Hours rule proposal advanced

Public comments can be made about the proposed hours of service rules. (Courtesy of J.J. Keller & Associates)Public comments can be made about the proposed hours of service rules. (Courtesy of J.J. Keller & Associates)

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sent its proposed hours-of-service rule to the Office of the Secretary of Transportation June 23, with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking expected to be published Nov. 4.

The FMCSA will issue its proposed NPRM to the Office of Management and Budget by July 26 and the OMB is scheduled to clear it by Oct. 26. The public can comment until Jan. 4 and a final rule is expected by July 26, 2011.

The creation of new HOS is the result of an Oct. 26, 2009, legal settlement between Public Citizen and other organizations and the agency.

The July DOT report noted other rulemaking publication deadlines, including:
β€’ Nov. 23 for CDL testing and Commercial Driver Permit standards. This rule includes establishing minimum federal standards for states to issue permits, setting maximum issuance and renewal periods and a minimum age limit.
β€’ March 4 for minimum training requirements for entry level commercial motor vehicle operations. This rulemaking would require behind-the-wheel and classroom training for CDL holders to operate commercial motor vehicles.
β€’ April 4, 2011, for CMV driver positive controlled substances and alcohol test results database. This would create a central database for verified positive controlled substances and alcohol test results for CDL holders and refusals by drivers to submit to testing.
β€’ Dec. 17 for revisions to expand the number of motor carriers required to have Electronic Onboard Recorders.