The FMCSA announced it will hold a public listening session on Thursday, February 17, to allow for further discussion on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published in the Dec. 29 Federal Register, that would revise the Hours of Service (HOS) requirements for commercial truck drivers.
The public can attend the listening session, which will be held at the Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport Hotel in Arlington, Virginia from 9am to 5pm EST. To encourage maximum public participation, the entire listening session will be live webcast at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
Additionally, as part of the webcast, FMCSA officials will take online comments and questions from the public from noon to midnight EST. Some of the questions and comments will be read by the moderator. All public comments, including the online comment and question session, will become part of the official record and will be placed in the rulemaking docket for the FMCSA’s consideration.
The goal of the public listening session is for the FMCSA to gather and analyze a broad range of comments, ideas, and data. In particular, it is seeking information on:
- Detailed data on fatigue and safety differences between the 10th and 11th hours of driving
- Whether its approach to estimating total time-on-task function is reasonable given the lack of good data
- If the agency’s methodology for evaluating cumulative fatigue’s impact on driving performance is reasonable and further data on the effects of cumulative fatigue
- Work patterns of night drivers
For the official meeting notice, which will be published in the Jan. 31 Federal Register, click here.
The FMCSA held five public listening sessions on HOS rules in 2010 before releasing its proposed rule. Under a court settlement with Public Citizen and the Teamsters union, the FMCSA must issue a final rule by July 26.
More HOS Resources:
FMCSA’s HOS Website
Copy of Proposed Rule
HOS – FAQs Website
SafeDriverHours.com
Conference Call to Educate Truck Drivers on Submitting Comments to FMCSA (Jan. 2011)
FMCSA Publishes New Hours of Service Proposed Rule (Jan. 2011)
Truck Driver HOS Update (Dec. 2010)
A Change to Drivers’ Hours of Service? (July 2010)
Click here for a chart that compares the proposed HOS rules to the current HOS rules.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
In December, the FMCSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would ban handheld cell phone use by commercial vehicle drivers operating in interstate commerce. The proposed rule defines "using a hand-held mobile telephone" as "using at least one hand to hold a mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication or reach for or dial a mobile telephone." While the current proposal does allow for hands-free technology, it also solicits opinions regarding banning hands-free options for mobile telephones in the final rule.
If the proposal is eventually adopted as the final regulation, a conviction could land a driver a $2,750 fine. Motor carriers face fines of $11,000 for allowing or requiring drivers to use hand-held phones while driving. The agency is also proposing to classify the offense as a “serious” violation in 393.51. That would mean any driver convicted of the hands-free prohibition along with second “serious” offense in a three-year period, would be disqualified for 60 days. Three convictions of “serious” offenses in three years would mean a 120-day disqualification.
This is another step in the Department of Transportation’s ongoing national effort to curb distracted driving. Late last year, a rule that bans the specific act of texting while operating a commercial motor vehicle was finalized and became law.
The NPRM is now subject to a comment period before being finalized. FMCSA will accept both initial comments and reply comments. Initial comments are due by Feb. 22, 2011, and may address any issue raised in the NPRM and the background documents in the docket. Reply comments are due by March 21.
Initial comments can be submitted and reply comments identified by docket number FMCSA–2010–0096 using any one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov/.
• Fax: 202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility (M–30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20590– 0001.
To learn more about the U.S. Department of Transportation's efforts to stop distracted driving, please visit http://www.distraction.gov/.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
As a member of the Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces, I had the privilege of attending the festivities in San Antonio, TX that culminated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The weeklong event highlighted all the opportunities the U.S. Army has to offer and the great care that our wounded veterans receive. The Bowl game featured ninety standout high school football players from across the country.
Part of the week’s events included a signing ceremony for the attending participants (see picture links below). I was honored to meet a number of two-, three-, and even four-star Generals throughout the week, as well as a number of notable figures including Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, Coach Boone (“Remember the Titans”), and Red Dawson (Marshall University).
The Employer Partnership of the Armed Forces was created as a way to provide America’s employers with a direct link to recruit U.S. service members and their families. I highly encourage all employers to participate in this Partnership. For more information, please visit the links below.
