When new federal hours of service regulations took effect on July 1, 2013, the intent was to reduce fatal crashes on the highway. Whether that’s actually happening is another subject altogether, but there’s little doubt that the rules hindered productivity and led to higher rates for anyone who ships freight over the road, according to a “Cool Insights” column by Mark Montague, manager of industry rates at DAT Solutions, in the recent Food Logistics.
The most contentious rule change involves the 34-hour restart. Drivers are allowed to “restart” their 60- or 70-hour service clock after having at least 34 consecutive hours off duty. The rule now requires the restart period to include at least two off-duty periods from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. (home-terminal time zone). Furthermore, the use of the restart is limited to once a week (once every 168 hours).
Read the feature story here: http://www.foodlogistics.com/article/12002353/hos-rules-and-higher-rates-cool-insights-september-2014.
