DOT Green-lights Hours of Service Reform Proposals

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced on Friday that the Department of Transportation has sent an hours of service (HOS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. Chao could not provide any specific details since the rule is under review, but noted the DOT's "interest in increasing flexibility."

Nearly seven months ago, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) put forth an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to give the public a chance to comment on current hours-of-service (HOS) regulations.

Chao, along with FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez, stated that they read trucker feedback from last August's Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), which spearheaded the process. The DOT also aims to permanently keep the Crash Preventability Demonstration Program in place.

We will update the situation when more details come to light!