ATA says current HoS are working, but could benefit from flexibility
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US hours-of-service rules are working, but they could use some added flexibility.
That’s the message the American Trucking Associations (ATA) brought to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The ATA suggested current HoS rules have played a role in improving highway safety. The association, however, requested modifications to the sleeper berth provision which could improve driver alertness.
The ATA pointed out the truck-involved fatality rate in the US declined 12.3% in 2008, the largest year-over-year decline ever and the fifth consecutive year of improvements.
Rather than scrapping current HoS rules, the ATA suggested the FMCSA focus its resources on: sleep disorder awareness, training and screening; promoting the use of fatigue risk management programs; evaluating the use of fatigue detection devices; increasing the availability of truck parking on important freight corridors; and partnering with the trucking and shipping communities to develop a process that identifies the locatio nof available truck parking so drivers can easily locate safe places to park.
ATA made its recommendations during the five recent public listening sessions held across the US.
The FMCSA is in the process of reviewing current US hours-of-service rules, which have been called into question by special interest groups.
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Glad to here that money is actually going towards resolving real life problems. As far as the HOS rules, it would be a lot easier with an 8 hour sleeper period, 11 hours driving and a 16 hour on duty. No matter what they make the rules, driving over hours and under the influence of fatigue will exist.
While they are partnering with the trucking and shipping community could you tell them to teach the shippers to have their product ready so we can have our sleep and still meet the appointment time. Then fatigue wouldn’t be half the problem it is now. Then they can concentrate on improved driver services. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful progression to becoming a professional industry ?