A company that provides nationwide emergency response to the railroad industry seeks an hours-of-service exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
In a notice posted in the Federal Register on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Hulcher Services, Inc., asked the agency for a limited exemption that would allow the company’s drivers to respond to emergencies that occur outside of their normal work hours.
“Unplanned events requiring response frequently occur outside normal business hours, including late-night and early-morning callouts,” wrote Donald Bell, the company’s director of DOT compliance. “These are often in remote areas where no federal or state emergency declaration has been issued. Without this exemption, drivers may be barred from transporting equipment due to exceeding 14-hour daily or 70-hour weekly limits – despite being the only qualified operators available. Delays of this nature create safety risks, increase congestion and exacerbate the disruption to national rail service.”
Earlier this year, FMCSA provisionally renewed a similar exemption request from R.J. Corman Railroad Services and Cranemasters, Inc. According to FMCSA’s website, the exemption has been renewed through March 4, 2030. The agency said the exemption would provide flexibility without hindering safety.
The exemption allows the companies’ drivers to exceed the hours-of-service limits when responding to unplanned events that occur outside or extend beyond the driver’s normal work hours.
Hulcher wants the same exemption that was granted to R.J. Corman Railroad Services and Cranemasters. And like the other companies, Hulcher said it maintains a documented fatigue management policy, enforces pre-dispatch rest periods and equips each division with on-site supervisors to monitor driver alertness.
If granted, the exemption would apply to about 350 Hulcher employees.
How to comment
FMCSA will accept comments on the exemption request through Jan. 16. To make a comment, click here or go to Regulations.gov and enter Docket No. FMCSA-2025-1018. LL
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