The FMCSA is expecting this notice to be published in the Federal Register in the coming week. Below are the four changes to the HOS:
Short-Haul Operations
Extends drivers’ maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours; Extends the air-mile radius within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles.
Adverse Driving Conditions
Modifies the adverse driving conditions exception by extending, by 2 hours, the maximum on-duty window during which driving is permitted.
30-Minute Break
Requires a 30-minute break after 8 consecutive hours of driver time have elapsed; Allows a break to be taken in an on-duty, not-driving status.
Sleeper Berth Exception
Allows drivers to split their required 10 hours off duty into two periods: an 8 and 2 split or a 7 and 3 split, either off duty on in the sleeper berth; Neither period counts against the driver’s 14-hour driving window.
The proposed split-duty day was not among the changes announced today.
The Final Rule will take effect 120 days from the publication in the Federal Register - which should be sometime next week.
