HB298 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Barry Moore
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Commercial motor vehicles in intrastate transportation, allowable variances for hours of service limitations according to federal rule or law, records requested
Summary: HB298 adds intrastate hours-of-service variances for certain drivers within 75 miles of their work location, with new driving, on-duty, and weekly hour limits, plus recording requirements for carriers and drivers.
What This Bill Does
If enacted, it sets intrastate driving rules for drivers operating within a 75 air-mile radius of their normal work location: up to 12 hours of driving, no driving after being on duty for more than 15 hours, and restrictions on total on-duty hours (70 hours in 7 days or 80 hours in 8 days). It defines who is an intrastate driver based on the past seven days of operation. Carriers that use this variance must have a satisfactory FMCSA safety rating (or be unrated) and must require drivers to follow federal duty-status rules, keeping a copy of duty records for the previous seven days. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects
Intrastate commercial motor vehicle drivers who operate within 75 air-miles of their normal work reporting location, with new driving and on-duty limits and a seven-day duty history requirement.
Motor carriers that opt to use the variance must maintain a satisfactory FMCSA safety rating (or be unrated) and ensure their drivers comply with record-of-duty requirements and keep seven days of duty records ready for inspection.

Key Provisions
Applies to intrastate driving within a 75 air-mile radius of the driver’s normal work reporting location, following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
Driving limits for intrastate drivers: up to 12 hours of driving, and driving prohibited after being on duty more than 15 hours.
Total on-duty hours limitations: driving and other on-duty time prohibited after 70 hours in seven consecutive days or 80 hours in eight consecutive days.
Definition: an intrastate driver is determined by their operation over the previous seven days.
Carrier eligibility: motor carriers using the variance must have a satisfactory FMCSA safety rating or be unrated; those with conditional or unsatisfactory ratings are not covered by the variance.
Record-keeping: drivers must comply with 49 C.F.R. 395.8, and must keep a copy of each record of duty status for the previous seven days, in their possession and available for inspection.
Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Commercial Motor Vehicles