• 28
  • December
    2011

Starting February 27, 2012, new rules will go into effect limiting the number of hours over-the-road truckers are allowed behind the wheel during the course of a week. The current 11 hour limit on driving time will remain, but truck drivers will be allowed to work only 70 hours per week, rather than the current limit of 80.

Drivers that violate the hours-of-service rules can face fines up to $2,750 per violation. A trucking company that allows its drivers to violate the 11-hours-per-day rule could face fines up to $11,000 per violation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) developed the new rules related to hours of service to combat accidents caused by truck driver fatigue. "This final rule will help prevent fatigue-related truck crashes and save lives," commented Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The new rule requires truck drivers to take a 30-minute break before working beyond an eight-hour shift. Drivers are also required to get at least two nights of rest during the hours of 1 am and 5 am as part of the 34-hour restart provision.

On-duty time will exclude time the driver is in his or her rig resting while the truck is parked, whether or not the resting is done in the sleeper cabin. If the semi is moving, a driver may rest in the passenger seat after his or her turn behind the wheel for up to two hours before or after eight straight hours in the sleeper berth.

The FMCSA anticipates that the new rule will have the greatest effect on long-haul truckers, those who commonly work more than 70 hours a week. The limitations on hours of service for truck drivers is intended to benefit others on the road by preventing fatigue-related truck accidents as well as the truck drivers themselves, who statistically are more likely to suffer from obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure due to the lack of sleep and prolonged periods of sitting that come with truck driving.

Source: FMCSA, "U.S. Department of Transportation Takes Action to Ensure Truck Driver Rest Time and Improve Safety Behind the Wheel," 22 December 2011