DOT Proposes New Trucking Work Rules

For the third time in as many decades, the Department of Transportation is attempting to update the 61-year-old hours-of-service regulations.

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The long-awaited overhaul of the rules governing the amount of time truck and bus drivers can spend behind the wheel was unveiled during an April 25 press conference at DOT headquarters in Washington.

As expected, the proposal limits professional truck drivers to 12 hours of duty each day, with no distinction between on-duty and driving time.

DOT also wants long-haul carriers, small carriers and owner-operators to install on-board recorders to monitor compliance with the new regulations. The agency has a provision to encourage the installation of the equipment, which would enable carriers to eliminate paper logs over time.

For the full story, see the May 1 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.