What is the 150-air-mile-radius exception and who qualifies?

The 150-air-mile-radius exception exempts certain commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers from:

• Needing to fill out a standard record of duty status (log);
• Needing to take a 30-minute break from driving after 8 hours of driving a property-carrying CMV;
• Needing to retain and present certain supporting documents as described in §395.11; and
• For drivers of property-carrying CMVs that do not require a CDL license, needing to comply with the 14-hour limit every day of the week.

The exception does not excuse drivers from having to follow other hours-of-service regulations (e.g., the 11-hour driving rule, 60/70-hour rule, etc.) or other regulations such as those for driver qualification, drug and alcohol testing, vehicle inspections, etc.

A CMV driver qualifies for the 150-air-mile-radius exception if the driver:

• Operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work-reporting location, which is equivalent to 172.6 statute miles;
• Returns to the work-reporting location and is released from work within 14 consecutive hours;
• Has at least 10 consecutive hours off duty separating each 14 hours on duty (or 8 hours off duty for drivers of passenger-carrying vehicles); and
• Does not exceed 11 hours maximum driving time following 10 consecutive hours off duty (or 10 hours of driving after 8 hours off duty for drivers of passenger-carrying vehicles).

When a driver uses this exception, the motor carrier that employs the driver must maintain (for 6 months) time records showing the driver’s daily starting and ending times and total time on duty.

Drivers of property-carrying CMVs that do not require a CDL license have the added benefit of being able to:

• Extend the 14-hour limit by up to two hours twice per seven consecutive days, and
• Remain on duty (but not driving) past the 14th or 16th hour of the day.