On June 01, 2020 (85 FR 33396), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a final rule in the federal register revising the hours of service (HOS) regulations in 49 CFR Parts 385 & 395 to provide greater flexibility for drivers subject to those rules without adversely affecting safety. FMCSA is: 1. Expanding the shorthaul exception to 150 air-miles and allows a 14-hour work shift to take place as part of the exception; 2. Expanding the driving window during adverse driving conditions by up to an additional 2 hours; 3. Requiring a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time (instead of on-duty time) and allows an on-duty/not driving period to qualify as the required break; and 4. Modifying the sleeper berth exception to allow a driver to meet the 10-hour minimum off-duty requirement by spending at least 7, rather than at least 8 hours of that period in the berth and a minimum off-duty period of at least 2 hours spent inside or outside of the berth, provided the two periods total at least 10 hours, and that neither qualifying period counts against the 14-hour driving window. This final rule is effective September 29, 2020. Petitions for Reconsideration of this final rule must be submitted to the FMCSA Administrator no later than July 1, 2020.

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FMCSA 06-01-2020 final rule Driver Hours of Service updated