Seyfarth Synopsis: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency of the Department of Transportation (DOT), today published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (FMCSA–2022–0028), that would maintain...more
In 2019, the federal Department of Transportation (DOT) issued final regulations that changed requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers’ rest and break times. The new rules said that if a driver was behind the wheel...more
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently upheld the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) determination that federal law preempts California’s meal and rest break requirements as to drivers of...more
After a decade of ups and downs on the question of federal preemption, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (“FMSCA”) decision to preempt California’s meal and rest...more
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on January 15 upheld the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (“FMCSA”) determination that federal law preempted California’s meal and rest break rules (“MRB...more
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently released a Final Rule on Hours of Service Drivers, revising its current regulations to provide drivers with more flexibility. By expanding existing exceptions and...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the central role local and long haul trucking companies and drivers play in the overall U.S. economy and specifically our public health infrastructure. Now, as states and businesses...more
On March 18, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an Expanded Emergency Declaration broadening federal exemptions from compliance with certain driver...more
The trucking industry is closely tied to the automotive industry. The trucking industry transports vast quantities of raw materials for use by automotive companies in their manufacturing, and is also a significant consumer...more
There are federal regulations in place for truck safety, but they can’t prevent tragic accidents. Legislation related to the trucking industry is implemented and enforced by three major agencies of the U.S. Department of...more
In response to complaints from the trucking industry, on August 14 the federal Department of Transportation proposed new rules that would give drivers and motor carriers significantly more flexibility in scheduling driving...more
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a notice of proposed rulemaking, which if made final would allow drivers a bit more flexibility in complying with hours of service requirements. This...more
On August 14, 2019, the Department of Transportation announced proposed changes that have been in the works for the last couple of years – changes which will hopefully empower (rather than constrain) commercial drivers for...more
The long awaited proposed changes by the U.S. Department of Transportation to the Hours of Service regulations are set to be published tomorrow in the Federal Register. A summary of the relevant proposed changes to 49 CFR...more
It’s official: California’s infamous meal period and rest break laws no longer apply to truck drivers regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s hours-of-service requirements. Following a petition from the American...more
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted tank truck drivers an exemption from the 30-minute break requirement in the hours of service regulations, which became effective April 9, 2018. 83 FR 15221 (Apr....more