Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

UPS tries again for entry-level driver training exemption

UPS [NSYE: UPS] is taking another swing at a federal exemption from new entry-level driver training (ELDT) regulations as it struggles to fill driver training slots across its network.

The new application, to be published Wednesday in the Federal Register, follows a denial last year by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) of its initial attempt for an exemption of the ELDT regulations. The final ELDT rule is scheduled to go into effect Feb. 7, 2022.

UPS contended in its initial...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/ups-tries-again-for-entry-level-driver-training-exemption

ArcBest: Broker costs increase to $500,000/year if owner-operators have their way

Truck brokers will see a huge upswing in costs if federal regulators make a broker transparency change requested by owner-operators, according to logistics company ArcBest [NASDAQ: ARCB].

Barney Long, deputy general counsel for the Fort Smith, Arkansas-based company, told the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that the revisions being sought by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) will increase equipment, software programming and personnel costs to at least...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/arcbest-broker-costs-increase-to-500000year-if-owner-operators-have-their-way

Kenworth, Peterbilt electric trucks qualify for California rebates

Peterbilt and Kenworth medium-duty electric trucks each qualify for a $95,000 clean truck incentive in California. But there’s a catch. The Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) doesn’t have any money right now.

The PACCAR Inc. (NASDAQ: PCAR) siblings announced inclusion in the HVIP program this week. Workhorse Group (NASDAQ: WKHS) said July 28 that its new C-Series electric delivery van being produced in Union City, Indiana, qualified for the HVIP.

The California...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/kenworth-peterbilt-electric-trucks-qualify-for-california-rebates

FMCSA adds driver panel to safety board

A group of 20-25 truck drivers will be providing direct feedback to federal regulators on safety issues ranging from hours of service (HOS) to truck parking.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced Friday that the new commercial driver panel subcommittee has been set up to inform the agency’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) with the goal of gaining a range of viewpoints and experiences among different sectors of the driver community, including drivers of...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fmcsa-adds-driver-subcommittee-to-safety-board

Breaking News: Safety groups, Teamsters challenge HOS rule in federal court

Three safety groups and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are suing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in federal court in an effort to revoke changes to driver hours-of-service rules scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 29.

Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT), Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), and the Teamsters filed the petition Wednesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit....

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/breaking-news-safety-groups-teamsters-challenge-hos-rule-in-federal-court

FMCSA extends HOS emergency waiver until end of 2020

Federal regulators have extended a national emergency order exempting carriers and drivers from certain hour-of-service (HOS) regulations until Dec. 31.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declaration, issued late Friday, is the first multi-month extension of the HOS exemption since the order was initiated in March as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The five previous extensions lasted until the following month, with the most recent set to expire on Sept. 14.

“FMCSA is...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-extends-hos-emergency-waiver-until-end-of-2020

Split-duty rest break: A lever for boosting capacity?

As the coronavirus pandemic injects more instability into the trucking sector, a push by federal regulators to make hours-of-service (HOS) rules more flexible could also make drivers’ schedules more predictable while boosting capacity.

Last month the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a proposed Split Duty Pilot Program whereby participating truck drivers would have the option to pause their 14-hour driving window with an off-duty period lasting between 30 minutes and...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/split-duty-rest-break-a-lever-for-boosting-capacity

Coalition seeks one-year extension of FAST Act

A coalition of 88 business and government groups is pressing Congress to extend the current surface transportation law for one year before it expires in three weeks.

The $305 billion Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act – known as the FAST Act – was signed by President Obama in 2015 and is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. In addition to creating grant programs for states and establishing performance levels for the highway, rail and maritime sectors, the law...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/coalition-seeks-one-year-extension-of-fast-act

Breaking News: Trump Administration releases mandatory guidelines on hair testing for drugs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Friday released for comment long-awaited mandatory hair-testing guidelines to screen drivers for drugs.

The proposed Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Hair (HMG) “will allow federal executive branch agencies to collect and test a hair specimen as part of their drug testing programs.” But it limits hair testing use to applicants for federal testing designated positions and for random testing, according...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/breaking-news-trump-administration-releases-mandatory-guidelines-on-hair-testing-for-drugs

Breaking News: FMCSA proposes under-21 driver pilot program

Breaking News

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants public comment on a pilot program allowing drivers ages 18-20 to haul interstate commercial freight.

Most states and the District of Columbia already allow 18- to 20-year-old commercial driver’s license holders to operate trucks within the state.

“This action will allow the Agency to carefully examine the safety, feasibility and possible economic benefits of allowing 18- to 20-year-old drivers to operate in interstate commerce,” said...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/breaking-news-fmcsa-proposes-under-21-driver-pilot-program

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