DOE Gets Extension to 30-Hour Break Exemption

 DOE Gets Extension to 30-Hour Break Exemption.pdf

On July 6, 2020 (85 FR 40380), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its decision to grant the application of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a renewal of its exemption from the 30-minute rest break provision of the Agency's hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.  DOE currently holds an exemption for the period through June 29, 2020, which enables DOE's contract motor carriers and their employee-drivers engaged in the transportation of security-sensitive radioactive materials to be treated similarly to drivers of shipments of explosives.  The exempted drivers will be allowed to use 30 minutes or more of on-duty “attendance time” to meet the HOS rest break requirements providing they do not perform any other work during the break.  The requested exemption renewal is effective from June 30, 2020, through September 29, 2020.