PMA develops member guide to amended hours of service regulations
PMA develops member guide to amended hours of service regulations
Building on its commitment to helping its members understand transportation issues critical to the fresh produce industry, particularly the recently amended U.S. Department of Transportation hours of service rules, the Produce Marketing Association released via its web site a question-and-answer guide to the new regulations. These regulations went into effect Oct. 1.
Titled PMA Overview: U.S. Dept. of Transportation Driver Hours of Service Amended Regulations Summary, this resource describes how the October 2005 regulations amended the April 2003 HOS regulations; defines "agricultural commodities" and the exemption associated with them; and defines the 150 air-mile radius exemption, among other issues.
For example, under the April 2003 HOS regulations, a driver using a sleeper berth when taking the required 10 hours off-duty could split the sleeper-berth time into two periods, as long as neither period was less than two hours. However, the amended regulations require the driver using a sleeper berth to take at least eight consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus two consecutive hours, either in the sleeper berth, off-duty or via any combination of the two.
This change could lengthen the delivery times for fresh produce, said Kathy Means, PMA vice president of government relations.
This document is an important tool for PMA members as it explains not only the changes in the hours of service rules that take effect October 1, but also reviews many of the key components of the overall HOS regulations, said Bill Schuler of the Castellini Co. The new regulations present challenges for many companies involved with truck transportation, especially those involved with the distribution of perishable products where timely delivery is a mandate.
In addition to the HOS rules summary, PMA recently announced the formation of a Transportation Task Force led by PMA board members Mr. Schuler and Bud Floyd of C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. The task force will examine (and, when possible, propose solutions for) critical produce industry transportation issues.
One of the great values PMA brings to members is helping them understand how regulations will affect their businesses, Mr. Floyd said. Transportation is a critical element to every produce company, and that's why PMA created the Transportation Task Force, which will clarify and simplify issues so that our members better understand what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do it and what it means to them and their businesses.
Also, PMA plans to focus attention on transportation throughout its upcoming Fresh Summit in Atlanta. Included in the Fresh Summit program are a town hall meeting, a panel discussion led by company experts on challenges of trucking, and an education session on complexities of global shipping.
The PMA Overview: U.S. Dept. of Transportation Driver Hours of Service Amended Regulations Summary is available to PMA members at www.pma.com/transportation.
Titled PMA Overview: U.S. Dept. of Transportation Driver Hours of Service Amended Regulations Summary, this resource describes how the October 2005 regulations amended the April 2003 HOS regulations; defines "agricultural commodities" and the exemption associated with them; and defines the 150 air-mile radius exemption, among other issues.
For example, under the April 2003 HOS regulations, a driver using a sleeper berth when taking the required 10 hours off-duty could split the sleeper-berth time into two periods, as long as neither period was less than two hours. However, the amended regulations require the driver using a sleeper berth to take at least eight consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, plus two consecutive hours, either in the sleeper berth, off-duty or via any combination of the two.
This change could lengthen the delivery times for fresh produce, said Kathy Means, PMA vice president of government relations.
This document is an important tool for PMA members as it explains not only the changes in the hours of service rules that take effect October 1, but also reviews many of the key components of the overall HOS regulations, said Bill Schuler of the Castellini Co. The new regulations present challenges for many companies involved with truck transportation, especially those involved with the distribution of perishable products where timely delivery is a mandate.
In addition to the HOS rules summary, PMA recently announced the formation of a Transportation Task Force led by PMA board members Mr. Schuler and Bud Floyd of C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. The task force will examine (and, when possible, propose solutions for) critical produce industry transportation issues.
One of the great values PMA brings to members is helping them understand how regulations will affect their businesses, Mr. Floyd said. Transportation is a critical element to every produce company, and that's why PMA created the Transportation Task Force, which will clarify and simplify issues so that our members better understand what they are supposed to do, when they are supposed to do it and what it means to them and their businesses.
Also, PMA plans to focus attention on transportation throughout its upcoming Fresh Summit in Atlanta. Included in the Fresh Summit program are a town hall meeting, a panel discussion led by company experts on challenges of trucking, and an education session on complexities of global shipping.
The PMA Overview: U.S. Dept. of Transportation Driver Hours of Service Amended Regulations Summary is available to PMA members at www.pma.com/transportation.
