The proposed amendments to the hours-of-service provisions are feared because they could potentially shorten hauls, require more drivers, lead to a shortage or perhaps worse, make it easier to put less qualified drivers on the road. Not to mention the lack of overnight parking, congestion and delays in delivering goods particularly to rural areas. But what no one has mentioned, until now, is the impact on cross-border drivers. André Perret, who runs The Road-Scholar, a Hamilton-based fleet loss-prevention, safety and compliance services firm, says the required starts and stops will disrupt Continue Reading

Lobbying groups, trucking companies, shippers and others have signed on to challenge the latest hours-of-service rules as proposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The potential changes are open to public comment through the end of February en route to final approval. But the American Trucking Associations and others are asking for a hearing before Congress to discuss what they fear would be a negative impact on the economy if passed. “If implemented, the regulations would have a substantial, negative impact on productivity and the economy,” the letter said, adding that carriers “would need to put additional trucks and drivers on the road to deliver the same amount of freight, adding to final Continue Reading

After opening its latest proposal of Hours of Service (HOS) rules for public comment, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been flooded with feedback. And a sampling of 1,000 of those by Fleet Owner magazine consistently shows that drivers and industry stakeholders aren’t happy. In the FMCSA’s latest proposal, the 34-hour “restart” provision remains, but now mandates two consecutive off-duty periods taken from midnight to 6 a.m. that can only be used once during a seven-day period. Additionally, the proposal would require drivers “to complete all driving within a Continue Reading

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has issued a white paper in favor of retaining the current hours-of-service (HOS) rules, with the exception of greater flexibility in the sleeper-berth rule. For drivers hauling freight, this means that they must take at least eight consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus a separate two consecutive hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two. Up for review is a revised provision that will likely amend the current HOS rules for commercial drivers. In its defense, the ATA cites improved safety under the current HOS rules enacted Continue Reading

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration took one step closer to getting its new hours-of-service proposals enacted. The new HOS proposal was sent to the Transportation Secretary’s office late last month. New rules are typically sent there for review before being sent to White House Office of Management and Budget for a final assessment. According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), the proposal Continue Reading

A recently proposed Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) policy favored eliminating a number of documents provided similar records were maintained by qualified electronic mobile communications/tracking technology. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has yet to decide whether this change is sufficient. The FMCSA has Continue Reading

A new regulatory guidance and policy from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) helps ease the burden of keeping track of numerous supporting documents to verify driver logs, so long as those carriers use electronic mobile communications and tracking technology. The guidance clarified that certain documentation, like trip permits, driver call-in records and cash advance receipts, once required by a 1997 rule, are no longer Continue Reading

Many carriers support the use of electric on-board recorders (EOBR), especially if it helps weed out competitors who may cheat a little on their records. But one Canadian trucking association says some concessions on the log book are warranted. The Owner-Operators Business Association of Canada is advocating some provisions, such as the “close to home” rule, which would allow drivers to make Continue Reading

With oil from a massive explosion and fire on a rig in the Gulf of Mexico threatening the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is granting a reprieve in the Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules. For now, these exemptions will extend through May 30 at 11:59 P.M. ET and apply to carriers Continue Reading

Challenged by several interest groups, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been conducting listening sessions across the country to gather feedback on the current hours-of-service (HOS) rules. At issue is the sleeper berth provision, and drivers contend they need more flexibility to listen to their bodies’ clocks, which don’t always coincide with the rules. The current HOS rules, which took effect Continue Reading