Hours of Service for Haulers
Hours of Service for Haulers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering changes to its hours-of-service rules for commercial truck drivers.
Of specific concern is how those rules apply to livestock haulers transporting animals that are vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
Steve Hilker with the U.S. Cattlemen's Associations Transportation Committee says part of the problem haulers face is the current system does not take into consideration the unique needs of livestock cargo vs cargo that can stay on a trailer for days at a time.
The American Farm Bureau Federation said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's proposals recognize the difficulties inherent in moving both farm commodities and livestock.
National Cattlemen's Beef Association also says they are grateful for FMCSA's willingness to consider options for flexibility in the rules.
The four specific areas under consideration for revision are:
• Expanding the current 100 air-mile "short-haul" exemption from 12 hours on-duty to 14 hours on-duty, in order to be consistent with the rules for long-haul truck drivers.
• Extending the current 14-hour on-duty limitation by up to two hours when a truck driver encounters adverse driving conditions.
• Revising the current mandatory 30-minute break for truck drivers after 8 hours of continuous driving.
• Reinstating the option for splitting up the required 10-hour off-duty rest break for drivers operating trucks that are equipped with a sleeper-berth compartment.
More information is available at: www.fmcsa.dot.gov .
