Hours-of-Service Rules, What are They and What are They Trying to Accomplish

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Jul. 01, 2014) – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented new regulations designed to improve safety for truck drivers and the motoring public.

All companies that use commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) for their interstate business operations were directed to adopt the new Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules. The rules limit the average workweek (eight days) for truck drivers to 70 hours to ensure that the drivers are not fatigued.

With these data-driven changes, the FMCSA is estimating that the new safety regulations will save 19 lives and prevent approximately 1,400 crashes and 560 injuries each year. According to FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro, there will be “an estimated $280 million in savings from fewer large truck crashes and $470 million in savings from improved driver health.