🕒 FMCSA Proposes HOS Rule Changes: More Flexibility or More Confusion?

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Split breaks, longer shifts, and a new take on what counts as a “break.” Here's what it really means for truckers.

Big news outta Washington, and no, it’s not another toll hike or parking ban. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is proposing changes to the Hours of Service (HOS) rules — and for once, it looks like they’re actually listening to drivers.

These changes aim to give us more breathing room behind the wheel. No more racing the clock because your 30-minute break hit during a fuel stop, or having to pull over in the middle of nowhere because the sleeper rules don’t flex.

Let’s dive into what’s changing, what it means for your day-to-day, and whether this is progress or just another regulation dressed up in a “we care” costume.

⏱️ What’s Changing (Proposed)

Here’s a breakdown of what the FMCSA’s cooking up:

1. Split Sleeper Berth Flexibility
You know the drill now: 10 hours off-duty, or else. But under the proposed changes, you’d be allowed to split your 10-hour break into two parts:

One chunk of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper

One chunk of at least 2 hours, either off-duty or in the sleeper

And the best part? Neither counts against your 14-hour clock.
Translation: you get more flexibility without that ticking time bomb cutting your day short.

2. 30-Minute Break Revision
Currently, after 8 hours of on-duty time, you need to stop and take a 30-minute off-duty break.
The new version? The break would be required after 8 hours of driving time, and it could be satisfied with a non-driving period — like waiting at a dock or fueling.

That’s a game-changer. Because let’s be real — half the time that 30-minute break already happened… just not in a way the rules counted.

3. Adverse Driving Conditions Extension
Sometimes the weather doesn’t care about your logbook. This rule aims to fix that.
The FMCSA wants to give drivers up to 2 extra hours on the clock when conditions go sideways due to things like:

Snow or storms

Traffic jams

Road closures

In other words, if it’s not your fault, you shouldn’t get punished for it.

4. Short-Haul Exemption Expansion
For drivers working within a short radius (think local routes), the proposal bumps:

The on-duty time from 12 to 14 hours

The radius from 100 to 150 air miles

So if you’re home daily but still grinding a 13-hour day, this one’s for you.

👉 Read the full FMCSA summary

🚛 What This Means for Truckers

Let’s not sugarcoat it: the HOS rules have been a mess of timers, trip-planning stress, and inflexible schedules since the ELD mandate came down. These proposed changes could bring some much-needed sanity back.

✅ More Control: Flexibility in how you rest means more say in how you run your day.

✅ Less Clock-Chasing: If you’ve ever screamed at your e-log while stuck at a shipper, this one’s for you.

✅ Real-World Logic: The idea of counting fueling time or dock delays as part of your break? Finally someone at FMCSA admitted we don’t live in a perfect world.

But... here’s the catch:
❓How will it be enforced? What one DOT officer says is “on-duty” could be different in the next state over. And you know how it goes — rules change, but the people enforcing them don’t always get the memo.

📣 Have Your Say — It Actually Matters

FMCSA is asking for public input right now. That means YOU, the one with the 65-foot load and a thermos of coffee, can actually help shape the final version of this rule.

Don’t let dispatchers, lobbyists, or corporate safety reps speak for you. They don’t ride the miles. You do.

👉 Leave a public comment

It’s quick. It's easy. And if you don’t do it, don’t complain later when the rules don’t work out like you hoped.

💬 Bottom Line: Baby Steps in the Right Direction

Are these proposed changes perfect? Nah. But compared to the stone-age rules we’ve been working under, it’s progress.

And it’s proof that when enough drivers speak up, somebody listens.

So if you’re tired of racing the 14-hour clock, or you’re sick of taking breaks that don’t match how real freight moves… speak up. These HOS changes could make your life a whole lot easier.

Just make sure the folks in D.C. don’t forget who actually keeps the freight moving.

🧭 Want More Control Over Your Time (And Money)?

👉 For trucking knowledge, tools, and mindset tips: LifeAsATrucker.com
👉 For off-duty income, exit plans, and building a future beyond trucking: RetireFromTrucking.com