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Re: Has the Hours of service been changed since the National Emergency?
Author: LOL
Date: 03-28-2020 - 15:35
Yes, it has been changed, in a sense, along with many other rules. The FRA recently issued a waiver essentially saying the carriers can now do whatever they want, as long as it is reported.
The Hours of Service Law has always had provisions for working longer than 12 hours in an emergency situation. According to the FRA, the current situation is an indefinite emergency.
Some of the relaxed rules now allow reduced track inspection, allowing trains to depart the initial terminal with inoperative brakes, and allowing crews to run where they are not qualified, as long as PTC is working, among many other former requirements.
Picture it if you will. A crew that has never been on a territory before is running a train that has not had a true brake test, on track that has not been truly inspected. Perfectly acceptable. Recipe for disaster.
Link to the waiver is below.
[files.constantcontact.com]
The Hours of Service Law has always had provisions for working longer than 12 hours in an emergency situation. According to the FRA, the current situation is an indefinite emergency.
Some of the relaxed rules now allow reduced track inspection, allowing trains to depart the initial terminal with inoperative brakes, and allowing crews to run where they are not qualified, as long as PTC is working, among many other former requirements.
Picture it if you will. A crew that has never been on a territory before is running a train that has not had a true brake test, on track that has not been truly inspected. Perfectly acceptable. Recipe for disaster.
Link to the waiver is below.
[files.constantcontact.com]
