Representative Richard Hanna has been a vocal critic of the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration over their HOS restart rules – both the impact of the rules themselves, and the study that was used to justify them. Now Hanna is speaking out against the latest study that the DOT has commissioned into the effects of the suspended restart rules.
To start with, Hanna called in to question the DOT’s decision to use the same institute that conducted the previous “high criticized” study, saying that it was “surprising and troubling” and that he “fundamentally disagree[s] with the department awarding the study to VTTI.” Despite that however, he offered some pointed suggestions as to how the DOT might “increase congressional and stakeholder confidence in the final study product.”
Recommendation 1: Implement a Peer Review Team
Hanna suggested that the peer review team be picked by the Committee on Truck and Bus Safety and members of the relevant House and Senate committees. Peer review methods are usually used to ensure standards of quality, improve performance, and provide credibility to a study. Hanna may believe that having the study peer reviewed would help keep the institute from drawing conclusions that aren’t supported by the raw data.
Recommendation 2: Use a Representative Sample of Drivers
Currently, to qualify for the study, drivers must work between 60 and 70 hours per week and routinely work at night. Hanna’s issue with this is that a study conducted with only drivers who meet this requirement would not be representative of the industry as a whole.
“This is concerning because it indicates that the researches do not understand how the 34-hour restart is being used in practice. Most drivers use the restart not to maximize weekly work hours but rather as a record-keeping tool to make it easier to log hours and to ensure that operational flexibility comes at the start of their workweek,” says Hanna. “More typical truck drivers must be included in the research.”
Recommendation 3: Limit The Restarts To Just One Overnight
The study is currently planning on comparing the results of one overnight with the results of two or more overnights, which Rep. Hanna says aren’t comparable.
“This is consistent with the previous flawed restart field study that was criticized by stakeholders. If the research is indeed intended to study the relative benefits and drawbacks of the two rules, then restarts of more than two nights are not representative of the actual restart restrictions being studied,” said Hanna.
Recommendation 4: Collect And Study “Safety Critical” Event Data
The final recommendation from Hanna is that the VTTI also collect and analyze data specifically from 5-9am because one of the key criticisms of the restart rules was that it put more trucks on the road during morning rush hours, actually increasing the chance for accidents. According to Hanna, “The impact of more commercial drivers on our roads during this window of time must be honestly assessed in order for the study to be legitimate and reflective of the real-world application of the restart rules.”
To conclude his letter, Hanna reminded the DOT how important it is that – this time – they get it right. He stressed how “critically important [it is] that policymakers and industry stakeholders can trust the validity and objectivity of research.”
Next Story:2,386 Trucks Have Brake Issues, Won’t Be Recalled Until End Of May
Source: gobytrucknews, thetrucker, overdrive
heimo Kraxner says
I would suggest to the mister congress men stay away from thinks you don’t understand , really a study from people made which never even drove a truck !! There is other problems you should take care first !!’
bbqguy says
Please point out, if you can, exactly what this “mister congress men” has stated which offends you. Thank gawd that this “mister congress men” is punching back at the FMCSA and challenging that bureaucratic cesspool of professional meddlers.
Salty Lad says
…You should, maybe, read the article first. “Mr Congressman” is calling for accountability from the FMCSA, specifically in regards to the failings in their study and its lack of peer review and oversight. He is putting more control into the hands of people who drive trucks, not less.
RickJPIi says
“The impact of more commercial drivers on our roads during this window of time must be honestly assessed in order for the study to be legitimate and reflective of the real-world application of the restart rules.”
Sorry your limo must be delayed by the trucks that bring the gas it uses, or the produce you eat, or the bulk materials used in the many industrial plants of your constituents. But, if you want your sh*t on time, don’t keep trucks off the roads at any time. And, before you say what’s fair and what’s needs revision, drive a truck for just one 70 hour week, then make your recommendations, ya schmuck!!
