Proposed changes to federal hours of service (HOS) regulations for truck operators were announced by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
The proposed changes would allow drivers to pause their 14-hour clock for up to three consecutive hours and go off-duty in that time period, extending their on-duty window by the same amount. Drivers would be required to take a 10-hour off-duty break at the conclusion of their 14-hour on-duty hours after using the proposed pause option.
The break must be at least 30 minutes long, under the proposal.
Also, the 11-hour drive-time limit for an on-duty shift will remain. Allowing drivers to pause the 14-hour clock would help them avoid peak traffic hours, weather events and help “mitigate the effect … of long detention times,” according to notes within the proposal, which was announced today by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
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