Important Links and Pictures:
- http://www.employerpartnership.org/
- http://www.usarmyallamericanbowl.com/
- http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2011/01/05/army-reserve-helping-find-jobs-for-vets.html
- Army All-American Bowl Employee Partner Initiative Signing Ceremony (picture)
- Lt. Gen Stultz & Jeremy Reymer, CEO Driving Ambition (picture)
- Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, Chief of the Army Reserve, shakes hands with Jeremy Reymer, CEO of Driving Ambition, during the Employer Partnership Program signing ceremony in San Antonio, Jan. 7, 2011 (picture)
- Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz, Chief Army Reserve, poses with business leaders during an Employer Partnership Program signing ceremony in San Antonio Jan. 7, 2011 (picture)
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The long awaited, much anticipated proposed revisions to the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are finally here. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), published on December 29, 2010, has attracted a great deal of criticism (see "Various Articles" section at bottom). Trucking companies and drivers have expressed their discontent with the “overly complex” changes. The advocacy and special interest groups, who pushed for the revisions in a settlement reached late in 2009, feel the proposed rule doesn’t go far enough.
One thing is for certain: If the proposed rules are adopted, it will alter the operations and economics of the trucking industry.
The proposed regulations would make seven significant changes to the current HOS regulations:
- Hours of Driving: The proposal remains undetermined as to the permissible time for driving. While favoring a 10 hour driving period, the FMCSA has refrained from finality pending consideration of the comments and any additional data received
- Driving Window: It would limit the standard “driving window” to 14 hours, while allowing that number to be extended to 16 hours twice a week.
- Duty Time within the “Window”: This would limit the "on-duty" time to thirteen (13) hours within the "driving window". While a driver has 14 hours during which he could drive, he may only be on duty for 13 of those hours. This appears intended to promote breaks during the work day.
- Driving Period: Drivers would be limited to seven (7) hours of driving after their last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes. Together with the 13 hour "on-duty" limit, the provision appears yet another attempt to provide for mid-day breaks.
- 34-Hour Restart: Although retained, the restart will be subject to certain limits: the restart would have to include two periods between midnight and 6 a.m. and could be started no sooner than 168 hours (7 days) after the beginning of the previously designated restart.
- “On Duty” Redefined: The definition of “on duty” would be revised. Under the proposed definition, the time spent in or on a non-moving commercial motor vehicle may be logged as "off duty."
- Oilfield Operations: The oilfield operations exception would be revised to clarify the language on waiting time and to state that waiting time would not be included in the calculation of the driving window.
The publication of this NPRM coincides with the timeframe established in a court settlement agreement that requires the FMCSA to publish a final HOS rule by July 26, 2011. The “effective date” will be several months after that.
Now is the time to voice your opinions and concerns. The 60-day window to comment on the NPRM will remain open until February 28. It’s critical for everyone who has a stake in the proposed rule to review and submit their comments to the FMCSA for consideration. Click here for detailed instructions on how to submit your comments to the FMCSA.
MORE HOS RESOURCES:
FMCSA'S HOS Website
Copy of Proposed Rule
HOS - FAQs Website
SafeDriverHours.com
Summary of primary changes
Various Articles and News Coverage on HOS NPRM
FMCSA’s HOS proposal tinkers with restart, driving time – Commercial Carrier Journal (12/23/2010)
Truck Drivers May Face 10-Hour Daily Limit on Road – Wall Street Journal (12/23/2010)
U.S. Proposes Revising Limits on Hours That Truck Drivers Can Be on Road – Bloomberg (12/23/2010)
DOT Proposes Changes in Truck Duty-Time Rules – Journal of Commerce (12/23/2010)
Obama Administration Proposes Stricter Rules for Truck Drivers – Fox Business News (12/23/2010)
FMCSA caught in Grinch, er crunch, to get HOS out – The Trucker (12/23/2010)
SPECIAL REPORT: FMCSA unveils proposed HOS regs – Land Line (12/23/2010)
USDOT Drops Three Big Chunks of Coal Under Trucking's Christmas Tree – ATA Press Release (12/23/2010)
Trucking Hours of Service Rules; Truckers say highway safety is affected by more than just hours driving – OOIDA Press Release (12/23/2010)
FMCSA Proposes Revised HOS Rule – Transport Topics (12/23/2010)
DOT punts on Hours-of-Service rules – Fleet Owner (12/23/2010)
