FRA proposes HOS for railroad workers

Feb. 16, 2007
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is proposing a regulation that would give it authority to regulate railroad worker hours of service (HOS) similar to the way that truck driver HOS rules are handled

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is proposing a regulation that would give it authority to regulate railroad worker hours of service (HOS) similar to the way that truck driver HOS rules are handled, according to FRA information.

The FRA proposal will replace current railroad HOS laws, first enacted in 1907, to address what FRA said is a serious issue of worker fatigue. The laws, which set the maximum on-duty or minimum off-duty hours for train crews, dispatchers, and signal maintainers would now be set by the FRA.

Under the proposal, the FRA Railroad Safety Advisory Committee, made up of railroad management, labor representatives, and other key stakeholders, will review the issue and develop recommendations on new HOS limits before any changes are made.

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