Hours Of Service Changes

The FMCSA has posted their proposed changes to the hours of service today. It doesn't change the 11, 14, or 70, but does add in some increased flexibility. I will go over it a few more times to make sure I fully understand it before I start teaching my students, but this is what it did:

Split Sleeper:

We will be able to do an 8/2 or 7/3 split and both sections will stop your 14 hour clock.

Currently we can only do an 8/2 split and the two hours still counts against your 14.

Pausing your 14:

We will be able to pause our 14 hour clock once a day with a break of at least 30 minutes off duty, but no more than three hours off duty. You will have to take a full ten hour break though at the end of your shift.

This may need some clarification though. If I do a split sleeper does that mean I will have to do a full break before I can use the split sleeper option again?

30 min break:

The 30 min break will still be required within eight hours of driving, but can be on duty, not driving or off duty.

Thoughts?

FMCSA will have it open for comments for the next 45 days.

https://www.ttnews.com/articles/fmcsa-unveils-hos

As it is now the 30 is required within 8hrs of going on duty regardless of when you start actually driving. I like the proposed change to make it required within the first 8hrs of actual drivetime.

I'm all for it. Much needed flexibility. However I wouldn't get too excited because I doubt it would actually go into effect before 2021 and that's being optimistic imho.

I think the increased flexibility is definitely a good thing.

As it is now the 30 is required within 8hrs of going on duty regardless of when you start actually driving. I like the proposed change to make it required within the first 8hrs of actual drivetime.

I'm all for it. Much needed flexibility. However I wouldn't get too excited because I doubt it would actually go into effect before 2021 and that's being optimistic imho.

Wow, now I’m confussed. Last week Ray Martinez was on Dave Nemo’s morning show saying it was being put off again stating they were not ready due to the gov’t shutdown at the end of last year. He also said in the same interview whatever did get enacted would not likely go into effect for 18 months.

He was on there again this morning. It is a proposal, so after the comment period, it goes back to get rehashed again.

If we're lucky, it will be implemented early in 2020.

Not holding my breath.

Expect everyone fueling to take 30 minutes.

Expect everyone fueling to take 30 minutes.

There you go, Matt.

If you had heard or read the transcript, it was explained that the new, proposed rule will allow the 30 minute rest break to be taken in any combination of On Duty, Off Duty, or Sleeper Berth.

Me personally, I think it's a big nothing burger. With all the B.S. that's been going around with this, I think they could have come up with something better.

I wish they would do something about the time it takes away from when fueling it should stop our clock. And anything over 3 hours our clock should stop at a shipper or receiver. But we also have to follow the FMCSA. It would just be more beneficial for the driver. I know some will say it has always been this way. It's just mop.

Raptor

I think a huge part of the problem is that their hands are being tied by all these non trucking safety groups that have no clue what it's like to drive a truck.