“Personal Conveyance Under Fire: CVSA Pushes for Stricter Limits”

The long-debated use of personal conveyance (PC) under Hours of Service (HOS) regulations is facing renewed scrutiny—and this time, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is coming armed with data.

In the coming weeks, CVSA will formally petition the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to impose significant new restrictions on PC use. The proposed changes are poised to impact tens of thousands of commercial drivers, particularly owner-operators, and are likely to reignite industry-wide debate.

The Proposed Restrictions

According to CVSA Deputy Executive Director Adrienne Gildea, the upcoming petition will call for:

• A hard two-hour daily limit on personal conveyance use.

• A ban on using PC to travel to or from home, particularly affecting owner-operators.

• A ban on PC use to reach a “safe haven” when a driver has run out of hours and cannot find legal parking.

• Reclassification of PC movement, removing it from the “off duty” line in electronic logs.

This marks the most aggressive attempt yet to curtail what CVSA considers widespread abuse of a provision originally designed to give drivers limited flexibility for personal, non-work-related movement.

Why Now? The Data Tells a Story

FMCSA previously denied CVSA’s efforts to restrict PC, citing a lack of data. But this time, CVSA is not coming empty-handed.

Since June 2021, CVSA has been documenting instances of what inspectors believe is improper PC use. FMCSA even created a special violation code under “False Log” to support this tracking initiative. The findings are striking:

• PC misuse is observed in 38% of all tracked instances.

• Motor carriers whose drivers misuse PC are four times more likely to be involved in a crash.

Gildea emphasized that “the rise of personal conveyance misuse seen in the roadside inspection data makes it clear that additional clarity and guardrails are needed.” These statistics may finally tip the scales in favor of regulatory action.

Owner-Operators in the Crosshairs

The petition’s language directly targets owner-operators—many of whom use PC to return home or search for safe parking after exhausting their drive time. Under the proposed rules, both scenarios would become violations.

Critics within the industry argue that such changes would strip away a critical layer of flexibility in an already rigid HOS system. However, CVSA counters that the provision has become a loophole too frequently used to justify continued on-duty movement.

Timing and Context

The CVSA’s announcement comes fresh off the heels of this year’s International Roadcheck, held May 13–15, which included focused inspections on HOS compliance and PC use. Inspectors across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico zeroed in on how drivers logged and used PC, offering a preview of what may become heightened enforcement if FMCSA adopts CVSA’s recommendations.

At CVSA’s Spring Workshop in New Orleans just last month, the alliance finalized the two-hour time limit proposal. With board approval secured, the petition is now in its final stages of submission.

What’s Next?

Should FMCSA accept the petition and initiate rulemaking, it could lead to a revised regulatory definition of personal conveyance, new guidance for enforcement, and potentially, changes in how ELD manufacturers program log lines.

As always, Safety Lane Magazine will be tracking the progress of this petition closely and providing updates as they develop.

Industry Voices Wanted

FMCSA is expected to open a public comment period if it moves forward with rulemaking. Fleet owners, safety managers, and independent drivers should prepare to weigh in and help shape the future of PC use.

For more compliance updates and in-depth analysis, stay tuned to Safety Lane Magazine—your source for the latest in transportation safety, regulation, and strategy.