Hours of service - Minnesota

Minnesota has adopted Part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), with the exception of 395.1(a), (c), (d), (f), (h), (i), (m), and (n).  

Part 395 applies to motor vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight, or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, or hauling hazardous materials required to be placarded.

Under Minnesota’s adoption of 395.1(k), the state’s planting and harvesting season is March 15 through December 15 of each year.

Exception: The hours-of-service regulations do not apply to drivers engaged in transportation within a 150 air-mile radius from the source of the commodities, or from the retail or wholesale distribution point of the farm supplies, for agricultural commodities or farm supplies for agricultural purposes.

Exception: The operator of a “covered farm vehicle” as defined in 390.5 is exempt from the hours-of-service requirements in Part 395. This exception does not apply if transporting a placardable amount of hazardous materials.

Exception: The rules for hours-of-service of drivers do not apply to vehicles controlled by a farmer and operated by a farmer or farm employee to transport agricultural products, farm machinery, or supplies to or from a farm if the vehicle is not used in the operations of a motor carrier and not carrying hazardous materials of a type or quantity that requires the vehicle to be marked or placarded in accordance with Minnesota Statute 221.033.

Exception: The rules for hours-of-service of drivers do not apply to private carriers engaged in the transportation of construction materials, tools and equipment from shop to job site or job site to job site, for use by the private carrier in new construction, remodeling, or repair of buildings, structures or their appurtenances.

Exception: Part 395 does not apply to an individual operating a pipeline welding truck.

Exception: The rules for hours of service of drivers do not apply to certain private carriers who are public utilities (defined in Minnesota Statute 216B.02), cooperative electric associations (organized under chapter 308 A), and telephone companies (defined in Minnesota Statute 237.01).