New Regulations to Reduce Truck Driver Fatigue in Effect

Working long hours on a regular basis can lead to chronic fatigue and an increased risk of a car crash. This is particularly true for truck drivers. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there are new hours-of-service regulations designed to reduce truck driver fatigue.

The new regulations will:

• Decrease truck drivers’ maximum average work week from 82 hours to 70 hours
• Allow truck drivers who reach the maximum 70 hours to resume if they rest for 34 consecutive hours, including at least two nights when they need sleep the most (from 1:00AM-5:00AM)
• Require truck drivers to take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of a shift

These rules also retain the current 11-hour daily driving limit and 14-hour work day.

Companies and drivers that violate the rules could face the maximum penalties for each offense. Trucking companies that allow drivers to exceed driving limits by more than three hours could be fined $11,000 per offense. The drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 per offense.

We hope that the new regulations will help prevent crashes and improve safety for everyone on the road. If you or someone you know has been hurt in a work-related car accident, you may want to contact a NJ workers’ compensation attorney for help.