U.S. regulators propose split-sleeper pilot study
U.S. regulators are hoping to explore more split sleeper berth options within Hours of Service rules, in a pilot program that would allow truck drivers to split 10-hour rest periods into 6/4 and 5/5 splits.
The rules established in 2013 required truck drivers to take at least eight consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, and the remaining two consecutive hours in the sleeper, off duty, or a combination of two.
Rules were revised last year to allow a shorter period of up to seven hours in the sleeper, leaving the remaining period of up to three hours. But the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) said it wasn’t comfortable with larger splits because of a lack of data.
“This proposed pilot program will provide needed data and feedback for the agency to use now and in the future,” FMCSA Deputy Administrator Wiley Deck said in a press release.
Under the proposed pilot program, drivers would still need to rest at least 10 hours within the combined two periods, and neither period could be shorter than four hours. But drivers would also be allowed to choose not to apply the exemption based on their schedule.
The program would last a maximum of three years. While the number of participants is not yet defined, FMCSA says it would need to be a “reasonable number” needed to yield statistically valid findings.
Data would be collected over a proposed 90-day period before participating drivers received a temporary exemption from today’s requirements.
Those looking to participate in the research will first need to be accepted by the U.S. FMCSA.
Existing rules have been criticized by various trucking organizations. Teamsters, for example, have said the majority of their driver members would prefer more flexibility in the name of “restorative” rest periods.
This proposed pilot program is based in part on a proposal submitted in December 2013 by the American Trucking Associations and Minnesota Trucking Association, the agency says.
The project is still subject to a 60-day comment period. Details are here.
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There definitely needs to be a more flexible program. Not all people fit into a defined box of this is how and when you should sleep.
I for one often sleep in broken cycles of 3-5 hours with 2-10 hours in between and I have been like this my entire life.
Now I have to follow someone’s miss fit guideline on what they think works for my body…
This also doesn’t address the larger issues of all the non-truck drivers out there in their cars and motorhomes that have been proven time and again are the leading cause of issues on the road, through their inept driving abilities or pulling a long shift in the office then heading out on their road trip after too many hours..
I could go on and on…
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We are professional drivers people complaining doesn’t do any good we all know that four-wheel drivers little crazy when it comes to driving down the interstate but we are the ones that have to look out for them as far as the sleep thing goes you sleep when you need to sleep and how you sleep is up to you as long as you are rested and can operate a vehicle safely now this is just my two cents take it or leave it
Yes,yes yes!!!!!!!!!
Specially for team drivers, they should be allowed to split their hours the way they want
This would be great to split 5/5 and 6/4 sometimes to get a few hours make life healthier. Since they did full 10 hours truck drivers are not as healthy do to eating habits change no time to stop under the gun all the time.