TheFederal Motor Carrier safety Administration recently extended an exemption from its mandatory 30-minute rest break rule for haulers of oversize/overweight loads.
The notice of the extension was published in the Federal Register June 20, and was granted in response to a request from the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association. The 30-minute break exemption applies to all truck drivers hauling oversize loads that require permits from state or local government agencies.
The association said in its request the 30-minute break uniquely affects OS/OW loads and has exacerbated the number of instances in which drivers have had to park these loads at roadside, consequently impacting the safety of both the general public and the driver.
The FMCSA said in its notice, “SC&RA does not foresee any negative impact to safety from the requested exemption. It believes that granting the exemption would have a favorable impact on overall safety by reducing the frequency of drivers resorting to less than ideal parking options, thereby reducing the frequency of lanes being partially or fully blocked.”
The FMCSA’s exemption is good through Dec. 17.
The exemption was first granted on June 18, 2015.
In its notice, the FMCSA said after a review of the public comments to this notice, FMCSA will issue a decision whether the exemption should be renewed through June 2030.
The public has 30 days after the publication of the notice in the Federal Register June 20 to comment on the exemption extension. To submit your comment online, go to www.regulations.gov, insert the docket number (FMCSA-2014-0420) in keyword box, and click on this notice, click “Comment,” and type your comment into the text box on the following screen.
Credit: Source link
