FMCSA grants 30-minute break exemption to certain concrete pump drivers

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Concrete pumpers that operate across state lines have been granted an exemption from the federal 30-minute break requirement.Concrete pumpers that operate across state lines have been granted an exemption from the federal 30-minute break requirement.

Certain concrete pump truck drivers that drive across state lines have been granted a reprieve from the federal 30-minute rest break hours-of-service requirement.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted an exemption to the American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA) to allow all concrete pump operators, concrete pumping companies and drivers who operate concrete pumps in interstate commerce to count on-duty attendance time toward the 30-minute break. The exemption went into effect Tuesday, March 21, and is good through March 21, 2019.

ACPA requested the exemption in October, saying the 30-minute rest break requirement increased dangerous conditions on job sites because it required the concrete pumps to shut down for the break, which could allow air to enter the pipes and cause the pipes to whip around and hit a pump operator.

The group also said pump operators take breaks throughout the day anyway, so the extra 30-minute break was unnecessary. Additionally, ACPA said in the request that concrete pump drivers only drive approximately 25 to 32 percent of their shift, and average less than 20 to 25 miles each day.

The exemption says ACPA represents more than 600 companies with more than 7,000 workers nationwide, many of which operate intrastate and are not covered under the exemption. ACPA says it is unknown how many pumping trucks are operated in metropolitan areas and routinely cross state lines.

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