Truckers will have chance to speak out on HOS proposal at GATS

Truck drivers’ first opportunity to offer direct feedback to the FMCSA about its notice of proposed rulemaking on hours-of-service reform is only days away.

FMCSA scheduled a public listening session concerning potential changes to its hours-of-service rules for 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23 at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.

Last week, the agency announced its plan, which promises to provide truck drivers increased flexibility within the hours-of-service regulations. The notice of proposed rulemaking is expected to publish in the Federal Register soon, and then there will be a 45-day public comment period. Once that happens, comments may be submitted to the Regulations.gov website by using docket number FMCSA-2018-0248.

The notice proposed five changes to the hours of service.

• The limits for short-haul operations would increase from 12 to 14 hours and from 100 air miles to 150.
  
• The adverse driving provision would allow a driver up to a 16-hour window within which to complete up to 13 hours of driving if the driver encounters adverse conditions.
  
• The 30-minute break requirement would be modified, prohibiting driving for more than eight consecutive hours without at least one 30-minute change in duty status. This would allow 30 minutes of on-duty, not driving time, off-duty time, or sleeper-berth time to qualify as a break.”
  
• In addition to splits of 10/0 and 8/2, drivers would be allowed a split-sleeper option of 7/3.
  
• Drivers would have the option of stopping the clock a minimum of 30 minutes and up to three hours consecutively once per duty period.
  

In addition to the event in Dallas, FMCSA plans to have another listening session sometime in December in Washington, D.C. Both listening sessions will provide an opportunity for the public “to present comments, views and relevant research.”

All of the comments will be transcribed and placed in the rulemaking docket for the FMCSA’s consideration. The sessions also will be webcast to allow interested parties to participate remotely.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association encourages truck drivers to provide feedback on the proposal.

“The agency needs to justify the changes that they make and we are especially pleased that they are reaching out to the real experts – the people who face these situations every day,” OOIDA President Todd Spencer wrote. “Your feedback is instrumental … What would work best and why? You guys are the experts, and show that you are in your comments to the agency.”