SPECIAL REPORT: US hours of service rules changed – Today’s Trucking (12/23/2010)
FMCSA Posts Proposed HOS Revisions – TruckingInfo.com (12/23/2010)
U.S. proposes new rest rules for truckers - KERA-TV PBS Dallas, TX (12/23/2010)
10-Hour Driving Limit Proposed For Truckers - KWTX-TV10 Waco, TX (12/23/2010)
Proposal: limit truck drivers to 10 hours at a time - WSYR-TV9 Syracuse, NY (12/23/2010)
10-hour driving limit possible for truckers - Lansing (Michigan) State Journal (12/24/2010)
Truckers React to Proposed New Driving Regulations - WHSV-TV3 Harrisonburg, VA (12/24/2010)
Long-Haul Trucker Travel Changes - WJFW-TV12 Rhinelander, WI (12/24/2010)
Agency favoring 10-hour drive day - Northwest Arkansas online (12/24/2010)
10 hours or 11? Proposed HOS rule claims cost benefits for both – The Trucker (12/27/2010)
Trucking industry unhappy with proposed drive time rules - Fort Smith (Arkansas) City Wire (12/27/2010)
Few Satisfied with Federal Government’s latest HOS Proposal - Logistics Management (12/27/2010)
ATA Criticizes HOS Proposal - Fleet Owner (12/27/2010)
And They Wonder Why We're Cynical - TruckingInfo.com (12/28/2010)
Truckers Slam FMCSA Driver Hours Proposal - DC Velocity (12/28/2010)
Official Comment Period on Proposed HOS Rule Begins – The Trucker (12/29/2010)
Safety Group says New HOS Proposal Doesn't Go Far Enough, Canadians say it Could Have Been Worse - TruckingInfo.com (12/29/2010)
Comment Period Opens on HOS Proposal – Land Line (12/29/2010)
FMCSA publishes HOS Proposal – Commercial Carrier Journal (12/29/2010)
FMCSA Proposes Seven Changes in Hours Rule – TruckingInfo.com (12/29/2010)
HOS Proposal Seems Likely to Lead to More Litigation – TruckingInfo.com (12/30/2010)
Eye on Trucking: Points to Ponder on the Proposed HOS Rule - The Trucker (12/30/2010)
Proposed New Hours of Service Rules a “Lump of Coal” in Trucking Industry’s Stocking, ATA Says – SC Digest (01/04/2011)
Obama’s HOS Failure - Transport Topics (01/03/2011)
ATA: FMCSA Ignoring Real-World Data on HOS - Fleet Owner (01/13/2011)
ATA Accuses FMCSA of Manipulating Fatigue Numbers in HOS Proposal - TruckingInfo.com (01/13/2011)
ATA suggests FMCSA inflating fatigue-related crash numbers – Truck News (01/13/2011)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
With the inclement weather upon us once again, it’s timely that we all review some important winter weather driving tips and other important related items.
Here are a few useful winter driving-related articles for you:
- Winter Driving for CDL Drivers - The most frequent reasons for winter weather related accidents, along with a variety of tips to reduce winter driving and non-driving (work comp) risks.
- Winter Driving - 10 Most Unsafe CDL Driver Habits - A top 10 list of the most unsafe truck driver habits that lead to greater crash risk during the winter months
- Winter Safety Poster - Trucking companies are encouraged to print out this winter safety poster and display it in the break room, at the time clock, or wherever drivers might congregate. They could also use it as a pay check stuffer. (Courtesy of the Ohio Trucking Association)
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Addition
Driving Ambition, Inc. is proud to announce that Charles W. (Chuck) Davis will be joining our team on January 3, 2011 in the position of Driver Recruiter. Chuck will be responsible for the recruiting and hiring of all drivers in Central Indiana.
A retired Army officer, Chuck brings with him over 15 years of successful trucking experience as a Human Resource Director, Safety and Risk Manager at Speedy Air Freight and Jet Star, Inc. He has also been a long term active member of the Indiana Motor Truck Association (IMTA), and has served on the Board of Directors of IMTA and NTTC (National Tank Truck Carriers). Chuck is currently the 2011 Chairman of the Indiana Truck Driving Championships.
We are extremely pleased to have Chuck on board. With his knowledge, passion, and unparalleled integrity, we’re confident that he will be an excellent addition to an already strong Driving Ambition team. We look forward to a prosperous future with him.
Promotion
Driving Ambition, Inc. is very pleased to announce the promotion of Jennifer Quigley Brown to Business Development Manager. Jennifer began with Driving Ambition in mid-2010 as a Driver Recruiter and quickly demonstrated the skills and dedication that helped the company to achieve a banner year.
Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University and has nearly 20 years of management experience. She brings a strong background in business development and customer service, and has been recognized for her dedication, integrity and relationship-building skills. Prior to Driving Ambition, Jennifer worked for an environmental contracting company directing marketing, public relations, advertising and sales.
We congratulate Jennifer and look forward to a prosperous future with her.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.