DOD weapons haulers’ 30-minute break exemption extended

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Truck drivers contracted to haul weapons, munitions and sensitive cargo for the Department of Defense can continue to use 30 minutes or more of attendance time to meet the 30-minute rest break requirement through Oct. 21, 2023.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced in a Federal Register notice Friday it has extended the hours-of-service exemption for the DOD’s Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC) for five years from the end of the current exemption period, Oct. 27, 2018.

The SDDC has held the exemption since 2013 and requires continuous attendance and surveillance of its loads until they reach their final destination. The agency says approximately 1,942 trucks and 3,000 drivers are covered by the exemption.

Drivers contracted to SDDC operating under the exemption must keep a copy of the exemption document in their truck and must be operating with a “Satisfactory” or “unrated” safety rating. Carriers with “Conditional” or “Unsatisfactory” safety ratings cannot operate under the exemption.