It’s safe to say that we don’t know much about sleep. For all the studies that have been done, what we know about sleep can be summed up with just one phrase: We need it. All the rest of what we “know” is conjecture; a collection of quasi-educated guesses. Do we need 8 hours of sleep as some people say, or should we sleep in 3 hour REM cycle increments? Is it better to sleep for exactly the same amount of time every night, or should you only sleep as much as you feel you need for that particular night?
Before the Hours of Service rules were overhauled in 2005, drivers could take their rest in one block, or split up into multiple blocks as long as no period of rest was for less than 2 hours. This allowed drivers to pull over and rest when they felt tired rather than feeling pressured to keep driving for their full allowable time.
The HOS rules got an overhaul when the FMCSA saw studies which showed that drivers are less likely to be fatigued if they sleep for a single eight-hour block than if they break up their sleep into multiple shorter rests.
The results of a new study sponsored by the FMCSA hoping to discover the effect split sleep schedules have on driver safety have been published. Apparently, it doesn’t make a discernible difference if you sleep in one long chunk or if you break up your sleep into two shorter breaks.
It’s doubtful that split sleep schedules will be allowed again when the new HOS changes go into effect on July 1st, but this is definitely one more nail in the coffin of a dangerous bit of over-legislation. If drivers can operate just as safely on a split sleep schedule, why force them onto a schedule that puts them in greater danger?
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Source: thetrucker
Geoff says
The biggest culprit that has me driving when I feel fatigued is the 14 hour clock.
Whoever designed the current HOS simply does not understand that truck driving is a 24 hour a day business.
I’ve often been forced to take a ten hour break during the time of day when I’m most awake and alert in the late afternoon and early evening because my 14 hour clock ran out while waiting on a load. So I’m stuck trying to sleep when my body tells me I don’t need it, knowing full well that when I get my hours back I’ll have to fight to stay awake.
Similarly, there have been times I’ve wanted to pull over for a quick nap before rolling on, but because my 14 hour clock has run down by those three hours, I feel I can’t afford to do that because I’ll lose drive time if I do.
I don’t mind regulation that helps ensure I’m getting enough rest. That’s a good protection against unscrupulous dispatchers. But the HOS as currently structured are making driving more dangerous, not less.
bbq dave says
After being behind the wheel for over 40 years I personally can say I do better on a split sleep schedule.
Naturalist says
This is just as skewed as the DOT findings. Every person is different and only they can tell what works best for them (however people tend to lie to themselves). Split spleep does not work for most people. The military knows first hand the effects of split sleep. A rotation of 4hrs on 4hrs off is very hard to do for prolonged periods. Most people need at least 6.75 hrs of sleep in one session. That is the minimum along with a 2 hr sleep session somewhere else in the day. The idea of 10 hrs was never for sleep only. It is for eating, bathing etc. Time away from job (out of the seat). Sleep what you want but take the 10hrs. 14 hrs a day is enough work time.
Tim says
Based on the data collected in my memory over several decades of observation, homo sapiens is not a nocturnal species. Just count the empty parking spaces in truck stop parking lots at midnight compared to noon. The parking shortage strongly incentivizes drivers to drive nights, yet they still drive days. It doesn’t take a Madame Curie to conclude why. This observation also addresses the split-vs.-block question, because any splitting of sleep necessarily implies being awake at some point during the middle of the night.
Old Guy says
Sadly, 1 1/2 years ago I sold my rig and got off the road. The HOS was just a part of the picture but definitely a part nevertheless. The un-revised logs system of allowing 8 hrs of sleep that could be broken up was best for me and for most other truckers I have talked to. I needed to take a nap in the afternoon. This was vital to my survival on the road. To not allow this in the new system without ruining my whole driving day is simply unjust and needless. It brings unreasonable hardship upon the driver. We aren’t supposed to drive tired – pure and simple. I fully agree to not being tired when I drive. Even if it be mandated a minimum of 10 hrs sleep/rest per day, I could live with that so long as I could get my afternoon nap without being penalized on my driving time. I have literally been forced by this stupid, awful, heinous and ignorant law to drive tired when I had critical appointments to be made. This was on few occasions but they were few too many. So, what’s the solution? Ultimately, between this and the CSA 2010 rules, I decided to just give it up. (I forgot to mention that living on the road is just plain unhealthy.) Attempts to survive by falsifying logs is not a solution as, ultimately, one will be caught. The penalty possibilities aren’t worth it. I am happier sitting at home driving my desk. Possibly if there really were far too few drivers, then some of the oppressive laws and practices against drivers might change. As long as drivers submit and pull their freight, no change will be made to benefit the driver on any front.
Don Dierdorff says
If the DOT honestly and truely treated truck drivers as “professionals,” there would be no hours of service, because a driver behind the wheel would indicate that he or she was acting in a professional capacity. When was the last time you ever saw a law enforcement officer challenged because he or she was too tired? Answser: NEVER. Truck drivers are treated like the scum of the earth by many people, including law enforcement, and I say this from personal experience. If I never drove, I would not believe what an OTR driver has to go through to try to make an honest living.
The HOS regulations are designed not for safety purposes, but REVENUE purposes.
