New Government Rules Combat Truck Driver Fatigue

On December 22, 2011, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced new rules for big rig truckers in an effort to reduce the dangers of driving while fatigued.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated that beginning July 1, 2013, the number of hours a trucker can drive per week will be reduced from 82 to 70. In addition, truckers must take at least one 30 minute break every eight hours. However, the daily limit of 11 hours, raised from the long-standing limit of ten during the G.W. Bush administration, will remain unchanged.

Trucking companies violating the new rules could be fined $11,000 and individual drivers as much as $2,750.  LaHood said that these changes “will help prevent fatigue-related crashes and save lives.”

Ann Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said that the new rules are the result of input from the trucking community and scientific research. She stated “when truckers are rested, alert and focused on safety, it makes our roadways safer.”

However, not everyone agrees. Henry Jasny of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety said that the rules do not go far enough. “By keeping the unsafe portion of the rule that permits truckers to drive for 11 consecutive hours, department officials have broken their promise to make safety their No. 1 priority.”

Dan England, chairman of the American Trucking Association, says his group will fight the new rules. He maintains that they will force costs up while reducing productivity.

Although it will be a long time before the new rules take effect, hopefully when they do, both truckers and other highway travelers will be safer. Meanwhile, the debate will continue and crashes will continue to happen.

If you need legal advice following a Tennessee truck accident, call the Memphis truck crash lawyers at Bailey and Greer toll-free at 901-680-9777. Or, simply fill out the confidential form on this page.