With safety being a high priority the United States Department of Transportation has imposed some new regulations. The new regulations referred to as hours of service are to improve safety and reduce driver fatigue. This went into effect on 07- 01-13. This rule has had some updates.
- Limits the maximum average workweek to 70 hour
- Allows a truck driver 70 hours of driving within a week if they have had 34 consecutive hours of rest (reset) including two shifts off between the hours of 1:00 AM to 5:00 AM
- DOT requires that a driver may not drive if more than 8 hours have passed since the driver's last off duty period of at least 30 minute
- Off duty time (during a break or meal) does not extend the 14-hour workday
Just some highlights on new safety regulations that Commercial Drivers License (CDL) operators need to be aware of, the actual document can be found here: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov
Hours of Service Final Rule for Truck Drivers
The Hours of Service of Drivers Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2011. The effective date of the Final Rule was February 27, 2012, and the compliance date of remaining provisions was July 1, 2013.
NOTICE: The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 was enacted on December 16, 2014, suspending enforcement of requirements for use of the 34-hour restart, pending a study. Based on the findings from the 34-hour restart rule in operational effect on June 30, 2013, is restored to full force and effect. The requirement for two off-duty periods of 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. in section 395.3(c) of the Agency’s hours-of-service rules will not be enforced, nor will the once-per-week limit on use of the restart in 395.3(d).
