• 22
  • December
    2011

The problem of fatigued driving among truck drivers has been well documented. Statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) indicate that hundreds of motorists die each year, and thousands more are injured in accidents involving fatigued semi truck drivers.

In an effort to prevent these types of accidents, the FMCSA has developed new hours of service (HOS) rules in an attempt to minimize truck driver fatigue. After much debate, the new HOS rules have finally been released.

The new rules maintain the current daily driving limit of 11 hours, but decrease the total number of hours a truck driver can work each week from 82 hours to 70 hours. Additionally, truckers are required to take at least a 30 minute break during an eight hour window of driving time.

Companies and drivers that violate these provisions will face potentially steep penalties. If truckers violate the 11 hour limitation by working at least three extra hours, trucking companies may be fined up to $11,000 for each offense. The commercial truck drivers themselves could be fined $2,750 per offense.

"With robust input from all areas of the trucking community, coupled with the latest scientific research, we carefully crafted a rule acknowledging that when truckers are rested, alert and focused on safety, it makes our roadways safer," explained Anne S. Ferro, FMCSA Administrator.

Hopefully the new regulations will be as effective as the FMCSA expects, and the roads will be safer for both truckers and other motorists.

Source: Truckinginfo, Final HOS Rule Retains 11-Hour Driving Limit, 22 December 2011