FMCSA reviewed NSRMCA’s application and the public comments received, and denied the application because available information did not allow the Agency to conclude that the proposed exemption would achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained absent the exemption.
NSRMCA is a national trade association representing contractors transporting mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS) in all 50 States as well as U.S. territories.
On behalf of its members employing “split-shift” contract CMV drivers, NSRMCA requested an exemption from the “14-hour rule” which prohibits a property-carrying driver from driving a CMV after 14 hours after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Under NSRMCA’s proposal, a driver transporting U.S. mail could drive a CMV no more than 10 (instead of the normal 11) hours following 8 (instead of the normal 10) consecutive hours off duty; and not drive after having been on duty 15 hours following 8 consecutive hours off duty.
FMCSA received 562 comments, 542 of which opposed NSRMCA’s exemption request. The commenters objected to the extension of the duty day, which they said would lead to more fatigued drivers and, potentially, an increase in CMV crashes. Several commenters saw this request as a cost-cutting measure which would enable NSRMCA members to reduce the number of CMV drivers they employed while performing the same level of mail-delivery service. Others noted that FMCSA had denied an identical request for the same exemption filed by the USPS (74 FR 23467, May 19, 2009). USPS had failed to demonstrate that the exemption would maintain a level of safety equal to, or greater than, the level of safety established by the current HOS rules. (USPS also filed a request in 2005) Only 10 comments supported the exemption request, and two of them were filed by the original petitioner, NSRMCA.
FMCSA announces that it has received an application for exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) requirements from the United States Postal Service (USPS) on behalf of motor carriers that transport mail under contract for USPS. USPS requests that some of its contract motor carriers be allowed to operate under the HOS rules in effect prior to January 4, 2004. USPS believes the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level achieved under the HOS rules applicable to operators of property- carrying vehicles rules after January 4, 2004. (11/21/05)
The FMCSA concluded that the NSRMCA application failed to demonstrate how it would ensure that the operations of its members under the exemption would achieve a level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption. NSRMCA’s exemption would allow drivers to operate for more hours and obtain less restorative rest. FMCSA has denied the same request on two previous occasions. NSRMCA did not provide any data, studies or research supporting its recommendations or sufficient specific information about these operations. Therefore, the Agency cannot determine that NSRMCA’s proposed exemption would meet the statutory requirement to maintain the current levels of safety. Accordingly, FMCSA denied NSRMCA’s application for exemption by letter dated January 12, 2016.
As we can see, businessmen don’t care about safe working conditions or the driving public! they only care about the P. and L. statement! The businessmen just want to hoard more money. I have noticed that the Federal and state governments are only concerned about making every thing easier for business. The worker and public be damned!
just say NO to the PO criminals! President Trump sell off this dump to UPS or FDX. can you see UPS asking goobermint to let their 747 pilots fly 20 hours a day…….these uneducated po scum need to be brought to heal!
Please re-read the article. It isn’t the PO who is asking for the exemption. It is the contractor…the same ones that TRUMP and his ilk would sell the USPS to…one piece at a time.
FDX stock $165.00 UPS stock $104.00 USPS stock $0.00 look who should be sold and look who should be brought! capitalism vs socialism……..no contest!
Working a 14 hour day with a 6 day week would just be waiting for an accident to happen.