Here at Gorilla Safety, we take compliance as seriously as you do. We keep up to date on the ever-evolving world of DOT/FMCSA regulations and how they could and do affect you. We want to help give you a voice whenever possible. Most importantly though, we want you to feel comfortable that our product meets all federal guidelines and laws.
As you may have heard, the FMCSA recently announced their final rule regarding hours of service changes that surround breaks, split sleeper, short-haul times, and distance, as well as an increase in adverse condition on duty time. These changes were published in the “Federal Register” on June 1 with a 120-day timeline for full implementation. This means, your ELD company must be able to provide you these changes in the hours of service rule by September 29, 2020, and not before. If they do not implement these rules, you will still be in compliance, fortunately, but you will lose out on a great deal of time efficiencies that the FMCSA now offers. If they offer these new rule options to you before that, you will not be compliant.
A quick overview of the rules:
- You now have some additional flexibility when it comes to split sleeper options. You can now take between seven and eight hours in the sleeper and the rest at a separate time as long as your total off duty time is no less than 10 hours within your 24-hour clock. Your second break period can be completed in sleeper or off-duty status and must be no less than two hours in duration. So, if you take eight hours for your first break, you must take two hours on your second break. If you take seven hours, the second break must be at least three hours in length.
- Your 30-minute rest break can now be taken in any non-driving status. Also, instead of having to take your break after eight consecutive hours of being on-duty, you must take it after having driven for eight hours. If you do not accumulate 30 consecutive minutes of non-driving time, any drive time you complete will count towards that eight-hour period. To reiterate, your 30-minute break can be taken in on-duty not driving status, off duty, or sleeper status.
- If you are a short-haul driver of a vehicle 26,001 pounds or larger, you can now travel a farther distance and have two additional hours to complete your work. As of now, vehicles 26,001 pounds and larger have a 100 air-mile radius they can travel before needing an ELD. That distance has been expanded to 150 air-miles. The time too has been extended as drivers now have 14 hours instead of 12 hours to complete their day. Drivers still must start and stop service at the same place every day for this exemption to stay in place.
- Adverse condition allows for drivers to extend their drive time by two hours given they still fall within their 14-hour clock. When this new rule take effect, that 14-hour clock will expand to 16 hours during an adverse condition scenario.
Be aware, these rules do not take affect until September 29, 2020. If you try to use them before, you can and probably will be cited.
Here at Gorilla Safety, we have these new rules already built and tested. You can have the confidence in knowing that an update will be available to download come September 29th, that will allow you to take full advantage of these efficiencies. We are happy to serve you and honored that you chose us to be your ELD provider. Stay safe and thank you for all you do.
