Drivers’ Hours Of Service (HOS) Final Ruling

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revised the hours of service (HOS) regulations to provide greater flexibility for drivers subject to those rules without adversely affecting safety.

The agency has expanded the short-haul exception to 150 air-miles and allows a 14-hour work shift to take place as part of the exception; it has expanded the driving window during adverse driving conditions by up to an additional 2 hours; it requires a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time (instead of on-duty time) and allows an on-duty/not driving period to qualify as the required break; and it has modified the sleeper berth exception to allow a driver to meet the 10-hour minimum off-duty requirement by spending at least 7 hours, rather than at least 8 hours, of that period in the berth, and a minimum off-duty period of at least 2 hours spent inside or outside of the berth, provided the two periods total at least 10 hours, and that neither qualifying period counts against the 14-hour driving window.

SOURCE: The Weekly Propane Newsletter, May 21, 2020. Weekly Propane Newsletter subscribers receive all the latest posted and spot prices from major terminals and refineries around the U.S. delivered to inboxes every week. Receive a center spread of posted prices with hundreds of postings updated each week, along with market analysis, insightful commentary, and much more not found elsewhere.