The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has granted the Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association (SC&RA) an exemption of the 30-minute break hours-of-service (HOS) provision, according to a letter to the SC&RA dated June 24. 
The exemption went into effect June 18, 2015 and will continue through June 18, 2017. The SC&RA will evaluate the exemption over the period to determine their advocacy for a further extension beyond 2017.
This exemption applies to permitted oversize and overweight loads on interstate trips, for which states are required to honor the exemption, according to the SC&RA. Although, according to the FMCSA most states also honor these Federal exemptions for intrastate trips.
In order to determine if this exemption is honored in a specific state, contact the commercial vehicle enforcement agency in the state, often the state police department.
Drivers are not required to apply or register to be covered by the exemption. It is advised that each driver carry, in addition to their state oversize or overweight permit, a copy of the 3-page FMSCA letter. Click here to view Terms of Hours of Service Exemption.
