Short-Hauler Requests Exemption From Hours of Service 12-Hour Return Limit

Earlier this month, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published in the Federal Register an Hours of Service (HOS) exemption application from B.R. Kreider & Son, Inc. Kreider, "an interstate motor carrier engaged in the short-haul transportation of materials such as topsoil, fill, and stone." The company is specifically requesting an "exemption from the requirement that drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) must be released from work within 12 consecutive hours in order to take advantage" of the 100 air-mile logging exemption. The exemption request states that "Kreider drivers do not go beyond a 100 air-mile radius of their normal work-reporting location during their duty day. Kreider states that its drivers make frequent deliveries during their duty day and thus are ‘‘in and out of the truck all day long.’’ Kreider states that it is often not possible for its CMV drivers to complete their duty day within the 12-hour limit. The applicant believes that it is impractical to require these drivers to prepare a RODS when this occurs."

This same scenario has plagued the ready mixed concrete industry for decades. NRMCA fully supports exempting short-haulers from the 12-hour return threshold. In addition to submitting comments in support of the Kreider request, NRMCA is currently drafting a similar, industry-wide exemption for the ready mixed concrete industry.