Charles says
Obviously you misunderstand the congress critter’s comments. He isn’t trying to “keep trucks off the roads” at any time. You do understand the current rules forbid anyone that’s doing a restart from leaving before 05:00? He’s trying to keep all those restart drivers from hitting the road at the same time – morning rush hour, no less! Before the idiotic rules change, most of those drivers would have been mobile long before 05:00, and they would have been spread out, time-wise, not all of them dropping the hammer at the stroke of 5. His comments and position make absolute sense.
westbound97 says
Re-read the article. Then try and analyze what the Congressman is saying. He’s on the side of drivers, and he has the same complaints many of us have!
Chuck says
That’s not what he’s even speaking about. He’s saying the rules force drivers to drive during traffic rush hours. He’s not saying keep trucks off the road during that time. He’s looking out for the drivers on this one. Ya scmuck!!!
Clarke says
Peer review?? Great! Over educated useless people, agreeing with other over educated useless people, and not one of them done anything in practice
Steve says
How does a sleep study that only tests night drivers reflect a true result ?
What is it compared to ? Day drivers should be included to establish a baseline for comparison.
Sounds to me that Mr. Hanna is on the right track. It also sounds as if FMCSA is business as usual. Stacking the deck to produce the outcome they want.
For what it’s worth !
Newworldsolution says
The entire restart idea is way outdated, along with the idea that all humans have similar sleep patterns! I can sleep for 5 hours and drive longer than any elog program would allow me to! There are drivers out here that could sleep for 10 hours an still need a nap in route to deliver! The highways will never be safe as long as you have electronic devices and outdated mentalities governing how truckers must operate!!! E logs I dare to say make drivers operate when they are tired because regardless what any institute research shows we have families to support and your forcing us to operate to provide for our families, your regulations only work for a small portion of the industry!!!!!
Geno says
There is to much focus on our , this industry. Leave us alone we are getting it done and for all he most part safely. you can’t safe proof the world, accidents happen and should be dealt u on a one on one basis
Ed says
This is so flawed . The studying is beng done by folks who have no idea on what it takes to get it done. Here is an idea why not ride ride with us for a month or two to really understand what it is that we do I run both nights and days depending on when my delivery appointments are . Flex ability is what is needed
jerry says
You guys making these comments are barking up the wrong tree. Why are you jumping all over this Congressman? He is on our side regarding the 34 hour restart. As for including the impact of increased truck traffic between 5-9 he is pointing out the problem of the 2013 rule which was putting more trucks in traffic. FMCSA says 2013 improves safety the Congressman is questioning “how?” when it puts more trucks on the road during a peak time. So to make this simple for those of you who want to jump all over the Congressman, he is on our side and wants to do away with the 2013 restart and go back to the way it was. Thank him instead of calling him a schmuck!!!
vic Young says
Man…Geno says it all for me.
rufus says
If it is about fatigue, how bout they let me decide when i am tired.The logbook is supposed to be a safety device not a control implement. Give me 11 hrs and let me drive them as i want instead of forcing me to sit around 7hrs waiting for a load, then 3 hrs in a door,to find out i need to do 600 miles in what elog time is left on my clock. I was a fully functional adult human being long before the fmcsa got involved in my affairs.
Mike says
Rufus I could not agree more
Phil King says
My thoughts on this issue is extremely simple. .have every driver. .not some..not just a few here and there. .but every last driver…take 2 weeks vacation. .all at the same period in time..say June 1st to the 14th. .no trucks on the road anywhere! !! Y’all know we’ve earned it!!
What do you mean we can’t cuz it would shut this country down??? No fuel for airlines, cars, buses, and trains..?? No groceries in the stores??..oh but more importantly. .no booze for all those drunks in D.C.!!
Paul Horton says
i have no problem with the 34 hr restart. The trucking industry as a whole has managed their preferred drive times, relative to premium traffic conditions. Some prefer start times during so called off peak traffic hours, some, such as route delivery drivers, pick their best travel times. That being said, the restart rule should not include any specific hour, or time of day, that must be included for a valid restart, such as mandatory two 0500 or two 1700. As truckers can and have set their load deliveries based on load or unload times. This restart rule should require 34 continuous hours, with the start hour repeated twice only. This would in itself allow drivers to best use their times, to coordinate with their traffic and travel times, both preverable and flow able, so as to not contribute to already congested traffic lanes. Some of our rule makers should walk a mile in our shoes, to get the reality of our, their condition, then the rules would reflect the need.
