Hours of Service (HOS) of Drivers; Application of American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) for Exemption From the 14-Hour Rule During Independence Day Celebrations

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The American Pyrotechnics Association (APA) has applied for a limited exemption from FMCSA's regulation that drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) may not drive after the 14th hour after coming on duty. The exemption would apply solely to the operation of CMVs by 9 designated APA-member motor carriers in conjunction with staging fireworks shows celebrating Independence Day during the periods June 28--July 8, 2011, and June 28--July 8, 2012, inclusive. During these two periods, the approximately 375 CMVs and drivers employed by these 9 APA-member motor carriers would be allowed to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14 hours. These drivers would not be allowed to drive after accumulating a total of 14 hours of on- duty time, following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and would continue to be subject to the 11-hour driving time limit, and the 60- and 70- hour on-duty limits. The APA maintains that the terms and conditions of the limited exemption would ensure a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption.