Highlights of the new rules include:

• 14 hr. on-duty/10 hr. off-duty, 11 hr. maximum driving time;
• 60-hr./7-day or 70-hr./8-day cumulative cap for total on-duty time;
• On-duty status reset to zero after 34 hr. of continuous off-duty time;
• No mandatory requirement for onboard “black box” recorder;
• No change in team driving exemptions;
• No nighttime or weekend restrictions;

Official publication of the rules in the Federal Register was scheduled for May 25, but enforcement is not expected to begin until sometime in early 2004.

Look for a detailed analysis of the new rules and their impact on longhaul drivers’ jobs in the July issue of DRIVERS.