Federal transportation safety officials have approved a 30-minute break exemption for ready mixed concrete truck drivers, effective, April 2, 2015, a decision long awaited by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association which led the industry effort for the exemption. The decision by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) is effective through April 3, 2017 and is specific solely to mixer truck drivers who possess a sufficient safety rating with both FMSCA and the CSA program.
The decision comes after more than 18 months of discussions among NRMCA staff, Producer member company officials, FMSCA officials and key members of Congress. While noting the welcome news, NRMCA cautions that the exemption as written is still only temporary. Making it permanent still involves convincing members of Congress; the TCC Fly-In taking place later this month in Washington, DC, is a prime opportunity to do so, notes NRMCA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Kerri Leininger (please click here for more information).
“As a result of NRMCA’s efforts, much needed regulatory relief has been realized for the ready mixed concrete industry,” says NRMCA Chairman Allen Hamblen.
Further details of the exemption include language stating that if a driver passes the 12-hour threshold contained in the 100 air-mile logging exemption, he or she does not have to take the break, but rather can apply a previous 30-minute “waiting time” period toward the 30-minute break. Drivers utilizing the exemption must keep a copy of the exemption document in their truck. To view the exemption language, please click here.
