FMCSA is ‘very close’ to reaching decision on HOS changes

by Sonia Straface

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is close to reaching a decision on proposed hours of service changes, thanks to data collected from those fleets currently using compliant electronic logging devices (ELDs).

That was the message from FMCSA’s administrator, Raymond Martinez who spoke at this year’s Truckload Carriers Association convention in Las Vegas on March 12.

Martinez called ELDs “one of the most significant changes in the industry” adding that early data has shown that they reduce the numbers of drivers exceeding hours of service (HOS), reduce driver fatigue, and saves lives. He also said that since the hours of service criteria went into effect, less than 1 % of all driver inspections have resulted in a driver being cited for operating without an ELD or grandfathered AOBRD. Furthermore, HOS violations have decreased by 52% over the last year.

“These are steps in the right direction and we will continue to work with industry on this,” he said. “But make no mistake, we understand that industry is the one that is responsible for the successes here. Where there has been confusion and uncertainty, I also want you to know that has been mirrored on the enforcement side. This is a time of transition. So, it’s imperative that we continue to work together – the federal government, our state partners on enforcement, and industry to make sure we work through all this in 2019, and that there is a full transition from AOBRS to ELDS by December 16, 2019.”

Martinez said the FMCSA is still reviewing HOS regulations across the board but said the ELD mandate has really “put a spotlight on something that hasn’t been looked at in 15 years.”

He added the FMCSA received more than 5,200 public comments on the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the potential HOS changes.

“We continue to evaluate comments and are very close to concluding our evaluation and deciding whether we can move forward with an NPRM (notice of proposed rulemaking) that would provide definitive text,” he said.mo


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  • In all aspects of the trucking industry i don’t think elds prevent anything from happening out here on the roads. The problem these days is nobody’s paying attention. I mean nobody, everyone is on there phones for starters. Accidents happen from not paying attention and i see alot of it out on the road. Another thing is maybe better training with alot more hands on and hours spent driving a rig . And as far as driver shortages, pay drivers a decent wage. We all sacrifice alot of things in life for really poor pay. So if we’re gonna be sitting along side of the road because of elds shutting us down ,we may as well find jobs so we can spend time with our families at home. I hate to say it but the driver shortage will only get worse. Thanx

  • It’s Very Simple.
    If FMCSA is really looking forward to see the SAFETY of Drivers and Public do the following Changes in ELD.
    1). Make OFF Duty time Completely OUT from Onduty driving time. Even if the Driver takes 5 or 6 or 8 hrs OFF duty it should never affect in the Driving time. After all a driver can drive only 11 hrs a day. Then WHY it’s connecting like a Cancer to the driving time.
    2). If the Driver takes few hrs OFF duty and if it doesn’t affect the Driving time then the driver is refreshed and can drive safely.
    3). Most of the time drivers are loosing time in Shipping , Delivery place, Construction place, etc. Finally they are flying because to reach either to a Truck stop or Rest area to stop for not getting Violation.
    4). At this critical situation they don’t look who comes left or right etc and get crash.
    5). They can’t plan Trip because of this system.
    6). Give awareness to all the CAR drivers and Teach them how to USE Indicators to Change lanes.
    7). Some of them Put Left indicator and change Lane to Right side. Some won’t do anything and just enter and suddenly stop Infront of the Truck like Rabbit.
    8). Never listen to anyone who doesn’t drive Truck and take decision.
    Take decision by listening to Truck drivers.
    Finally no-one can live without Oxygen. When we know this and if we are going on Pressing the Neck of the people they will struggle to breathe and sometimes they may DIE also.
    Same will happen to Trucking also.

  • Y’all idiots in Washington need to spend a month in a truck before you make rules for us.. a driver knows what he can and can not do.. you don’t need 10 hours of rest, I get 6 and wake up feeling great.. what’s bad is , when I want to stop and take a short nap I can’t cause it cuts into my drive time which is wrong, but also dangerous cause I have to drive tired… So see y’all have no clue what you are doing with out the input of real drivers and not desk drivers… GET A CLUE WASHINGTON….

  • Once again FMCSA has come up with bullshit claiming all is well within the trucking industry, instead we have corrupt brokers scamming independents, low freight rates ,high cost of fuel ,high cost of maintenance ,high cost equipment not to mention record number of deaths for Truckers massive traffic delays daily , massive truck wrecks,trucker having to park in unsafe areas, states looking at any excuse to steal money from Truckers to fatten their coffers .The only ones happy are the Mega Carriers that reap all the benefits.,Nothing FMCSA does to attact drivers will work because the younger people when they realize that drivers are really Slaves that are forced to work under FMCSA conditions will say Hell No not me. I have been a driver since 1973,an owner operator since 1979 and own my own company since 2011 and I would not encourage any one to think about being a trucker. Long days on the road,loss of quality family time and no appreciations of drivers and low pay is simply not worth the effort anymore.

  • I am a Canadian driver who travels into the U.S. frequently.

    If the U.S. government simply adopted the exact same rules as the Canadian HoS, all or likely issues drivers have with the rules would be fixed.

    It allows plenty of flexibility for drivers and owner-operators and is proven to be just as safe if not safer than the U.S. rules.

    It also makes more sense to have the same rules across North America. Most drivers travel between both countries.

    The problem with regulation is it never necessarily needs to make sense in reality just on paper.

    If this statement could be seen by the right individual the HoS change process could be simplified. Adopt the Canadian HoS and make them North American HoS.

    We all have the same goals and safety practices.

    Why not keep it simple and just make it the same??