A refrain heard repeatedly at the latest hours of service listening session was the need for more flexibility in duty-hour and sleeper berth regulations.
At the fourth session organized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration yesterday, Jan. 28, many speakers said existing rules are too restrictive and lead to increased fatigue, stress and log book cheating. The public sessions are part of another hours rulemaking FMCSA is conducting as part of a settlement with groups challenging the current regulations.
Instead of letting drivers sleep when they need it, log books are managing drivers’ sleep, said Brenda Neville, president of the Iowa Motor Truck Association.
Drivers often lose time in emergency situations such as bad weather or a traffic accident, and such delays count against their 14-hour duty clock, said Kathy Gillaspy, an over-the-road driver.
Tom Bower, a small fleet owner of four trucks and an operator from Kentucky, said the duty rule’s inflexibility causes him and his drivers to lose time. “Waiting can make you more tired than working,” he told an FMCSA panel at the session in Davenport, Iowa.
Ralph Pepper, who’s been driving for 36 years, said the current 14-hour duty period hurts his ability to make a living. “It’s coming down to a stranglehold on drivers out there,” said Pepper, one of dozens of who called in comments.
Chris Perry, who said he’s driven for more than 30 years with more than 3.5 million safe miles, called to say FMCSA treats all drivers the same with the existing regulations. “I’m treated like a rookie,” he said. “I know my limits. I know when I’m tired. I don’t need a babysitter. Before the DOT (Department of Transportation) took over, it seemed a lot easier because we were left alone to do our job, period.”
