Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration March 29, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from PJ Helicopters, Inc. (PJH) requesting an exemption from two provisions of the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for its ground support equipment operators. PJH requested relief from the 14-hour rule and the requirement that drivers have 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of the work shift. The exemption would allow PJH's ground support equipment operators a 16-hour window within which to complete all driving, and enable these operators to use an 8-consecutive hour off duty break, combined with at least two other off duty hours during the 16-hour window within which driving would be completed, in lieu of taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. If granted, the exemption would cover PJH's CMV operators only when they are responding to or returning from an active incident as requested by an officer of a public agency or public utility. PJH believes that granting these exemptions will have no adverse safety impacts while its ground support equipment operators are responding to said incidents. FMCSA requests public comment on PJH's application for exemptions.