Ninth Circuit Upholds Federal Preemption of CA Bus Driver Rest Break Rules

Ninth Circuit rules federal safety rules override California's bus driver rest break laws.

On June 4, 2026, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) regulations take precedence over California's meal and rest break laws for bus drivers.

The FMCSA's original preemption determination was made in 2018, concluding that California's more stringent rules impose an unreasonable burden on interstate commerce and potentially disrupt uniform federal safety requirements. This federal stance aims to maintain consistent safety standards across states for commercial drivers.

California's Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the Labor Commissioner's Office responded by petitioning the Ninth Circuit in early 2019 to challenge the FMCSA's decision, asserting the state's interest in protecting worker welfare through robust labor laws. "It is well within a state's rights to establish standards for the welfare of our workers," Becerra said, emphasizing that truck and bus drivers deserve adequate breaks like other workers.

This disagreement reflects ongoing tensions between federal regulatory authority and state labor protections, especially in transportation sectors involving interstate commerce. By siding with federal preemption, the Ninth Circuit reinforced FMCSA's role in setting uniform rest and meal break standards, a decision critical for legal advisors managing compliance for clients operating across state lines.