If you’re a driver who operates under the short haul exemption, we have some news for you! As of April 9, you’re no longer required to take a 30-minute break after working eight hours. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted an exemption from the required break when the duty hours unexpectedly exceed 12. However, it’s important to note, you’ll still be required to complete an hours of service (HOS) log.

Here’s what you need to know about the rule.

• Drivers exceeding 12 hours must return to their work reporting location and be released from duty within 14 hours of having come on duty.
• The exemption is only valid when transporting:
  • UN 1170 – Ethanol
  • UN 1202 – Diesel fuel
  • UN 1203 – Gasoline
  • UN 1863 – Fuel, aviation, turbine engine
  • UN 1993 – Flammable liquids n.o.s. (gasoline)
  • UN 3475 – Ethanol and gasoline mixture, ethanol and motor spirit mixture, or ethanol and petrol mixture
  • NA 1993 – Diesel fuel or fuel oil
• The motor carrier must have a “satisfactory” safety rating or be “unrated.”
• Drivers must carry a copy of the exemption document and present it upon request.

Additionally, motor carriers operating under this exemption must notify the FMCSA of any accident as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T within five business days by email. This notification must include:

• Identifier of the exemption: “NTTC”
• Name of the motor carrier and DOT number
• Date of the accident
• City or town and state closest to the accident scene
• Driver’s name and license number, including co-driver information if applicable
• Vehicle number and license plate number
• Number of individuals suffering physical injury and fatalities, if applicable
• The police-reported cause of the accident and whether the driver was cited for violation of any traffic laws or motor carrier safety regulations
• The total driving time and total on-duty time prior to the accident

I understand that’s a lot of information I’ve just rattled off to you. So, as always, feel free to reach out to me or someone with our Holmes Murphy team if you have any questions. We’d be happy to walk through the exemption and what it means to you!