Without prior notice through the USDOT’s “regulatory agenda,” in late August 2018, FMCSA initiated a rulemaking process to consider changes to the Hours of Service rules. FMCSA “advance notice of proposed rulemaking” identified four provisions for potential change: (1) expanding the current 100 air-mile radius exemption from 12 to 14 hours; (2) extending the 14-hour on-duty limit by up to two hours when “adverse driving conditions” are encountered; (3) revising the 30-minute rest break; and, (4) reinstating options for splitting off-duty time in a sleeper berth. FMCSA’s short 30-day comment period suggests it may be trying to accelerate the process in an attempt to finalize changes before the end of the Trump Administration’s term in late 2020.
FMCSA Shows Its Hand on Potential Hours of Service Changes
September 17, 2018