Chip says
Well I feel that the Government telling me who long I can work at all is a violation of my civil rights. I.E. “The right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” comes to mind.. If a driver falls asleep while driving for any reason should be the law. It should be the law that it is the responsability of the driver only and the driver only to decide when he is too tired to drive. After all, driving is not the same as any other job.
Yogibear says
Don’t tell us how to do our job and we won’t tell you how to do yours!!!
tim says
Between 5 an 9 is when we are delivering that’s why there is a rush hour people are going to work to unload trucks this guy is a congressman. Lol
George says
RickJPIi
Think a little harder.
In the trucking world, what happens at 5:00 AM? Answer – We get back on the road after a 34 hour break.
This means around the entire country, a huge number trucks hit the road immediately after 5:00 AM. This is just before the beginning of rush hour. From a safety perspective, is 5:00 AM the right time for everyone to get back on the road? We don’t know. The Congressman recommends they study it instead of presuming 5:00 AM is the perfect time.
Bob says
I think they should be left alone if I want a restart 4 times a week that’s up to me I am not dispachted by anyone I own my truck and find my own loads and sometimes sit between loads .
Robert says
Leave the Truckers alone and concentrate on more important matters…such as taking care of our Military…getting rid of corruption in Wash DC..the elderly who has to decide to pay rent..buy their medicine..or eat..I could go on and on..We do a damn fine job out here and do not need any bureaucrats input
Michelle says
I don’t understand why everything has to be so tightly managed. Isn’t it sufficient to mandate the number of hours a day that can be worked/driven? Let the driver decide how to use them. Sometimes, a driver can’t sleep when s/he is “supposed to” and therefore they end up driving tired.
Another factor that is never discussed is that a restart may not always take place at the driver’s home or ideal place to rest. Likewise, the 10-hour break may occur at the shipping dock with forklifts banging around inside the trailer every 45 minutes or so because they are loading it as it is produced. Real restful.
This brings up another point. There is a difference between being tired and being exhausted or sleep deprived. Most drivers know when they are TOO tired, and it varies from one driver to the next. Even rest time differs–some people are fully rested after 5 hours of sleep; others could sleep 10 hours and still wake up tired. Everyone gets tired at some point, but not everyone is sleep deprived.
I agree it is necessary to have guidelines; however, it is impossible to structure a driver’s day when the parts of the industry that the FMCSA cannot regulate do not follow the same set of guidelines.
W C Legere says
You commenters are missing the point. This is nothing more than a politician trying to gain popularity with one of the fastest growing sub-industries in the country. The nonsense this guy is proposing does nothing to improve commercial motor vehicle operation nor would it really prove anything we don’t already know – that there is no government agency, law, regulation or anything else that can control “irresponsible” behaivior. Unsafe driving habits are not just a by-product of the commercial drivers, it has become a country-wide epidemic since the invention of the “smart phone” and it’s only going to get worse. Every state has implemented some sort of law restricting the use of these devices but law enforcement has no hope of effectively enforcing them. A vast majority of Comercial vehicle accidents are not even caused by fatigue but the lack of skill (with new and/or under trained or under skilled drivers) or a lapse in attention via a distraction. The national CSA statistics are jammed full of violations that are directly due to driver irresponsibility . . . Period! The FMCSA has never been concerned about the individual driver because we have no voice. The ATA is an organization stacked with the corporate heads of major logistics firms and I can promise you they certainly don’t have our best interests in mind. I fear that no one is really listening so things are only going to get worse as more and more non-drivers try to fix something that really can’t be fixed.
sudon't says
He’s right that drivers who don’t drive more than sixty hours should be included. I run local, and put in about ten hours a day, for a fifty hour week. Yet I have to kill a half-hour everyday, in a day cab. I don’t understand how that’s going to prevent fatigue. Even if I had a bunk to lay down on, how am I going to get any rest in thirty minutes?
Also, I work nights, second-shift more or less, 4:00 pm till 2:00 am. I stop and eat everyday, but I usually want to eat soon after I get loaded, so my real rest stop goes to waste. I have to do another fake rest stop while unloading, or I could run out of hours, even though I only drive a total of six hours a night.
