Hours-of-service rule for truckers goes into full effect

Washington – The remaining two provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2011 final rule on hours of service went into effect July 1.

One provision allows a driver to “restart” his or her weekly driving hours – after 34 consecutive hours of rest – only once during a seven-day period. It also states that a driver’s 34 hours of rest must include two periods between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The second provision requires drivers to take one 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift.

In July 2012, the Arlington, VA-based American Trucking Associations filed an opening brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, stating the provisions would provide minimal safety benefits. In February, FMCSA denied a request from ATA to extend the rule’s compliance date while the court made its ruling.

At press time, the court had not yet announced its decision.