Opinion: Want fewer truck-related crashes? Modernize 'Hours of Service' rules

The Hours of Service regulations for commercial truck drivers need to be updated to match the realities of freight movement and to truly improve highway safety. The trucking industry is in a situation where we have never had more regulations and greater enforcement and compliance. Yet, truck-related crash numbers are going in the wrong direction.

It’s time for a new approach.

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Many years ago when Hours of Service were first implemented by the federal government, the intention was to prevent companies from making drivers work for too long, get tired and put themselves or the motoring public in danger.

Today, drivers face many new hurdles as trucking has drastically changed. They are paid by the mile, getting nothing for their time, and yet they are regulated by the hour, the minute, even by the second. Meanwhile, their schedules are at the mercy of shippers, receivers, weather, traffic congestion and other obstacles. Current rules actually force drivers to be on the road when they are tired or fatigued, during busy travel times and adverse weather and road conditions, or when they simply aren’t feeling well. 

Imagine if your work day at an office was also limited by similar regulations, that you can only work a certain number of hours within a limited window of time. But, you are not paid at all for your time, only for what you actually produce. Your day is then constantly interrupted by unforeseen events which you have no control over.

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Let’s say you are a writer and you are given a 14-hour window of time to perform all the tasks necessary to write one story. You are only paid for the portions of the story that get completed before the 14-hour clock runs out and you can only use a computer and write for 11 of those hours.

The first interruption to your day is a required break. It’s just 30 minutes, but you have to stop everything and leave your computer. The break room is full of other people. So you spend most of that time seeking a safe place to hang out. This is what happens to truck drivers as there is a serious, national parking shortage.

Another obstacle is waiting for a co-worker to provide a key piece of information you need for your story. For some reason, it takes him or her several hours to do this, even though you let them know well ahead of time. This happens at warehouses to truckers everyday, waiting for freight to be loaded or unloaded.

Later, you manage to get a good portion of writing done, until all the computers in the building suddenly come to a stop and no one is able to do anything — but wait. Too many people were trying to work at the same time caused a system lock-up, similar to heavy congestion and traffic you would see on highways. 

Once your remaining time is up, you have to stop altogether for the night regardless of whether the article is done. The people waiting for the article are pushing you to speed up the process and get it done or else face a hefty fine.

The time has come for sensible changes to Hours of Service that work within the realities faced by drivers. They need to be able to pause the 14-hour clock and take a needed break to rest. This is a much safer approach than racing against a clock that has become a major source of stress. 

Todd Spencer is acting president and CEO of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.