By Derek Robinson
If you ask any truck driver out there, especially produce drivers, what is one of the biggest headaches they face each and every day you will end up with a resounding answer across the room…”Hours of service!”
A truck driver has always needed to be part mechanic, dispatcher, and accountant but with the HOS in place today they need to be part calculus professor as well. At least that is the way it seems when you look at ELD’s or log books and work out all of the math and hope a DOT inspector does not find a mistake while he is looking over your shoulder.
Since perishable shippers rely on reefer service, September 29th will be a great day. Drivers will be given a little more control of their destiny, and shippers will have more open windows for pick up and deliveries. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) listened to owner operators, carriers and fleet managers and are offering more flexibility while maintaining the highest safety standards. What does this mean for drivers?
Short-Haul Exception: The maximum allowable workday is changing from 12 to 14 hours and the distance is extending from 100 air-mile radius to 150 air-mile radius. As any produce driver out there knows when it comes to multiple sheds, this will be a major benefit!
Adverse Driving Conditions Exception: This can extend the duty day by two hours if adverse driving conditions are encountered. Snow, ice, sleet, fog or unusual road or traffic conditions that were not known prior to beginning the duty day or immediately before beginning driving after a qualifying rest break or sleeper berth period, or immediately prior to dispatching the driver.
If you are subject to a 30-minute break requirement: This requirement can now be satisfied by taking an on-duty, not driving break, in addition to an off-duty break. After an 8-hour driving period there will be a few options, including combination of activities as long as the 30 minutes are consecutive and satisfied by time. These options include: off-duty; in sleeper berth; and off-duty, not driving.
Sleeper Berth Provision: This allows drivers to split the 10-hour off duty period after meeting certain requirements: One period is at least 2 hours long, the other involves at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, both must add to at least 10 hours. When paired together, neither period will count against the 14-hour driving window. An 8-hour sleeper berth period by itself can no longer be excluded from the 14-hour driving window.
To all of our produce professionals out there, here is to putting the drivers and shippers back in the driver’s seat! September 29th cannot come fast enough.
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Derek Robinson is a business development specialist in the Savannah office and has been with the Allen Lund Company since 2015. Robinson attended Savannah Technical College, specializing in Aviation Structural Mechanics.