Action
Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.
Summary
FMCSA has received from Dart Transit Company (Dart) an application for an exemption from certain commercial motor vehicle driver hours-of-service provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Dart requests an exemption for 200 of its owner-operators from the prohibition against driving after the 14th hour of coming on- duty, following 10 consecutive hours off-duty, and the requirement that drivers using two sleeper-berth periods to accumulate the equivalent of 10 consecutive hours off-duty spend at least 8 but less than 10 consecutive hours in the sleeper-berth during one of those two periods. As requested by Dart, exempt drivers would be allowed to drive up to 11 hours within a 24-hour period between 3 a.m. one day and 3 a.m. the next day, be required to complete a minimum of 6 consecutive off-duty or sleeper-berth hours between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m., and complete additional periods of off-duty or sleeper-berth time to total at least 10 hours of rest within any "floating" 24-hour period. Dart would implement a detailed, performance-based Fatigue Risk Management System to help prevent overall driver fatigue, and require the use of Electronic On-Board Recorders. Dart believes the terms and conditions of the exemption would ensure that the level of safety will be equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be obtained absent the exemption. FMCSA requests public comment on Dart's application for exemption.