The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has decided to provisionally renew an exemption for R.J. Corman Railroad Services, Cranemasters, Inc., and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, Inc., which allows certain employees to drive commercial motor vehicles beyond the typical Hours of Service (HOS) limits during emergency responses. This six-month exemption permits employees to drive beyond the typical 14-hour on-duty limit and extends the 60- or 70-hour limits by six more hours to manage unplanned events such as derailments and storms. FMCSA encourages public comments on this decision by April 9, 2025. The renewal has specific terms to ensure safety, including mandatory training for drivers and using escort vehicles.
Simple Explanation
The FMCSA is letting special workers from a railroad and crane company drive longer than usual if there's an emergency, like a train derailment or bad weather, and they want to hear what people think about it.