FMCSA Set To Propose Important Hours-Of-Service Regulation Reforms

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced recently that it intends to propose a rule that would change federal hours of service (HOS) regulations for CDL drivers.

This is important news for petroleum marketers because PMAA is working closely with FMCSA administrator and his staff on regulatory reforms that are important to the industry. Specifically, PMAA asked for an extension of the mileage limitation in the short-haul driver exception to recording daily HOS from the current 100-air-mile radius to a 150-air-mile radius. PMAA also asked that the 12-hour daily maximum on-duty period for drivers operating under the short-haul exception be increased to 14 hours. These two reforms would give petroleum marketers more flexibility in scheduling, virtually eliminate electronic HOS recording requirements for petroleum marketing drivers, and permit transport drivers to travel to more distant terminals while staying in compliance with the short-haul exception. PMAA also asked FMCSA to allow wait time at terminals to be counted as off-duty time.

FMCSA filed the proposed rulemaking with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final approval. Once the OMB approves the FMCSA's proposed rule, it will be published in the Federal Register and opened to a 30- to 60-day public notice and comment period. A final rule will be based on the public comments submitted.