After 14 years of negotiations, the new Hours of Service Regulations were enacted by the U.S. Transportation Department on July 1, 2013. Here are five things you need to know about the new trucking regulations:
- Upon heavy penalty, drivers must not drive more than 11 hours straight
- Drivers may not exceed 14 hours of on-duty time
- Both general license (non-CDL) for commercial vehicles from 10,001 to 26,000 pounds and Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for heavier vehicles are accountable under the new regulations
- Annual trucking costs will increase an estimated 3% due to regulations (according to FTR Associates, a leading trucking industry Forecaster)
- Most state laws automatically follow the federal rules for intrastate operations
For a complete list of Hours of Service Regulations, visit the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website.
