The California Highway Patrol has announced that the long-awaited changes to California’s HOS will become effective on Sunday, November 11, 2007.  The new rules are patterned after the federal hours of service rules adopted in October, 2005.  (The 2005 federal rules remain in effect for the time being until the court case brought on by Concerned Citizen is disposed of.)  There are some differences as well as similarities between the state rules and the federa regulations.  Below, you will see both state and federal rules:

HOURS REST REQUIRED

USE OF SLEEPER BERTH EXEMPTION

COMMENT:  Split sleeper birth only exists in the following formula: 8
consecutive hours in a sleeper followed by 2 additional hours of combined
time off-duty and/or sleeper. It can also be used in a formula of 2 hours
combined time off-duty and/or sleeper followed by 8 consecutive hours
sleeper birth.

HOURS ALLOWED TO DRIVE BETWEEN REST PERIODS *No change from previous rule.

ON DUTY HOURS BEFORE DRIVING IS PROHIBITED

COMMENT: Drivers are allowed to be on duty in excess of 16 hours but cannot drive a
commercial motor vehicle after the 16th hour.

LOCAL DRIVING RULES (100 MI RADIUS & REPORTING TO SAME PLACE)

COMMENT:  The 100 Air Mile Radius rule remains unchanged.  

USE OF 16 HOUR EXEMPTION

34 HOUR RESTART PROVISION

Source: California Trucking Association