I’ve worked nights my whole life, and if there’s one thing I’ve noticed is that day people simply do not respect your hours. They seem to not get that you need eight hours of sleep, just like everybody else, only it happens at a different time. That’s why they made the rules day-centric.
Douglas Kirk says
If you restart you just gave up 2 days of potentially productive time. This is what the people in fantasy land don’t seem to understand. If you reset twice a week you can’t possibly work enough to be tired, due to the fact that you just sat on your ass for 4 days out of 7. I don’t have a PhD but I can do math, and I am also able to tell when I’m tired. The government should go %*?@ themselves.
Ron says
The whole reasoning for the new HOS change some years ago was to reduce fatigue. We now have to take a mandatory 10 hours of break time between our driving time with a useless 3o minute stop somewhere in there. Why is there a restart in the first place? If you can’t get the required sleep in those 10 hours of break time then you are not going to get enough rest in a 34 hour restart anyway. What ever you are doing in those 10 hours you are going to do more of in the 34. If you can’t get the rest you need in the time given to safely operate a commercial vehicle then you don’t need to be driving one. Now, for a reality check. How many of you actually drive exactly 11 hours a day, each day, till your 70 runs out? NOBODY does!! Long about the 9 1/2 hour mark we start looking around for a parking place because we all know they are becoming prime real estate. And then, what about your pick up or delivery appointment. 90 out of 100 times its going to allow you to get a few more hours of sleep or off duty time. On the very rare occasion when the sun is at its optimum time and the trucking Gods smile upon us, we have a perfect day with finding that nice cozy parking spot with 3 minutes left on our driving clock right next to our destination and the appointment time is exactly 10 hours and 15 minutes (pre-trip time) from when we shut down. WE DON’T NEED A RESTART OF ANY KIND!!!! We have the capability to get more than ample rest time with just our bunk breaks to be more than rested to safely operate a commercial vehicle. If you are tired, pull over and take a nap!
dedicated trucker says
I run all my hours out every day from Sunday to Friday, reset watch college football on Saturday and leave Sunday morning and drive the rest of the way back. But when I was a truck load driver I rarely ever needed restarts.
Ahmad says
Its all about safety, why not teach some of the class C drivers how to behave around the trucks, rails and such. And I like the one overnight part too, if it is 24 or less hours. and restart whenever you like should be added.
Salty Lad says
Hell, why not Class D drivers, as well? I asked my little sister what Drivers Ed teaches in regards to driving around 18 Wheelers, and she says it was never mentioned at all. Nobody knows how to drive around a Class A unless they have a Class A themselves.
Patrick says
That’s not entirely true. Safety professionals, such as myself, certainly know how to share the road with Class A drivers, and I don’t have a CDL. My kids will know as well, despite the lack of training in drivers’ education. Much of it is simply common sense, which most people lack.
Road champion says
Some of these truckers need the hand held which is sad, half who now on log books run illegally you are the ones who mess very thing up for the legal driver
gungnir says
How about personal responsibility!!! I don’t need the government telling me when I’m tired or when I can drive.some days I get tired after six hours driving and others I put 700 miles under the belt and feel fine and want to run more!
mike says
Glad to have this man understand how poorly the regs fit in the real world. To have the kids at VT do it again , is to do something only a truck driver knows. Any one who does not drive a truck does not have a clue. A study falls short of reality.
Don says
It’s always amazing to see idiots who never drove making the rules. Good job, idiots.
George Lucas says
I agree with Ron. Just do away with the recap bullshit. Let us work our 14 days as much as we want. It’s a known fact that drivers aren’t resting for a whole 34 hours. 10 hours should be enough for anyone. Some people can’t sleep for 10 hours and some can sleep more.
Crow says
Amen Mr Lucas, this will allow us to move a lot more freight and make more $. Let us get it done. 11 drive or 14 total on then 10 off. Done and done
Newbie says
I’m just starting my trucking career and although I do not know much about it I’m already concerned about having to sit around for these mandatory days of rest with two based around certain hours of the day. If a trucker wants to drive at night because they are use to working night shifts then why make anyone have to include certain hours In their restart clock, makes no sense what so ever. Government sticking it’s head where it doesn’t belong. Plenty of people driving non commercial vehicles for more hours and they are not regulated by the DOT.
