HOS Changes Coming!

The new HOS changes are right around the corner, and come July 1^st, OTR drivers will be following a new federally-mandated sleep schedule. The FMCSA seems to think that there will be a smooth transition, but some industry and safety advocacy groups are expecting a bit of a bumpy ride.

When speaking during the kickoff event for Roadcheck 2013, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said that “We think HOS reform is going to go smoothly; the vast majority of carriers and drivers are informed about the changes.” Despite Anne Ferro’s confidence, others seem to be less convinced.

　

In an interview with Fleet Owner, Steven Keppler, the executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance said that even though his organization distributed over 75,000 information cards during the Roadcheck safety blitz alone, the CVSA has still be receiving calls from drivers and carriers looking for some clarification on the rule changes.

So if you don’t know the exact rules that go into effect July 1^st, here they are again:

The reforms limit a driver’s work week to 70 hours within a seven-day period, whereas under current rules, truck drivers can work on average up to 82 hours

Starting July 1, truck drivers cannot drive after working eight hours without first taking a break of at least 30 minutes. Drivers can take the 30-minute break whenever they need rest during the eight-hour window.

The reforms will require truck drivers who maximize their weekly work hours to take at least two “night-rest” periods from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. This “night-rest” requirement is part of the rule’s “34-hour restart” provision that allows drivers to restart the clock on their work week by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.

Drivers can only use restart provision only once during a seven-day period.

Ferro also touched on the number of drivers that she believed would be affected by the changes, quoting a number that is perhaps a touch lower than what might be realistic. “We recognize that these [HOS] changes will significantly affect 7% to 10% of the driver population,” she said. “But we believe carriers are making adjustments to compensate for that.”