Back in 2003, the Bush administration issued an hours-of-service rule that expanded working hours for truck drivers by allowing them to drive a consecutive 11 hours (instead of just 10) and cutting mandatory off-duty rest time from 50 or more hours to as little as 34 hours. In the following years, highway safety experts and truck driver unions fought against the rule, saying it forced truckers to work long hours with minimal down time which could potentially lead to increased highway fatalities and poor driver health.

Recently, the Obama administration has tackled the rule head on in order to pave the way for new safety regulations.   The administration just settled a lawsuit it filed challenging the rule and is hopeful it will help pave the way for more driver-friendly rules and increased safety by reducing the number of drowsy drivers on the road.

While the Obama administration’s push to reform the regulations will certainly open the door for a new rulemaking process when it comes to the number of consecutive hours truck drivers are allowed to work, it will be interesting to see how this directly impacts the truckers themselves and how they react to changes made in the HOS regulations.

So we want to pose a question to all you truckers out there, whether you’re experienced or not-so-experienced: how do you feel about the current hours-of-service regulations? Is 11 consecutive hours too long on the road and does it pose significant risk to you and other motorists? Or, when you are paid by the mile, will restricted rules inhibit your ability to earn a decent living? We want to hear what YOU think about the current HOS rules and if you think they should be changed, tell us why!