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

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew and modify the exemption granted to the Association of American Railroads and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and member railroads (the Associations) from the hours-of-service (HOS) prohibitions against driving after the 14th hour after coming on duty (the 14-hour rule) and against driving after accumulating 60 hours of on duty time within 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours of on duty time within 8 consecutive days (the 60-hour/70-hour rule). The exemption will enable covered drivers to respond to unplanned events that occur outside of, or extend beyond, their normal work hours. FMCSA modifies the previous exemption to limit the categories of unplanned events during which the exemption may be used and to add reporting requirements. In addition, only drivers operating for motor carriers listed in the Appendix to this decision may operate under the exemption. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and has determined that the exemption renewal, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, is likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved in the absence of the exemption.