Rep. Crawford responds to DOT’s Hours of Service flexibility

Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that outlines a framework to provide our trucking industry with flexibility within Hours of Service (HOS) regulations to accommodate their unique situations while maintaining safety on our roads. Under consideration in the ANPRM is expanding the current 100 air-mile “short-haul” exemption from 12 hours on-duty to 14 hours on-duty, providing compliance flexibility when a truck driver encounters adverse driving conditions, revising the 30-minute rest break, and reinstating the option for splitting up the required 10-hour off-duty rest break for drivers operating trucks that are equipped with a sleeper-berth compartment

While the implementation of the Electronic Logging Device was an important step for highway safety, it also highlighted needed changes within HOS. This ANPRM enables a meaningful discussion about reasonable reforms. 

Upon the U.S. DOT’s announcement, Crawford released the following statement:

“American truckers carry the goods we rely on everyday and should not be hindered by nonsensical regulations. I appreciate Secretary Chao for hearing our concerns regarding Hours of Service that have rendered our drivers’ operations less efficient. I look forward to working toward our mutual goal of an environment that enables the effective movement of goods while keeping our roads safe.”