Trucking news in Washington, California and Colorado

Washington and California: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration seeks waiver requests on rest rules decision.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced last August that it is actively seeking to receive requests for exemptions from its previous decision to rescind break rules in California and Washington. Requests will be considered only until November 13.

The states of California and Washington have meal and rest break laws, which stipulate that employers are required to offer employees of freight transportation companies a 30-minute break for every five hours worked and a 10-minute break for every four hours worked.

Some trucking groups argue that the rules cause disruptions to interstate commerce because they are “incompatible” with federal rest laws and put drivers at risk by having to make continuous stops on the road.

In 2018, the American Trucking Associations and the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association petitioned the FMCSA to make the necessary adjustments, and the association granted the request. In 2020, the agency accepted a similar request from the Washington Trucking Associations.

At the time, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concluded that state standards were stricter than federal standards and did not provide additional safety benefits. Currently, the FMCSA has established that it is open to receiving requests for exemption from its old decision.

It states that petitions for California and Washington’s break rules must include not only the argument that the FMCSA erred in its previous decision, but that the agency encourages petitioners to include stronger arguments that do not rely solely on of its conclusion. You will be receiving these requests until November 13, 2023.