FMCSA’s hours-of-service exemption implicated in fatal truck crash

WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board came down hard on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration after the board found that a fatigued driver of a milk-hauling tank truck was abusing the hours-of-service agriculture exemption — with little oversight of the exemption from FMCSA — when he was involved in a fatal crash.

The NTSB met on Tuesday to discuss the findings and staff recommendations of an investigation into the multivehicle crash on June 9, 2021, that killed four...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsas-hours-of-service-exemption-implicated-in-fatal-crash

FMCSA denies work-rule waiver for tank-truck company

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WASHINGTON — A small-business trucking company failed to provide evidence to federal regulators that...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-denies-work-rule-waiver-for-tank-truck-company

FMCSA considering limiting scope of emergency waivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing to roll back the relief automatically given to commercial truckers and trucking companies when disaster strikes.

The change, which would alter a rule established in 1992, would mean that during a regional emergency caused by weather or other supply chain disruptions, drivers and carriers would be exempt only from daily and weekly limits on driving time and not other requirements that are also exempt in current emergency waivers.

Those...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-considering-limiting-scope-of-emergency-waivers

FMCSA cancels emergency hours of service waiver

Truck driver using an electronic logging device.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration quietly let lapse a national hours-of-service exemption in place for over two years, a move supported by both major trucking companies and truck safety advocates.

The exemption, first issued by FMCSA in March 2020 following the national emergency declared by President Trump in response to COVID-19, was extended and/or modified over 10 times. It gave truck drivers and carriers more flexibility to deliver shipments of livestock, medical supplies,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-cancels-emergency-hours-of-service-waiver

FMCSA considering 5-year ‘special’ waiver for propane haulers

Propane truck at terminal.

Extending the limits on truck driver hours-of-service restrictions will help propane haulers respond to spikes in consumer demand, according to an exemption request to be considered by federal regulators.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is giving the public 30 days to comment on the request, submitted by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), a 2,500-member organization based in Washington, D.C. A notice is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Friday.

As laid...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-considering-5-year-waiver-for-propane-haulers

FMCSA extends 50-state hours-of-service waiver through Oct. 15

Truck driver electronic logging device.

A 50-state waiver that has provided work-rule flexibility for commercial truck drivers and carriers for over 29 months will remain in place for another six weeks.

The emergency declaration first issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 13, 2020, and set to expire Wednesday has been extended through Oct. 15, according to a notice posted by the agency.

The extension is warranted, according to FMCSA, “because the presidentially declared emergency remains in place,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-extends-50-state-hours-of-service-waiver-through-oct-15

Michigan trucking company seeks work-rule exemption for food products

Pneumatic tank truck

Federal regulators will consider a temporary exemption from driver work rules to help a small-business trucking company provide emergency relief to customers threatened by shutdowns.

Holland, Michigan-based Flat Top Transport, which specializes in hauling food-grade dry bulk products in pneumatic tank trucks, applied in July for the four-month hours-of-service (HOS) exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The agency plans to consider the application as part of a 30-day...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/michigan-trucking-company-seeks-work-rule-exemption-for-food-products

Refinery shutdown pushes FMCSA to temporarily lift hours-of-service rules

A truck hauling a tank trailer on the highway

Federal regulators announced Friday a temporary exemption to hours-of-service rules for carriers hauling fuel products to multiple states throughout the Midwest affected by a refinery shutdown.

Motor carriers and drivers providing “direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts” by hauling gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel or other refined petroleum products to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin are temporarily exempt. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said the decision...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/refinery-shutdown-pushes-fmcsa-to-temporarily-lift-hours-of-service-rules

FMCSA considers hours-of-service exemption for truck driver

Monitor inside a truck cab.

Federal regulators are considering a company truck driver’s request for a sweeping exemption from hours-of-service (HOS) and ELD rules, and the public will have a chance to comment.

In applying for the exemption, Ronnie Brown III, a driver for Waterloo, Iowa-based Gray Transportation, contends that the “one-size-fits-all” aspect of the regulations poses safety risks because the rules do not always coincide with his “natural sleep patterns,” according to his application filed with the Federal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-considers-hours-of-service-exemption-for-truck-driver

Hours-of-service rules waived for tornado relief efforts in Kentucky

Hours-of-service rules in Kentucky will be waived for trucks and other vehicles assisting in the state’s cleanup after devastating tornadoes over the weekend.

The state’s Transportation Cabinet head, Jim Gray, signed the order over the weekend, soon after the twisters had wreaked havoc and led to significant loss of life. It was released Monday.

The HOS waiver applies to any commercial vehicles providing services related to restoring power, delivering gasoline, propane and diesel, and removing...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/hours-of-service-rules-waived-for-tornado-relief-efforts-in-kentucky

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