As we’ve discussed in earlier posts, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will begin officially enforcing federal regulations involve the new Hours of Service (HOS) rules for commercial truck drivers on July 1, 2013. (For more on these new HOS regulations, read here.)
- Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
- Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
- Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
- Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
- A vehicle that is involved in Interstate or intrastate commerce and is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards is also considered a CMV.
In accordance with that deadline, FMCSA has issued a Summary Visor Card for Truck Drivers to have in their trucks for easy reference. Here it is:
Limitation on 34-Hour Restarts: must include two periods from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., home terminal time; may only be used once per week, 168 hours, measured from the beginning of the previous restart.
Rest Breaks: may drive only if 8 hours or less have passed since end of driver’s last off-duty or sleeper berth period of at least 30 minutes. [49 CFR 397.5 mandatory “in attendance” time for hazardous materials may be included in break if no other duties performed]
