FMCSA Responses to Questions Posed at Hours-of-Service Public Hearings:
PDF (35Kb)
or HTML
The U.S. Department
of Transportation Announces Proposal to Improve Highway Safety By Ensuring
Truck Drivers Get Adequate Rest
On April 25, 2000, the U.S Department of Transportation proposed
a revised rule for motor carriers that is designed to improve highway
safety by ensuring that drivers of large trucks and buses get adequate
rest. Below is more detailed information on the proposed revised rule,
including background on the issue.
Hours of Service Convenor's Report 1999: PDF (577Kb) or HTML
Hours-of-Service
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Background and Synopsis
There is general consensus that modifications to current hours-of-service
(HOS) regulations would substantially improve commercial motor vehicle
(CMV) safety by reducing the fatigue factor in CMV-involved crashes.
There is evidence that many crashes occur as a result of CMV driver
error, that driver error is often the result of inattention, that inattention
can often be the result of fatigue, that the fatigue which causes inattention
is often related to sleep deprivation, and that sleep deprivation is
often related to working conditions of drivers. The latest Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Regulations, including proposed rules are posted on the
Rulemakings
Page (updated 8/21/00).
The
Science-Based Case for Sleep
The hours-of-service proposed rule is based on a large body
of sound research dealing with work, fatigue, alertness, sleep cycles
and related matters. The FMCSA reviewed nearly 150 research studies
and other documents, many of which were submitted or referred to by
docket commenters. Many of the reviewed documents reported on research
conducted on motor carriers and CMV drivers. Others, such as studies
on shiftwork, sleep and performance, and the physiological nature of
sleep, were relevant to the issue of CMV driver safety.
In a letter yesterday to U.S. Sen. Richard C. Shelby, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, U.S Department of Transportation's Secretary strongly opposedthe idea of adding to the pending DOT appropriations bill a provision that would prohibit the Department’s new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from acting on comments on its proposed hours-of-service rulemaking. More...
FMCSA Jurisdiction
to Regulate the Qualifications and Maximum Hours of Service of CMV Drivers
(4-month rule): PDF
(13 Kb) or HTML
Policy memorandum explaining when the agency will exercise jurisdiction
over interstate operations of motor carriers and drivers that sometimes
operate in interstate commerce.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: PDF (567Kb) or HTML - The FMCSA is proposing to revise its hours-of-service (HOS) regulations to require motor carriers to provide drivers with better opportunities to obtain sleep, and thereby reduce the risk of drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) while drowsy, tired, or fatigued to reduce crashes involving these drivers.
Preliminary Regulatory
Evaluation and Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis:
PDF (1.0Mb) or HTML
- Hours-of-Service NPRM.
Correction
In the May 2, 2000, Hours of Service of Drivers NPRM (65 FR 25540) on page 25596 in the bottom right hand corner, the last paragraph has incorrect cost and benefit figures. The paragraph should read as follows:
The FMCSA estimates that the hours of rest and service of drivers rule will cost the public approximately $3.4 billion over 10 years. The cost applies not only to motor carriers subject to the FMCSRs, but also to motor carriers subject to compatible state HOS laws and regulations. The FMCSA proposes to require States to adopt compatible state HOS laws and regulations to be eligible for MCSAP grant-in-aid type program funds under 49 CFR part 350. The agency estimates that the 10-year discounted monetary value of the benefits (fatalities and injuries prevented, property damage savings) is $6.8 billion.
The FMCSA regrets this error was not caught before publication in the Federal Register.
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