USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Hours of Service of Drivers: Association of American Railroads and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association; Application for Exemption

Notice of final disposition; grant of exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant the application submitted by the Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and member railroads (collectively "the Associations") for an exemption from the prohibition against driving after the 14th hour from the beginning of the work shift (the 14-hour rule) and the prohibition against driving after accumulating 60 hours of on duty time within seven consecutive days, or 70 hours of on duty time within 8 consecutive days (the 60- hour/70-hour rule). The exemption will enable railroad employees subject to the hours-of-service (HOS) rules to respond to unplanned events that occur outside of or extend beyond an employee's normal work hours. FMCSA concluded that granting the Associations' application is likely to achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption.

View PDF