FMCSA Asks Court to Keep Existing HOS Rules

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he Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it asked a federal appeals court on Monday to keep new hours-of-service rules for truck drivers because a return to the old rules would be "unprecedented" and "unnecessary."

The revised HOS rules that took effect Jan. 4 extended the time drivers could drive by one hour to 11, but cut back by an hour the total hours drivers could be on duty before taking a break, making it 14. After 14 hours on duty, which the revised rule said must be consecutive hours, the driver must take a 10-hour rest.

Last week Public Citizen, a plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging new hours-of-service rules, asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for a return to the pre-January rules. (Click here for previous coverage.)

In response to Public Citizen’s brief, FMCSA said that group was "incorrect on all counts" and that reverting to the old HOS rules would disrupt enforcement, according to court documents.

FMCSA said the court does not have a deadline to rule on the case.