Hours-of-Service Final ruling

Finally, the USDOT published it's long-awaited Hours-of-Service final rule this week.  The rule enforces more than a few changes including reducing the maximum work week to 70 hours and ensuring  drivers take a minimum 30-minute break after eight hours of continuous driving.

Quoted in the Republican Herald, Fanelli Trucking Co. Inc president Earl McCardle said, "The purpose of the changes in the hours of service rules according to the FMCSA is to reduce driver fatigue and thus reduce fatal commercial truck accident.  What the industry wants the public to know is that fatal truck accidents have been reduced by 30 percent since 2008 and continues to decline. I think that this is a compromise both the industry and the public can live by and I expect that trend to continue."

For a complete list of Q&As ranging from Why is the rule being issued? to What are the primary changes of the HOS rule?  visit USDOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.

What are your thoughts about this new rule?