Federal limits on truck drivers' hours take effect
- July 2, 2013
- By Catherine Kavanaugh
Federal regulations designed to keep drowsy truck drivers off the road, particularly those who were logging more than 70 hours a week, took full effect July 1.
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said the restrictions on hours of service will reduce crashes, improve driver health and save lives.
"Safety is our highest priority," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "These rules make common sense, data-driven changes to reduce truck driver fatigue and improve safety for every traveler on our highways and roads."
Trucking companies were given 18 months to adopt the new rules. The average work week for truck drivers now is limited to 70 hours to ensure they all have adequate rest. Only the most extreme schedules will be impacted; more than 85% of the truck driving workforce will see no changes.
Working long daily and weekly hours on a continuing basis is associated with chronic fatigue, a high risk of crashes, and a number of serious chronic health conditions in drivers. It is estimated that these new safety regulations will save 19 lives and prevent approximately 1,400 crashes and 560 injuries each year.
"These fatigue-fighting rules for truck drivers were carefully crafted based on years of scientific research and unprecedented stakeholder outreach," FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro said in a statement. "The result is a fair and balanced approach that will result in an estimated $280 million in savings from fewer large truck crashes and $470 million in savings from improved driver health. Most importantly, it will save lives."
The new service hours affect drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) that weigh 10,001 pounds or more, are involved in interstate or intrastate commerce to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards, and some passenger carriers.
The hours-of-service rules limit the maximum average work week for truck drivers to 70 hours, which is a decrease from the current maximum of 82 hours. However, truck drivers who reach the 70-hour maximum can resume if they rest for 34 consecutive hours, including at least two nights when their body clock demands sleep the most from 1-5 a.m.
The rules also require truck drivers to take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift but they retain the current 11-hour daily driving limit and 14-hour work day.
Companies and drivers that commit egregious violations of the rule could face the maximum penalties for each offense. Trucking companies and passenger carriers that allow drivers to exceed driving limits by more than three hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and the drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense.
For more information, including "Hours-of-Service Logbook Examples," go to the FMCSA's web site at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/HOS.
w w w . w a s t e r e c y c l i n g n e w s . c o m
copyright 2013 by Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved.