The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted Waste Management an exemption to certain federal hours of service (HOS) rules. The exemption allows drivers operating waste and recycling trucks to return to their starting point within 14 hours of coming on duty rather than 12.

This exemption applies to about 18,000 Waste Management drivers who occasionally cannot complete their work day within 12 hours. Back in July, Waste Management applied for an hours of service exemption, asking FMCSA to consider allowing its drivers to work extra hours without losing short-haul status. Drivers can operate under the HOS short-turn exemption if they have returned to their starting point and are off the clock within 12 hours of beginning their workday.

“We are pleased that the FMCSA reached the right conclusion after a careful and thoughtful review of the exemption application and public comments. Waste and recycling companies operate local route service trucks with drivers starting and ending their days at the same location,” said National Waste & Recycling Association President and CEO Darrell Smith. 

In addition, Waste Management, as well as other companies and associations within the industry, have maintained that electronic logging devices (ELDs) “delay and distract” drivers who make frequent stops to collect trash because the devices demand interaction.

Transport Topics has more details:

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted Waste Management Holdings Inc. an exemption from certain hours-of-service rules.

According to a notice scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on Oct. 25, the exemption relaxes the requirement that shorthaul drivers using the records of duty status exception return to their starting location within 12 hours of coming on duty.

FMCSA’s exemption will allow drivers operating trucks to collect waste and recyclables to return to their starting point within 14 hours instead of 12.

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