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May 25, 2020

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Modifies Carrier Rules

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it has issued a final rule updating its Hours of Service (HOS) rules and existing regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Click here to read the final rule, which:

  • Increases safety and flexibility for the 30-minute break rule;
  • Modifies the sleeper-berth exception;
  • Modifies the adverse driving conditions exception; and
  • Changes the short-haul exception.

The new rule will go into effect in the middle of August 2020. The updates will maintain or improve current safety standards while unlocking new flexibility and reducing the burden of the driver shortages.

The FMCSA also recently extended its emergency declaration that waives HOS regulations for truck drivers moving essential supplies for direct assistance to COVID-19 response. The most recent declaration, available here, extends the exemption through June 14, 2020. FMCSA has provided additional coronavirus information here, including Frequently Asked Questions regarding the emergency declaration.

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