Changes to HOS Regulations Coming June 7th
HOS Regulations: Old Rules for an Evolving Industry
Since 1962, the standard hours of service mandated by the FMCSA has remained largely unchanged – drivers did 10 to 11 hours behind the wheel for a total of 14 or 15 on-duty hours. But America’s infrastructure makes stopping at exactly 14 hours difficult – parking at truck stops is scarce and many areas won’t allow drivers to simply pull over on the side of the road and stop.
Before the ELD mandate was put in place, there was a simple (but non-compliant!) work around to this problem: drivers could find a spot to stop and change their hours in a paper logbook at any time. But those days are ending, and by the December 16 ELD deadline, all trucks (with a few exceptions) must run an ELD where driving hours cannot be shifted or adjusted.
Anticipating HOS Regulation Changes
That’s why the transportation industry has its eyes on June 7th, the day the Department of Transportation will announce a new proposal to adjust current Hours of Service rules. Once the proposal is live, the transportation industry, as well as the general public, will have the opportunity to give feedback on the legislation.
While the DOT has given no indication of what adjustments will be made, industry professionals have speculated that 3 possible changes could be on the way:
- Drivers will be allowed 16 hours of on-duty time vs. the current 14 hours
- Drivers will gain the ability to take “split breaks” by dividing their 10 consecutive hours mandatory break into two 5 hour periods.
- Drivers will not be required to take a 30 minute break after the first 8 hours on shift
It’s important to note that the DOT hasn’t indicated which, if any, of these changes will be made. While the industry waits for official word on the new hours of service, drivers and owners can prepare by updating their current ELD systems and getting familiar with how they work. A good ELD provider will be ready to adapt any apps and tools to the new HOS regulations in time. GPSTab users are guaranteed support in updating to the new regulations through our 24/7 customer service and prompt updates from out development team.
