The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted an exemption to drivers hauling oversize/overweight loads which allow them to skip the federally mandated 30-minute break period.
The FMCSA stated that limited parking for oversize/overweight loads often leads to drivers parking alongside interstate and ramp shoulders, which is a safety concern.
“No matter how well marked, trucks parked at roadside, especially at night, are too often mistaken for moving vehicles and struck, frequently with fatal consequences, before an inattentive driver can correct his or her mistake,” said the FMCSA on a June 18th Federal Register posting.
The exemption applies only to interstate commerce, intrastate hauls will not be eligible. Drivers are required to carry the exemption document while operating under the exemption, and are required to present it to law enforcement if requested.
The exemptions are slated to expire on June 18th, 2017.