On September 3, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed pilot program and request for comments to allow commercial drivers to pause their 14-hour driving window. The Agency proposes a pilot program to allow temporary regulatory relief from the Agency’s hours-of-service (HOS) requirement that all driving by drivers of property-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) be completed within 14 hours after coming on duty.
During the pilot program, which will be known as the Split Duty Period Pilot Program, participating CMV drivers would have the option to pause their 14-hour on-duty period with one off-duty period of no less than 30 minutes and no more than 3 hours. Participation would be limited to a certain number of commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders who meet the criteria specified for participation. This pilot program seeks to gather statistically reliable evidence whether decisions concerning the timing of such flexibility can be aligned with employers’, shippers’, and receivers’ scheduling preferences to optimize productivity while ensuring safety performance at a level equivalent to or greater than what would be achieved absent the regulatory relief.
To view the full notice and the eligibility criteria to partake in the pilot program, click HERE.
If you have any questions, please contact TIA Advocacy (advocacy@tianet.org).