Those that drive heavy commercial vehicles now have a chance to have their say on one of the most critical pieces of legislation in their daily lives. Hours of Service. The FMCSA is inviting the public to its second listening session on Hours of Service reform. They are seeking your input, and now is the time to have your say.

If you have something to say, or want to learn more about Hours of Service Reform mark this date and time on your calender right now.

It going to be held on September 14, 2018, at 1 – 3 pm at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, D.C. you can also watch the live-stream at ListeningSession@dot.gov.

Here is a partial list of questions the FMCSA is seeking answers on:

1. Short-haul operations.

• Do you have any data to show that extending the 12-hour period for the short-haul exception to the records of duty status/ELD requirements to 14 hours would change the safety performance of carriers using the short-haul provision?
• How specifically would a 14-hour period change your driver or carrier operations as compared to 12 hours?
• What would the incremental change be for your operations/business if the exemption was changed to 14 hours? For example, would your operations expand or would your drivers/carriers move from non-exempt status to exempt status. What would be the economic impacts of that incremental change?

2. Adverse driving conditions.

• Is there adequate flexibility in the existing adverse driving conditions exception?
• How often do you currently utilize the adverse driving conditions exception?
• What are the economic impacts of the current exception on your driver or carrier operation?
• Should the definition of adverse driving conditions be changed?
• Should the adverse driving exception apply to the 14-hour workday window, not just the 11-hour driving limit?
• How would the above changes affect the economic costs and benefits, and the impacts on safety and fatigue of the adverse driving conditions exception?

3. The 30-minute break.

• If the 30-minute rest break rule did not exist, would drivers obtain adequate rest breaks throughout a daily driving period to relieve fatigue?
• Are there alternatives to the 30- minute rest break that would provide additional flexibility to drivers while achieving the safety benefit goal of the current 30-minute break?
• If a rest break is retained, should it be taken off-duty or on-duty while the driver is not driving?
• How does the 30-minute rest break affect the efficiency of operations from a driver’s or a carrier’s perspective?
• How would your suggestions affect the costs and benefits of the 30-minute break?

4. Split-sleeper berth.

• FMCSA has announced a proposed flexible sleeper berth pilot program. Beyond the information that will be collected in the pilot program, do you have any information that would support changing the current requirements?
• Are there alternatives that would make the sleeper berth options more effective or less costly?
• How often do you use the sleeper berth option currently; how would this change with your suggested regulatory alternatives?
• What cost impacts and safety benefits would result from different split-sleeper berth options?

How can you have your say?

You can file comments electronically at this link,

Or you can fax to 202-493-2251 please include Docket ID number (FMCSA-2018-0248). 

Or you can mail your comments please include Docket ID number (FMCSA-2018-0248) to:

Docket Management Facility

U.S. Department of Transportation

Room W-12-140 1200 New Jersey Ave SE

Washington DC 20590-0001