Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Aug. 31, 2020:
With hours overhaul near, FMCSA now considering pilot program to test other HOS reforms
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a pilot program to allow additional hours of service regulatory relief by allowing participating drivers to pause their on-duty driving period with one an off-duty period up to three hours.
The notice comes just a month out from a new HOS rule taking effect, Sept. 29, that allows drivers to pause split their off-duty time into segments of minimums of two hours and seven hours — and thus the ability to split their 14-hour duty clock up, too.
This new public comment period by FMCSA looks for feedback on off-duty breaks of as few as thirty minutes — and not more than three hours — to be allowed to pause the 14-hour on-duty window as long as the driver takes 10 hours off-duty at the end of the work shift (thus outside split-sleeper-berth cycles). Participation in the proposed pilot program, proposed to operate for three years or less, would be limited to a certain number of CDL driver who meet the criteria specified for participating. The goal: to gather statistically reliable evidence to analyze the safety and feasibility of such a modification to the hours of service.
Read more about the proposal via this link, and drivers looking to comment on the program should use docket number FMCSA-2020-0098 at Regulations.gov. At press time Friday, August 28, the official notice had not posted there yet. Check back for further updates.
TFI acquires intermodal, LTL carrier APPS
TFI International Inc. (No. 10, CCJ Top 250) announced Friday that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire APPS Transport Group. Established in 1985 and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, APPS primarily provides LTL service, as well as truckload, warehousing, distribution, and specialized operations within Ontario and throughout Canada. The company operates within the retail, consumer goods, automotive supply, food and beverage, industrial and commercial supply, and wire and cable industries.
With approximately CAD $100 million in annual revenue and nearly half its business intermodal, APPS has more than 400 employees including nearly 100 dedicated drivers plus more than 80 independent contractors, and works with over 250 interline partners. From its six facilities including its main location in Mississauga, the company operates a fleet that includes nearly 70 company trucks, close to 250 trailers, and approximately 250 containers.
