Feds make good on Hours of Service logging device mandate for truck drivers

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration released on December 10 a long-awaited rule mandating the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) to complete paper records of duty status for drivers’ Hours of Service (HOS) rule compliance. In a preliminary analysis of the 516-page document, NRMCA Government Affairs staff cites how provisions will encompass ready mixed concrete delivery:

  • Short-haul drivers who are able to take advantage of a 100 air-mile logging exemption are not required to deploy ELD.
  • A driver who exceeds the exemption thresholds—working past 12 hours or driving beyond 100 air miles from a plant—at least eight days in any 30-day period will need ELD-based recordkeeping until the rolling 30-day period is reset. Mixer truck drivers are likely to trip the threshold during large pours or at peak construction season.
  • Effective 60 days after FMCSA publishes it the Federal Register, the final rule will afford fleets two years to deploy ELD in trucks manufactured in 2000 or later. The rule includes new paperwork retention and specific device configuration requirements.

NRMCA will provide members additional perspective in an early-2016 webinar addressing the ELD mandate plus ready mixed concrete-specific HOS changes in the new FAST highway bill.

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