No Mandatory Meal Breaks For Commercial Drivers

We, the undersigned request that the California State Assembly pass AB569, an amendment of the current state required mandatory meal breaks as it pertains to commercial drivers.

The current requirement of meal breaks at specific times of our workday becomes an impediment to the timely performance of our duties as delivery drivers. We, the undersigned request that the current law requiring meal breaks be waived for commercial vehicle drivers in the transportation industry and governed by FMCSA Section 395 Hours of Service. The current state law requirement puts a burden not only on the drivers it affects, but the companies that employ them as well.

Company contracts with the customers they supply are generally set-up with strict appointment times and in many cases there are ‘delivery windows’ that need to be adhered to. More often than not, the mandatory time frame to take the meal breaks overlaps into these appointment times. This overlap causes stress on the drivers it affects and on the company employees attempting to satisfy not only the customers served, but the State of California as well.

Relieving the burden of mandatory meal breaks for commercial drivers in the transportation industry here in California, would ease the time constraint / scheduling issue that companies now face. Companies are forced to use disciplinary procedures if a driver violates the mandated time for meal breaks; companies also use disciplinary procedures if a driver goes out of the ‘delivery window’ by adhering to the mandatory meal break times according to California law. And, naturally, the companies face harsh penalties if they do not adhere to the meal break period schedule.

We request that AB569 be passed and thereby relieve the burden and stress placed on commercial drivers in the transportation industry here in California, of having to adhere to policy that should not apply to them.