An hours-of-service exemption granted to the American Trucking Associations in 2015 on behalf of certain security-sensitive hazmat haulers has been extended through 2020 in accordance with the FAST Act.
The exemption from the 30-minute rest break rule by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is limited to drivers transporting hazmat loads that have filed security plans requiring the drivers to constantly “attend” to the cargo. Drivers are allowed to use 30 minutes or more of “attendance time” to meet the requirements of the rest break.
The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, passed in December 2015, requires FMCSA to extend any hours-of-service exemption to five years from the date the exemption took effect. The exemption will now be effective through Aug. 20, 2020.