Have Your Say on proposed amendments to the Hours-of-Service regulations under the Motor Vehicle Act

The Motor Vehicle Act is a crucial piece of legislation that regulates the hours-of-service requirements for commercial drivers. Recently, proposed amendments to the Hours-of-Service regulations have been released for public review, and the Department of Transportation invites stakeholders to participate in the discussion.

The revisions focus on extending the maximum weekly off-duty period from 72 hours to 120 hours, which would allow drivers to extend their trips and potentially increase their efficiency. Additionally, the amendments propose to make rest periods mandatory after eight hours of consecutive work, with an option to extend that period by up to two hours in certain cases. The amendments also suggest adding a provision to allow rest periods to be interrupted for transportation-related activities as long as the total rest period duration is not altered.

The Motor Vehicle Act has long been recognized for its safety-oriented approach to regulating commercial drivers. The proposed changes to the Hours-of-Service regulations are intended to improve the efficiency of commercial drivers while ensuring they are not overworked and remain safe on the road.

The public is encouraged to weigh in on the proposed amendments by submitting comments to the Department of Transportation. Stakeholders are also invited to attend public hearings to discuss the proposed changes. The Department of Transportation will take into account all comments and input received before finalizing the amendments.

The Motor Vehicle Act is essential to protecting the safety of commercial drivers and the general public, and stakeholders are urged to participate in the discussion on the proposed amendments to the Hours-of-Service regulations. The Department of Transportation invites all interested parties to share their thoughts on the proposed revisions and take part in the public hearings.