AAR, ASLRRA seek exemption from certain hours-of-service regs

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) last week filed an application with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to seek an exemption from certain hours-of-service provisions.

Filed on behalf of member railroads, the associations are requesting exemptions from the following provisions:

• driving a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty;

• driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty;

• driving more than 11 hours during the 14-hour period after coming on duty;

• driving if more than eight hours have passed since the end of the last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of at least 30 minutes; and

• driving after accumulating 60 hours of on-duty time in seven consecutive days (60-hour rule) or 70 hours of of on-duty time in eight consecutive days (70-hour) rule.

The exemption would enable railroad employees subject to the hours-of-service rules to respond to unplanned events that occur outside of, or extend beyond, the employees' normal work hours, the FMCSA reported in the Federal Register.

The FMCSA is requesting public comments on the application by Sept. 21.