Department of Transportation Media Center in Washington; FMCSA will announce a date in a subsequent Federal Register notice.

Livestreams of each meeting will be available via webcast. Meetings are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. local time and last no longer than two hours, the notice states.

FMCSA announced the proposal in an Aug. 14 press release. Among the suggested revisions:

• Expanding the current 100-air mile short haul exemption to 14 hours on duty from 12 hours on duty, to be consistent with rules for long-haul truck drivers.
• Extending the current 14-hour on-duty limitation by up to two hours when a truck driver encounters adverse driving conditions.
• Revising the current mandatory 30-minute break for truck drivers after eight hours of continuous driving.
• Reinstating the option for splitting up the required 10-hour off-duty rest break for drivers operating trucks equipped with sleeper berth compartments.
• Allowing covered commercial motor vehicles one rest break – for up to three consecutive hours – during every 14-hour on-duty period.
• Allowing covered CMV operators to use multiple off-duty periods of at least three hours in place of taking 10 consecutive hours off duty.

Comments will be due 45 days after the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, set for Aug. 22 at press time.