The Agricultural Retailers Association supports the proposed reform to hours of service published this week by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says the proposed changes will improve safety and flexibility for commercial drivers.
ARA says the reforms, including the short haul exemption expansion for CDL drivers to 150 air miles, and the expansion of duty hours from 12 to 14 hours, “will provide necessary flexibility” for ARA members to meet the needs of their customers, and do so safely.
The proposed rule offers five key revisions to existing hours of service rules such as requiring a minimum 30-minute break for each eight hours of consecutive driving and allowing drivers to use the “on duty, not driving” status rather than the “off duty” status during breaks.
It’s estimated the proposal will save consumers and the U.S. economy an estimated $274 million and improve safety for all drivers on the Nation’s roadways, according to the Department of Transportation.