The 14 hour daily clock seems fare and reasonable as does having a mandatory restart but the restart should be whenever you have XX amount of continuous hours to rest within an 7 or 8 day work week. I’ve seen that you can only do a restart once a week, so if you have driven for two days and for whatever reason you have time to sit for two days you are still required to do another restart at the end of your workweek because of the way the rule is written. Are you kidding me. Where did these people become so educated, from a Cracker Jack box. Let’s be reasonable here congressmen and women, let truckers work so we can make a decent living wage and not treat drivers like children, making commercial drivers take a nap when you say they must sleep. Change the rule to more reflect reality. I’ve worked jobs where I’ve worked double shifts 5 of the 7 days and worked 10 hour shifts the other two days, no one telling me I had to take 34 hour that included two 5 am to 9 am time periods within it. Or whatever the actual time is. Like I said I’m new to this and not totally sure yet.
I’m all for getting fatigued drivers off the roads to prevent accidents but the rule you have in place today if not totally reasonable nor is it totally fair to the trucking industry. You should reconsider what your goal is for such a rule and change the requirements to more reflect what the intended purpose of the rule is. One reset over 30 hours or so no matter when it is taken is enough without having to do it again 3 days later.
Don says
What they need to do is read the comments left by the people who actually do the work. They might be surprised to find the education they obviously are lacking!
Miker says
Regulations are necessary but only effective when applied correctly. The government has to stop thinking the driver is the problem. It starts with the freight rate wars. Shippers tend to go with the lowest bidders, usually larger mega fleets which in turn keeps rates too low. That is supposed to inspire competition but all it does is contributes to low wages and more costly benefits. Another factor is some carriers cant fix equipment and that too is a safety issue. Also shippers and receivers have to be regulated on the amount of time a driver can be held up. Why not say if a driver is on-time they have to be out within an hour or two? That being said, it is soley up to the driver to schedule the delivery, no one else!! Lastly driver pay; predetermined mileage is bs. Especially when the carrier pays book miles but charges the customer a practical mile. This happens everywhere. Its is how some carriers show a significant increase in driver pay. Reality is, there is no increase to the carriers. I hope these issues find their way to lawmakers so they can completely rethink the industry. Keep doing the same thing expecting different results is just wrong. The HOS rules are stupid and targets the wrong entity.
DropZone says
The 34 Hour Rule shouldn’t even be an issue, it because the 70 Hour rule forces us to that one. I should be able to run 3 weeks at 10 Hours per day if I chose too, but instead my weeks are regulated by folks drivers included that are allergic to work. We don’t get paid over time so why does it matter if I have a 90 hour work week, then do it all over again? If I shut down for 10 hours, right, stop for 30 mins during my day, and only drive 11 hours in a 13.5 hour work day, and that’s safe! Why do I we NEED to take a additional 34 hours off? We don’t get paid well enough for so much time off. Pay the drivers more then send us home for 34, that’s fair. That CEO working 100 hours a week, getting into his BMW at 1am to to go home for 4 hours of sleep is much more of a danger than any Class A driver working 90, be we have to stop for 10 hours. And that’s long enough, not 34.
DontTredOnMe says
Many of the commentors seem to be misunderstanding what the representative is contending. FMCSA required 2 1am-5am periods to achieve a restart when they changed the rules in 2013. They also added a provision where you could only take one reset every 168 hours. Congress told them no no bad boys and girls and they had to TEMPORARILY rescind these 2 changes till they could prove they increased safety. The new study that Mr Hanna is contesting is the one the FMCSA is trying to use to reinstate these rules.
This:
https://www.thetruckersreport.com/drivers-paid-up-to-2k-for-taking-part-in-hos-sleep-study/
and this:
https://www.thetruckersreport.com/fmcsa-to-spend-4-million-on-hos-study/
are articles about the study in question.
Judy Martin says
I personally think they should have people from the trucking industry in on all the over sights of transportation. How can people make decisions with out knowing or doing the job. The people in DC have never drove a truck or did our work. They don’t work the hours wee do. Or put up with the crap. I want safely but what they consider safe is killing us drivers. And they don’t see it. They see $ signs and how much they can screw us in the trucking industry. HIRE A TRUCK DRIVERS.
