Commercial Drivers proposed hours of service rule

Hours of Service proposed rule Summary

This is just the summary of the proposed rule. Use the information below to contact FMCSA with your comments.

"To promote safety and to protect driver health, FMCSA proposes 
to revise the regulations for hours of service for drivers of property-
carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). To achieve these goals, the 
proposed rule would provide flexibility for drivers to take breaks when 
needed and would reduce safety and health risks associated with long 
hours. The proposed rule would make seven changes from current 
requirements. First, the proposed rule would limit drivers to either 10 
or 11 hours of driving time following a period of at least 10 
consecutive hours off duty; on the basis of all relevant 
considerations, FMCSA currently favors a 10-hour limit, but its 
ultimate decision will include a careful consideration of comments and 
any additional data received. Second, it would limit the standard 
``driving window'' to 14 hours, while allowing that number to be 
extended to 16 hours twice a week. Third, actual duty time within the 
driving window would be limited to 13 hours. Fourth, drivers would be 
permitted to drive only if 7 hours or less have passed since their last 
off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes. Fifth, the 34-
hour restart would be retained, subject to certain limits: The restart 
would have to include two periods between midnight and 6 a.m. and could 
be started no sooner than 168 hours (7 days) after the beginning of the 
previously designated restart. Sixth, the definition of ``on duty'' 
would be revised to allow some time spent in or on the CMV to be logged 
as off duty. Seventh, the oilfield operations exception would be 
revised to clarify the language on waiting time and to state that 
waiting time would not be included in the calculation of the driving 
window."

DATES: You may submit comments by February 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number FMCSA- 2004-19608 or RIN 2126-AB26,
 by any of the following methods:
 Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, Driver and 
Carrier Operations Division, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-4325.