A final rule modifying commercial truckers’ allowed driving times and mandatory rest breaks was issued May 14 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
The final rule appeared June 1 in the Federal Register and is effective Sept. 29, 2020.
The rule (RIN 2126-AC19) changes a short-haul exception that is available to some commercial drivers by lengthening on-duty time to 14 hours from 12 hours. The rule also extended the short-haul distance limit to 150 direct miles from 100 direct miles. The 14-hour driving period may be paused for a short break.
In-truck sleep and rest-period rules also were modified. Drivers can meet a 10-hour minimum off-duty requirement if they split the hours into two periods--at least seven hours in a sleeper berth and at least two off-duty hours inside or outside the berth. Neither qualifying period counts against the 14-hour driving window, it said.
Additionally a 30-minute break must be taken after eight uninterrupted hours of driving. The 30-minute break may be satisfied by a driver using on-duty not-driving status, rather than off-duty status, the rule said.
The maximum driving time under adverse conditions was extended by two hours.
(Update: Story updated to specify that final rule appeared June 1 in Federal Register and is effective Sept. 29, 2020.)
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