New federal hours-of-service rules that were published in December officially took effect on February 27, 2012.
Though some of the most significant changes will not be implemented for another 16 months, motor carriers and their commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers were expected to comply with the following changes as of February 27, 2012:
- Time spent resting in a parked vehicle of any type, for any length of time, can now be logged as “off duty.” Previously, such time generally had to be recorded as “on duty.” Like other short periods of rest, this off-duty time will not stop the 14-hour clock for drivers of property-carrying CMVs. In addition, this option cannot be used by drivers who are required to attend explosive hazardous materials under 49 CFR Sec. 397.5.
- Up to 2 hours spent riding in the passenger seat of a moving, property-carrying CMV immediately before or after spending at least 8 consecutive hours in a sleeper berth can also be logged as “off duty” and will extend the 14-hour limit.
- Drivers who exceed the 10- or 11-hour driving limits by more than 3 hours — and carriers that allow them to do so — are now considered to have committed an “egregious” violation that could result in the maximum penalties allowed by law.
- Drivers who use the oilfield “waiting time” exception in Sec. 395.1(d)(2) must record their waiting time as “off duty” on a standard log and then add notes or use a fifth grid line to show which time was spent waiting. These drivers are not eligible for the 100-air-mile exception from the log requirements.
Beginning July 1, 2013, drivers of property-carrying CMVs will have to begin complying with new restrictions on use of the 34-hour restart option, as well as a new requirement for mandatory 30-minute breaks every 8 hours.
Drivers of passenger-carrying CMVs will not be affected by the 2013 changes.
-taken from JJKeller.com website