Extending the limits on truck driver hours-of-service restrictions will help propane haulers respond to spikes in consumer demand, according to an exemption request to be considered by federal regulators.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is giving the public 30 days to comment on the request, submitted by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), a 2,500-member organization based in Washington, D.C. A notice is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Friday.
As laid out in its application filed with FMCSA in August, NPGA proposes a “special exemption” for the propane industry that would extend the daily 14-hour driving window to 17 hours, and the driving limit within that window from 11 hours to 14. The exemption would limit the number of consecutive days a driver could use it and must conclude with an off-duty period of 34 or more consecutive hours, as required under the current maximum drive-time rules.
“Over the last several years, the hours-of-service regulations have evolved with specific limits on driving times, breaks, off-duty times, sleeper berth periods, etc.,” according to NPGA, in explaining the need for the exemption.
“The country’s roadways and highways, along with the pipeline systems and railroads, however, have experienced very little change or expansion. Meanwhile, the propane industry has experienced an increase of consumers who rely on propane for daily living and operations as well as during emergency conditions when other energies are interrupted.”
Such conditions lead to periods of peak consumer demand, according to NPGA, and include:
— Railcar delays in excess of five business days.
— Interruption of electricity services.
— Interruption of natural gas services.
— Limitation of pipeline services due to pipeline allocation.
— Weather- and storm-related events, including, but not limited to, fallen trees, rock and mudslides, below-average temperatures, flooding, snow and tropical storms.
— Interruption of normal operations due to communicable disease, such as influenza and COVID-19.
Spikes in demand leading up to and during these conditions result in an uptick in deliveries to residential consumers as well as to bulk storage locations, NPGA asserted.
“As a result of these needs, long- and short-haul drivers often reach the maximum operating limits … within three or four days,” according to NPGA. “Subsequently, operations experience reductions in available drivers while consumer demand continues,” and the requested exemption would provide a “supplemental means” by which propane carriers would be able to respond.
Joe
Greed is the motivator behind this 3 ring circus side show! They want to relieve restrictions so corrupt politicians and fat gas clowns can gouge consumers. As a trucker of 34 years, I know this is not only a greedy move, but it’s also DANGEROUS and UNFAIR to all other truckers¡ I SAY NO!!
Gregory Meltdown
this is, the MOST STUPID THING!!!
just extension 💣 BOMB, also, what is the difference to a regular TRUCKERS!!!!!
Only what’s the convenience of “$$$$”
FMCSR only regulated “by SAFTY”?
PROPANE TRUCK DRIVER ARE SUPER DRIVERS!!
14hrs drive and 17hrs !!!
what a SAFE rule, Frick Governments
LeRoy
No way should this request be granted. Poor planning by the propane supplier to prepare for when the demand goes up should be rewarded by changing the rules. let them invest in more storage capacity at there facility, hire more drivers and by all means get up to date equipment. These companies also need to maintain better repair shops to take care of the equipment they do have.
nuf said!!
Jonathan Northrup
I’m a short haul Propane Delivery Driver. The correct solution is to invest in better equipment, i.e. modern Trucks and additional Driver’s. Beating the crap out of the few that you have will eventually end in Driver turnover or worse. Pay should be based on 40 hour week. OT after 40 hours.
Dan Lukaru
No Way,Hazardous Bombs,Pull Your Head Out. No Exceptions for anyone unless We all get em Fairs,Fair
Eric
Been getting exemption for years, you act like it’s never been heard of. You pull your head out!
Richard Rust
FMCSR Regulations are supposed to be about safety. Extending drive hours for a driver in a mobile bomb sounds counter intuitive. Sounds more like a financial ploy to me. Require team operations if HOS will be an issue. Don’t give into special interest groups. Right is right, wrong is wrong, this move would be wrong.
Roger Petzel
You would extend hours for hazardous cargo?
Matthew
no
Stephen Webster
propane is very dangerous. we need to set a min rate of $26us or $32 cd / hr plus overtime after 9 hrs and double time after 13 hrs. We also need military support and drivers and equipment purchases by gov for peak season use and storage facilities across the U S and 🇨🇦