Semitrucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles, even when the semitruck isn’t fully loaded. The truckers who operate these large rigs must ensure that they’re fully prepared for each haul. One of the major risks they’re facing is fatigue.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has very strict hours of service regulations for truckers. These are meant to ensure that truckers are provided suitable time to rest between hauls.
What are the basic hours of service limits?
The hours of service limits are divided into limits for truckers who carry property and others for truckers who carry passengers. If the trucker is carrying property, the limit is 11 hours of driving with 10 rest hours off duty. Truckers carrying passengers have a limit of 10 hours of driving with 8 hours off duty to rest.
Both categories also have limits for maximum work time. Property-carrying truckers can’t drive past their 14th hour working. This means that if they spend 6 hours loading the rig, they only have 8 hours available to drive. Passenger-carrying truckers have a 15-hour shift limit.
Truckers also have driving limits for seven-day periods and eight-day periods on a rolling basis. They also have break requirements within driving shifts.
What are the effects of trucker fatigue?
Truckers who are fatigued may not have an appropriate reaction time. They may not be able to execute proper lane control or speed. These effects can mimic those of impaired driving and lead to serious crashes.
Even with the hours of service regulations, truckers may still be involved in fatigued trucking crashes. These may be a result of long routes, overnight driving, irregular schedules and pressure to meet tight delivery deadlines. In some cases, the trucker isn’t the only liable party. Working with someone familiar with these matters may help victims to find liable parties and get their case moving forward.