When did Congress halt enforcement of the 34-hour restart requirement?

The enforcement of the 34-hour restart requirement was halted by Congress in December 2014. This decision was part of a larger legislative effort to address concerns from the trucking industry regarding the impact of the restart rules on driver hours and overall safety. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had implemented the restart provision, which allowed drivers to reset their weekly driving limit by taking a break of 34 hours. However, feedback from professionals in the trucking sector indicated that these restrictions were creating challenges for scheduling and increasing fatigue.

As a result, Congress included a provision in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015, which effectively suspended the enforcement of the rule, allowing drivers more flexibility in their hours of service and reducing the burden of compliance with the 34-hour restart provision. This move was seen as a corrective measure to balance safety concerns with the operational realities faced by truck drivers and the transportation industry.

Thus, recognizing the timeline of congressional actions helps to understand the dynamic nature of regulations affecting trucking operations and how they can be influenced by industry feedback and legislative changes.