Cathy says
PARKING PARKING PARKING!!!!!’ HOS is fine but if you have no place to park what use is it!!!
Sidney Cromwell says
The congressman is upset because companies like Swift, Werner, Knight, and so on didn’t put any money in his pocket to get his okay.
Twisted says
Who decided that these hos rules are better exactly? We now have an 11/14 hour window we “have” to run in so if I drive 4.5 hours and am tired I know I need at least a 4 hour nap to rest enough to feel any benefit of napping, but due to the 14 hr rule as it stands that’s most of my day chewed up, so then I might as well sleep 8 hours but now I’m running at night and most of my delivery times are during daylight hours, a lot of customers won’t let us sleep on property so with no hours and having went to bed at 3/4 am I’m woke up at 7 am unloaded and reloaded because I have to and told to move my truck offsite…. A lot of customers are close to truck stops or Walmart parking lots luckily but this isn’t always the case and for many in the industry it doesn’t work out that way, in order for us to make money we can’t stop for anything then they force a 30 min break on us, now with fuel, waiting in line and traffic jams I’m already giving up 1/2 hours a day, add load/unload times in there and im into my drive hours, which forces me to run to the last minute on my hours to make deliveries, no it’s not always that way but from a real world perspective the current laws are a joke with no punchline, yes someone has to watch us because as grown as we are with no parent around we’ll stay up all night and sneak 900 Miles’s day in, but some of us can do that all day every day and be just fine doing it I only sleep 6 hours a night and feel great the next day, if I sleep 8/10 I’m dead and more tired, so wtf am I supposed to do on a 34? no other industry limits your work week so restrictively, where’s the proof that the hos have directly lowered the number of accidents?
Brian White says
Relying on only a small sampling of drivers that meet “certain requirements” as representative of the entire industry is idiotic. It’s like doing a study of all the different tires being used on trucks, but limiting the samples to only Goodyear, and concluding that only Goodyear tires are being used.
Typical bureaucrat BS.
Infosaur says
“To start with, Hanna called in to question the DOT’s decision to use the same institute that conducted the previous “high criticized” study, saying that it was “surprising and troubling” and that he “fundamentally disagree[s] with the department awarding the study to VTTI.” ”
Well that right there ought to show you it’s not about safety, it’s about which government official gets to line their pockets by handing out grants to “friends and acquaintances”
Can’t recall which official it was but there was a story years ago about a congressman’s wife who worked for a company that made millions in contracts with the government that his committee authorized. Happens all the time so don’t give me any “show me proof, dude!” nonsense! It’s 1am and Google works just as well for you.
Kacey says
Drive 11, rest 10, drive 11, rest 10, sometimes get my first load at 2200 at night. Sometimes I’m not tired when my mandatory 10 comes up, sometimes I’m tired WAY BEFORE my mandatory ten comes up, and when I’m ready for a break, 34 just doesn’t do it.
Truck driving is for those people that can function without sleep sometimes…PERIOD. Doctors sometimes go on 24 hour shifts and they deal with life and death daily. I’m not as educated as a doctor, but I wouldn’t last in this business if I slept every time I was tired. I would never make delivery.
This business has a high turn over rate for several reasons. One of them is that driving tired is an ability one must have to make it. If you can’t drive tired, you’ll probably quit the business fast. If the DOT rules actually worked, it’s only because people that can’t drive tired either got in major accidents or quit the business.
I guarantee I drive tired 99% of the time after my first week. I’m on a seven day vacation after about 8 weeks on the road and I FINALLY feel rested.
I would be a much more efficient and rested driver if I was allowed to schedule my own sleep within the realities of my pick up and delivery times. Every person has a different body and brain clock, and I know my sleep needs intimately, WAY BETTER THAN SLEEP SCIENTISTS. Guaranteed fact.
Chris says
Under the old rules, if I was tired, I could stop the clock and take a nap. Under these rules, the clock is ticking and I have to drive regardless of how I feel at any given time. How does that make me a safer driver?