New Hours of Service (HOS) Regulation to White House
The FMCSA, in compliance with the settlement agreement in the lawsuit brought by Public Citizen and other public interest groups, sent its new proposed hours of service (HOS) regulations to the White House. The FMCSA now has until July 2011 to publish the new rule.
The HOS regulations govern how long a truck driver can work before having to take time off to rest. The are in place because it is well known that a tired fatigued driver is a dangerous driver, far more likely to be in a wreck. I have multiple posts on the dangers of fatigue as this is a huge issue in the trucking industry. I have posted on the harsh conditions driver endure when forced to work long hours before, conditions that have caused many to call trucks rolling sweatshops and increased the danger to everyone that uses the roads and highways of America.
The last time the HOS rules were amended was on Jan 4, 2004, when the time a driver was able to spend driving was increased from 10 hours to 11 hours. HOS regulations were first adopted in 1939. There was a modification in 1962 and then again in 1995. The 2004 modifications, extending a driver's hours, brought about the current lawsuit and settlement, requiring the FMCSA to publish a new HOS rule.
I think the 11 hour rule should stay the same, and the 34 hour reset should stay the same. I agree there should be a mandatory one hour lunch break with a 13 hour work day.
I dont like the idea of the 7 days before you can get a 34 hour reset. You should be able to get the reset any time you have 34 hours off for intence if you break down or you have to make a short run then get 2 days off then have to make a long run you will get short on hours cause the 2 days of 0 will catch you and mess up time to complete a run 12-31-2010
I have been on the road for 38 years. When they changed the hrs in 2004 the only thing that became unsafe is the 14hr rule.It forces you to drive when you are tired,in bad weather or in heavy trafic.Where before we could stop and sleep doring these things and not lose any income. I beleave it would be safer to leave everything alone except the 14hr rule and change the sleeper berth back the way it was before 2004.
Fatal accidents (down 33%) and crashes in general have decreased substantially since the 2004 regulations went into effect. Despite greatly increased miles in shipping by truck, in virtually all catagories the 2004 HOS resulted in substantial gains in safety, despite greatly increased miles since that time. The new regs are not based on hard data and the stop reset requiring two periods 12-6am will have the effect of flooding the roads with trucks at morning rush hour as they come out. The currect 34 hour reset is perfect and allows me two periods of rest as it is, but allows flexbility to adjust to the route, conditions, load....etc.....that reduces stress and fatique by being able to adjust my schedule. The new rules will tend to lower my pay and keep me away from home a longer time.Less pay, longer time away from home....results in stressed and fatiqued drivers. The data also shows that , frustrated most accidents occur in the first 8 hours of driver's allowed time span. We need flexability to be able t stop for a nap without cutting into drive time. Speeds will likely increase because we are a time sensitive industry. We like this so we stop when rush hour of traffic is heavy. These stops can be verified using satellite log system(s)this technology can tell if the truck is moving.Many trucks have this technology inplace already Also truckers need places to park to rest.That would be money well spent to provide places where treuckers can pull in to rest/sleep.
The new rules are very political motivated, because the teamsters and railroad unions envision more truckers will be needed to fill the void that the new HOS rules will create . Obama can claim he created new jobs, but he pandering to unions, is killing my pay check, there is a shortage of truckers now! Not to mention that increase costs that these new and unnecessary changes to HOS will create.The cost increases would be substantial enough to effect the economic recovery.Virtually everything you have comes to you by truck, everything will cost more to get to you, believe it!! No gain in safty based on available data data will be realized. This is not a public interest group it is a special interest group pushing this.