Radioactive Material Drivers Granted Rest Break Exemption
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted the U.S. Department of Energy an exemption allowing its drivers who haul security-sensitive radioactive material to forgo an hours of service 30-minute rest break requirement.
In its exemption request, DOE contended that shipments of radioactive material require a team of two drivers and the use of a sleeper berth to minimize risk and expedite safe, secure delivery.
FMCSA said the exempted drivers will be allowed to use 30 minutes or more of on-duty ‘‘attendance time’’ to meet the HOS rest break requirements providing they do not perform any other work during the break.
DOE said in its petition that granting the two-year exemption would allow team drivers to manage their en route rest periods efficiently and also perform mandated shipment security surveillance.
DOE estimated that 30 power units and 53 drivers would be eligible for the exemption.
The initial DOE exemption application for relief from the HOS rule was granted in May 2013 and is due to expire June 30.
