HOS News

Make mine Jack Daniels

 

Is the 82 hr thing an argument that was used to justify the 168 hrs between the start of a 34 reset? They stated that with the old 34 reset rules, one could "theoretically" run 82 hrs in a full 8 day period. By putting in the 168 hr between reset starts, they effectively cut the actual available hours in a the same 8 day period to 70 hrs.

What I have read recently, is that some in congress want to go back to the previous 34 reset provisions and do away with the 30 min break thing. That would "theoretically" allow a driver to pull off 82 hrs on duty/driving in an 8 day period. But I am not really worried about it. I rarely use up 70 hrs in an 8 day. I am in the work smarter not harder camp. Based on various factors, even though I go home every weekend, there are some times when I can't pull off a 34 reset because of the 168 hr rule. No big deal. I just recap the next week.

 

Why don't they just make it a max of 14 hours of work in any given day? These drivers need to know when to park and not be harassed though. Every driver knows when they drive too much and become unsafe.

 

cranberry juice mixed with a dash a sprite will work for me

Cheers ..

 

Truckers should get 48 hours off a week, 70 hours on the job simply too much

ATA Chairman Phil Byrd would have you work 23 hours a day if he could. I doubt this idiot has even driven a tractor-trailer or slept in a commercial truck over the road for any length of time or he would know how ridiculous he sounds in my opinion.

Seventy hours of work a week at anything is too much. Any reasonable person can deduce that driving a large commercial vehicle, a tractor and a trailer 10.2 hours a day, and at 80,000 pounds on the U.S.’s toughest highways, in all elements and road hazards is too much to be done safely. Now this fool wants drivers to drive 82 hours a week. Also, it’s very easy for a reasonable person to understand the reason you can’t just reset 34 hours before 168 hours have passed. It is to ensure that a driver’s work week isn’t perpetually driven by constantly resetting (34 hours) the work week currently set at 70 hours.

Truck drivers should all get at least 48 hours off a week. Period. Especially when considering the risk and stress incured. Ask Phil how many hours off a week he gets. You can also see reasons for the driver shortage problem.

Phil, like the average overpaid and underworked bureaucrat, sadly doesn’t care one bit about drivers, only profits at the expense of safety. Any reasonable person can see that. It’s only penal, frustrating and impeding to big business, not the driver.

Raise your hand if you want to drive any vehicle 11. 7 hours a day for seven days straight and think it’s safe. Now raise your hand if you have ever even driven a vehicle 10.2 hours a day for seven days. I didn’t think so. Get in the real world, Phil.

— Jeff Britt Sr. President, Transmo

 

Just because you can run extra hours doesn't mean you have to. It's like the speed limit is 90, doesn't mean you need to go 90

 

Ok. Enough mis information. The bill, is contained within the proposed Budget Legislation. It must still be passed by both the House and the Senate. The "Collins Provision" which started this whole fiasco has had changes made to it and some of it, IF IT DOES PASS, will be "Temporarily" suspended.

IT IS NOT IN EFFECT YET.

What the amendment does:

· Requires the FMCSA to conduct a study in order to assess the operational, safety, health and fatigue impacts of the restart provision. This study will assess drivers’ safety critical events, fatigue and levels of alertness and driver health outcomes. This is what safety advocates have asked the Department to undertake. Further, in order to ensure that the study produces credible results, DOT’s Inspector General will review and comment on the Department’s plan as well as report to the Secretary and House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on the study’s compliance with the requirements.

· Provides a temporary suspension of two provisions the two consecutive overnight periods from 1:00a.m. – 5:00a.m. and the use of the restart rule to only once every 168 hours (once a week) to lift the undue hardship while the Department conducts the study.

· The Secretary shall submit a final report on the findings and conclusions of the study and the Department’s recommendations on whether the provisions in effect on July 1, 2013, provide a greater net benefit for the operational, safety, health and fatigue impacts of the restart provision.

· Provides $4 million in unobligated balances to conduct this study.

What the amendment does NOT do:

The amendment would not nullify the entire restart rule, or the entire set of hours of service rules, as some have erroneously stated. For example, the amendment would not make changes to:

· The minimum off-duty hours between shifts;

· The maximum on-duty period each shift;

· The maximum driving hours per day;

· The mandatory meal/rest break during a shift;

· The sleeper berth requirements for splitting off-duty time; and

· The electronic on-board recorders rule.




To those still confused, what does all this mean?

You would now be able to take more than 1 "34 hour" restart instead of having to wait the 168hrs to take another.

The 34 could be done ANYTIME. It no longer has to include the 2 night time periods rest between 1am and 5am for 2 nights straight.

You would still have to take your 30 minute break before the 8th hour.


If passed by Congress, it would only be temporary for the time being.

We'll see.

 

When will the temporary suspensions begin?

 

Once the announcement is made that the proposed Budget Legislation, to keep the government running, for 2015, has been signed into law by the President.

Keep in mind, that between now and then, someone in either the House or the Senate, could have it removed.

If that happens, I'll either post it or make sure it's already been posted.

Same thing with the law, once it is signed by the President, I'll post that as well.