ByTruck drivers spend a lot of time behind the wheel, which can be exhausting—simply focusing on the road can take a mental toll. Truck drivers also have deadlines to meet and this often means skipping much-needed breaks.
All this time behind the wheel can lead to driver fatigue, which also increases the chances of an accident. Several rules and regulations are currently in place to reduce truck accidents caused by driver fatigue, and understanding truck driver fatigue regulations is crucial for meeting compliance standards.
What Are The Regulations Governing Truck Driver Fatigue
Truck driver fatigue is always a concern. Even experienced truckers can find themselves occasionally nodding off behind the wheel. An industry study reported that 65% of commercial truck drivers reported feeling fatigued at least once while driving, which applies to drivers who follow hours of service regulations.
Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are a set of federal rules designed to address and help prevent driver fatigue. These laws govern how many hours a trucker can drive each day and week. Something to note is the rules don’t limit a truck driver’s mileage, only the hours they spend driving. The reason mileage is exempt is to take into account if a single truck has two drivers switching on and off.
If a truck cab has two licensed drivers it’s legal for the truck to keep rolling even if the hours of service are up. This is true as long as neither driver exceeds their hours of service in a day or week. To help guide you, here’s a quick look at some of the key regulations in current HOS laws:
- Truck drivers can’t exceed more than 11 hours of driving in a single day after taking a 10-hour rest break.
- All truck drivers must work no more than 14 hours a day, including maintenance, driving, and other job-related duties.
- Drivers must take a 30-minute break after driving 8 hours. After the 30 minutes are up, the driver can continue behind the wheel for another three hours before taking the required 10-hour break.
- Truck drivers can’t work more than 60 hours over 7 days and 70 hours over 8 days, which includes driving time, maintenance, and other work duties.
- All truck drivers must use ELDs (electronic logging devices) to record their driving time and hours of service.
Along with meeting all HOS regulations, truck drivers and their employers are also required to follow guidelines from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). These regulations include requiring trucking companies to create and enforce programs that help manage driver fatigue. Employers are also required to provide their drivers with the required number of breaks and time off.
You’ll also want to check state laws regarding driver fatigue. Some states may have laws requiring truckers to take more frequent breaks or spend less time behind the wheel each day.
Potential Penalties for Non-Compliance with Driver Fatigue Regulations
Penalties for non-compliance with driver fatigue regulations can impact both the driver and carrier. Fines are always a possibility and these can range from a couple of hundred dollars into the thousands. If you’re wondering who levies the fines, it’s the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Drivers who violate HOS rules, even if it’s only a few minutes, may find themselves placed on an out-of-service order, and this order is precisely what its name implies. The driver is not permitted behind the wheel until they take the required break, which applies whether it’s a 10-hour or 30-minute break.
Violating the hours of service rules can also impact the driver and carrier’s BASIC (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category) score, which is a score kept by the FMCSA. A higher score indicates there have been compliance issues and increased monitoring is necessary. Higher BASIC scores can also make it difficult for drivers and carriers to find affordable insurance and secure new customers.
Liability Issues Can Occur
When a truck driver or carrier isn’t compliant with HOS and other industry rules, it can affect liability in an accident. Driver fatigue is a form of negligence and this can make the driver or entity liable for any damages.
Avoiding Compliance Issues
The penalties for non-compliance can be steep—however, this shouldn’t be the only reason for following truck driver fatigue regulations. Driver fatigue can also result in an accident and damages can be severe.
Remembering to take all of the required breaks is a start but drivers can still become fatigued even when well-rested. If you feel tired pull over and contact your carrier. Being a few minutes late to pick up or drop-off a load isn’t worth risking an accident.
