Just a quick update (as I recognize this likely doesn’t affect many reading this blog) – on May 14, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released a final rule that updates the hours of service rules. However, the amendment neither increases driving time, nor the requirement that a 30-minute break be taken within eight (8) consecutive driving hours.  In sum, the Final Rule:

• Requires a 30-minute break after eight (8) hours of consecutive driving (versus on-duty time) and allows on-duty/not driving status to qualify as the break (rather than off-duty status).
• Modifies sleeper berth exception to allow drivers to split the required ten (10) hours off duty into two periods (an 8/2 or 7/3 split), with neither period counting against the fourteen (14) hour window.
• Extends the adverse driving conditions window by an additional two (2) hours.
• Lengthens the maximum duty period for short-haul exception drivers to fourteen (14) hours and extends the distance limit to 150 air miles.