The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is moving forward with the review of rules on truckers’ driving time. The FMCSA raised the limit from 10 hours to 11 hours per day in 2003. The trucking industry and shipper organizations supported the increased drive time, but it was opposed by safety groups.
In an effort to head off litigation, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is committed to reviewing the hours-of-service rules. The FMCSA has invited the public to participate in a series of 4 listening sessions in January 2010 to gather information and comments on hours-of-service for commercial vehicle drivers. The hearings will cover topics such as driver rest and on-duty time, sleeper berth use, and loading and unloading times. Hours-of-service requirements are designed to help prevent commercial vehicle-related accidents, fatalities and injuries by prescribing duty hours and rest periods for commercial drivers.
More information on the hearings is available here.
Richard J. Arsenault, 2011
