In the trucking industry, time is everything. So, when your time is being closely watched it is important to know exactly what is going on. The Hours-of-Service regulations (HOS) greatly impacts truck drivers in many ways, by keeping track of and regulating the hours they are allowed to drive.
With the constant watch of the HOS on their log books, drivers need to understand what it is and why they are doing it. To help answer a few questions, this article includes a very basic who, what, and why of the HOS regulations.
Who: The HOS is a product of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which is a division of the United States Department of Transportation. The regulations pertain to any and all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and motor carriers.
What:The Hours-of-Service regulations are rules that place limits on when and how long CMV drivers may drive. They are based on a number of studies completed by the FMCSA and other transportation organizations the focused specifically on fatigue and other related areas.They cover the responsibilities of both drivers and their employers, and vary slightly depending on the type of CMV driver you are. For example, passenger carrying vehicles such as buses or trains have different rules than property carrying vehicles such as trucks.
For commercial trucks there is an 11-hour driving limit. This limit must come between 10 consecutive hours of down time, during which truck drivers must also meet certain requirements. Drivers need to spend at least 8 consecutive hours in their sleeper berth along with 2 consecutive hours off duty. The 2 hours of off duty time can be spent either in the sleeper berth or elsewhere, just as long as the driver is not working.
To make sure drivers are following the HOS, their hours are tracked and those who are not keeping the rules are penalized. Penalties vary depending on what the driver has done, but in some cases drivers were penalized with temporary suspensions to make up for the time they were supposed to be off.
Why: The HOS was implemented to decrease the number of commercial accidents caused by drowsy driving. So far, the HOS has proven to be an asset to the transportation industry and has helped to prevent a number of commercial accidents.
More information on the HOS can be found on the FMCSA’s website. On the website, you will be able to read a detailed description of each of the rules and how it pertains to your role in the transportation industry.
The trucking industry is booming and truck drivers are placed under a great pressure to be on time and always ready to go. With this pressure, it is important to remember safety first. Safe driving comes from a number of arrangements, including making sure you are awake, alert and ready for a long drive. If you are tired, pullover. No load is worth your life, or the lives of others.
The HOS webpage can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos/index.htm.