HOS Proposed Rule Changes Spark Debate

In December, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), proposed a revision to the hours-of-service (HOS) requirement currently in effect for commercial truck drivers. The proposed change would reduce the number of hours commercial drivers are allowed to drive in certain circumstances.

The purpose behind the new rule is to ensure that drivers are alert and well-rested in order to avoid crashes, improving safety on the roads. However, a bipartisan group of legislators, as well as the trucking industry, is against the proposed changes.

One of the major changes that will impact many in the industry regards restarts. Currently, drivers must wait 34 hours before getting back behind the wheel and resetting their weekly hours limits. If the new rule changes go into effect, that 34-hour stretch must include two 12 a.m. - 6 a.m. time periods. Officials want to reduce the amount of fatigued truck drivers on the road.

Not everyone is in favor of the changes. A group of 122 representatives believe the current rules are sufficient, pointing out in a letter to Secretary Ray LaHood that since the current HOS were put in place seven years ago, safety in the trucking industry has actually improved.

Officials are trying to find a way to address fatal trucking accidents. The number of these accidents seems to have levelled off. This has led to a renewed focus on safety, with tougher rules in place in an effort to again reduce the number of serious accidents occurring on roadways.

DOT advises that violation of the proposed HOS rule would result in individual civil fines for drivers of up to $2,750, while companies that allow its drivers to exceed the new limits would face up to $11,000 for each offense.