The head of U.S. Department of Transportation Elaine Chao made a major announcement about upcoming changes to Hours of Service regulations.

During a keynote speech delivered at the Mid-American Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday, March 29, the U.S. Transportation Secretary confirmed that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is moving forward with changes to the Hours of Service regulations that truck drivers must follow.

In its ANPRM (advance notice of proposed rulemaking), the agency sought answers from stakeholders in four general areas:

  • Should the agency expand the current 100 air-mile “shorthaul” exemption from 12 hours on-duty to 14 hours on-duty, to be consistent with the workday rules for longhaul truck drivers?
  • Is there adequate flexibility in the adverse driving exception that currently expands driving time by up to two hours?
  • If the 30-minute rest break after eight hours of driving did not exist, would drivers obtain adequate rest breaks throughout a daily driving period to relieve fatigue?
  • Do you have information that would support reinstating the option for splitting up the required 10-hour off-duty rest break for drivers operating trucks with sleeper-berth compartments?

FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez set the hours of service overhaul in motion at MATS last year. In August, Martinez announced the agency was eyeing hours of service regulations and urged truckers and other industry stakeholders to file comments to the agency’s hours of service pre-rule, also known as an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking.

The ANPRM garnered more than 5,200 comments by the time the comment period closed Oct. 10. The agency also hosted five listening sessions nationwide to gather industry feedback.

During remarks at American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition on Oct. 28, FMCSA Chief Counsel Jim Mullen said that the majority of respondents recommended eliminating the 30-minute rest break. Mullen noted many drivers claimed they don’t mind taking 30-minute breaks but would rather not be told when to take them.

Commenters also responded in favor of allowing drivers to divide their rest time in a sleeper berth instead of resting for 10 hours straight. The top vote among responders was for dividing rest hours into a 5/5 split.

The responses reflected a strong desire to extend the 100 air-mile “shorthaul” exemption to 150 air-miles, according to Mullen.

Respondents also supported adding two hours of driving time in the case of adverse conditions. Mullen said the agency also has decided to reassess what constitutes adverse conditions.

OMB (The Office of Management and Budget)  now will review the proposal, which may take months. After the review, FMCSA will publish the NPRM and seek further public comment on possible rule changes.

According to the FMCSA, “While this proposed rule is still under review, FMCSA is working to increase flexibility for drivers, while maintaining the highest level of safety for commercial drivers and all American motorists.”