This bill amends Section 32-9A-6 of the Code of Alabama 1975, concerning the intrastate hours of service limitation for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The amendment increases the intrastate air-mile radius from 75 to 150 miles from the driver's normal work reporting location. The bill specifies that the intrastate hours of service limitation allows for a 12-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and prohibits driving by any driver who has been on duty for more than 15 hours. Additionally, driving is prohibited for any driver who has been on duty for 70 hours in seven consecutive days.

The bill also outlines that all motor carriers operating under this variance must have a satisfactory or unrated safety rating with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Carriers with conditional or unsatisfactory FMCSA safety ratings are excluded from this variance. Furthermore, it requires drivers to comply with the record of duty status provisions under 49 C.F.R. Section 395.8 and to retain a copy of each record of duty status for the previous seven consecutive days for inspection while on duty. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 32-9A-6
Enrolled: 32-9A-6