Fuel for Thought

HOS

How many hours a day do you drive a CMV? How many would you prefer to drive? What are your thoughts on the 30 minute break? Where do you stand on the 8/2 split  for sleeper berth rule? Did you like the previous reset which had to contain 2 periods of 1am -5am, or do you prefer the current version? Or prefer something completely different for reset rules? Are you indifferent to the whole thing? Are you happy with the current Hours of Service regulations?

Regardless of how you answered any of the above questions, if you drive a CMV and are subject to Hours of Service regulations, you have a chance to voice your opinions where it counts. You may find social media as a good tool for venting your opposition to the current HOS regs, but if you really want to be heard, head on over to HOS Reform Proposal and leave your comments.

The Congressional letter that was sent to the FMCSA requesting HOS changes can be found HERE.

There is a lot of entities requesting greater flexibility in the hours of service. If you agree, follow the link and leave your comments. If you disagree, follow the link and leave your comments.

Did you know it was a driver who mentioned the need for a rest break to keep his carrier from running their drivers 11 straight hours? It helped lead to the 30 minute break we now have to take. Your opinions matter.

Are you aware of what regulation §395.3 still includes? In 2013 the rules were changed to require drivers to include 2 periods of 1am - 5am in their resets, it also included that a reset could be used no more than once every 168 hours (7 days). In 2015 these rules were suspended on the resets and reverted back to the 2003-2013 rules, which we currently use. Would you like to see the return of the 2013 rule? If yes, follow the link and voice your opinion to reinstate it. If no, follow the link and have your voice heard in opposition to it, maybe even suggest its removal rather than just the suspended state it is currently in.

Whatever your thoughts are about HOS, take a few minutes to add your comments.

Just a personal word of caution, consider the implications of your suggestions. Since the ELD mandate has kicked in, there is less “fudging” of a driver’s logs. That reduced amount of “flexibility” seems to have increased the value of the driver’s time. If you truly want more flexibility in your HOS, or if you prefer the rigidity of ELDs and the current HOS, both have unintended consequences and both have their positives and negatives. Weigh it carefully, it could be a long time before you have this opportunity again to help change an important factor in our industry.

 

You only have until September 24, 2018 to leave your comments.

https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=FMCSA-2018-0248-0160

 

Congressional letter to the FMCSA:

https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FMCSA-2018-0248-0002

 

See you down the road,

Greg