NewsLetters

Operator Hours

I thought I would take a stab at the new hours of service enacted by the FMCSA that takes effect on October 1st, 2005.  It appears that a man can drive a maximum of 11 hours per day with at least 10 hours of off time in between shifts.  It also states that a man can work no more then 14 hours on any single day after coming off of a 10 hour rest period.  This is all tied to the fact that a man must not work over 60 hours in any 7 day period or 70 hours in an eight day period.

A driver must take off 34 hours in between each seven or eight day period.  I believe the 14 hour rule is a combined work and driving combination.  If a man works 11 hours driving and 3 hours doing work but not driving he must then have 10 hours of off time before he can drive or work again.

This is the category that a concrete pumper would seem to fall in.  I believe that a man can work up to 14 hours in a single day as long as he does not exceed 11 driving hours on this day, and he is still limited to the 60 hour work week if he is working seven days per week.  I think we need to appeal our case through th ACPA and find out if we can become exempt from these rules as other groups have done. 

These groups include the Well Drillers, Utility Workers, Agricultural Haulers and the Movie and Television Industry Haulers.  They all have been granted exemptions to the new rules.  I think we certainly fall into the same category as the Well Drillers.

Call your local Congressman or Representative or better yet write them and complain about the fact that we are off road as high as 80% of our time and we feel we should also be granted an exemption.

Ed Lothamer