Nottaprob says
That’s the problems with these “studies”, they are rarely ‘real world’ duplicated. As some have said (of sorts), truck driving isn’t a “9-5” job. Additionally, not everyone gets to sleep during the night. We are not nocturnal creatures (also said) & it is proven fact that better sleep is gotten during night time rest. Split sleeping may work for some, others would have to learn to do it, taking a long time to do so. They give 10 hrs to sleep, some sleeping a lot, others not, maybe trying to make up for it at the next opportunity. Besides, since you have logs to do, need a little time to wind down or relax to sleep, who says you’ll even get any rest during the 4 hrs?
The problem with these rules & these kind of studies is that they have no idea what really is involved. Dispatching, delivery hours, distances, traffic, etc. all work into a driver’s day. A 4 on, 4 off schedule would be a nightmare to the driver (especially if they keep the 14 hr rule) as well as trying to dispatch to get items delivered & receivers understanding why they need to change their demands because now a 500 mile day is going to take you 12 hrs (at 60 mph ave.) instead of 8 hrs. Think they will increase their hours open? No, see you in the morning. Now think about those longer trips….yikes!!
This would affect more than a driver’s income, it slows deliveries, causes even more dispatching nightmares, & is no guarantee that a driver who “sleeps” at different 4 hr periods every day wouldn’t be more tired than those who use the 10 hr period to rest now. All drivers are different & these rules have little input from pros & never take into consideration of the whole picture of driver, receiver, sender, & all obstacles in between.
sudon't says
I can’t tell you how many times I was tired and needed a nap, but couldn’t afford to lose the hours. Or, when I did have the hours to spare, took that nap, then couldn’t fall asleep when my 14 ended. There ought to be some kind of allowance for this.
OTOH, if drivers were paid by the hour, I think that dock-time and HOS violations would dwindle to next-to-nothing.
Cummins says
100% agree. Revenue, revenue, revenue and nothing else. Government’s Greed and nothing else. They never been behind the wheel, so they don’t know any better. And those who have been behind the wheel, only maybe for a short time and definitely not OTR. Everyone got their own time of day or night that they perform and are alert at our best. Those studies I bet were done on regular people and not real OTR truck drivers. Maybe even newbies to the industry, who have not been on the road long enough to establish their own routine of sleep.
Tired says
Everybody is different. I found that split sleeping was best for me. And I sleep better during the day than at night. My circadian clock runs down around 4am. Then I either need a nap, (for at least an hour or two or a REM sleep), then I’m good to go for at least another 5-8 hours. But it’s not the same every day. Just like one pickup or delivery was ever the same. Not the same time loading or unloading, arriving or departing. Everyday is different, as is my energy level. Sometimes I had to run harder and longer to make my appointments and sometimes I could take my time. But according to HOS, my body must function according to the Federal Government. Go figure. All I can do now is make the best of it or get off the road.
goinpostal says
If you are payed by the mile.Then you should be regulated by the miles you drive,not the hours.
Set it at 650mi.max with a 2hr break in the middle and 10hr sleep break at the end.
This would simplify logging,DOT enforcement,and eliminate stress all around.
If you are regulated by the hours you work.Then you should get paid by the hour,complete with 15min breaks,lunch,and overtime just like all the other wage slaves.
Matt
Susie says
AMEN!!
FIRST VALKYRIE says
I am relatively new to truck driving and see too much red tape (regulations). It is as though we are being treated as children rather than adults having a mind capable of making sound decisions. Some of us operate better on the 3-4 hour sleep, others need their 7-8. And yes there are multiple variables out there that impact on our ability to do our jobs of which we have no control over! LEAVE US ALONE TO DO OUR JOBS!
Richard says
I drove under the old rules and experienced and saw real fatigue. It got busy and our time off was 8 hours from the time our wheels stopped to the time they were rolling again. We hauled perishables regionally and seasonally so came back for new loads often. Some of the guys lived 30 miles away. 8 hours was not enough time to go home, clean up, eat, etc. I got to where 5 hours sleep felt like I was sleeping in. I was glad to see the 10 hour rule.
But at the same time, OTR is different than that so it depends on what a person is doing, where they are going etc.
My biggest sleep problem though was the lack of any sort of scheduled drive times be they day or night. I could be called to drive at any time of the day or night. I might have a few days off then be called to drive at 8:00 in the evening. Well, technically I had plenty of time off, but realistically I was not able to sleep all day, though I tried, then drive all night and do a full 15 hour day (including “on duty not driving”).
Bryan says
First I only drove sleepy for the first few months I had my CDL. I will not do it any more! I sleep 7-8 hours at night then I take a nap, if needed, in the afternoon. Delivery of plants can be demanding to stay the least. Get the call for the load at 4:00 pm (who has actually been asleep all day-when you don’t even know for sure you get the load) then you have 9 night drops in the city to be finished by 8:00 am then drop plants at 9 Walmart stores by 5:00 pm.
Since I only get paid $120 a day to deliver/unload the plants I just reload the truck with the racks the plants come on. If I just push them on (which you can do in 14 USUALLY) I get $4 a rack break them down and I get $10 a piece. 10 racks broken down = 1 hour.
16 city drops
Break down 40-60 racks
Be done in 14 hours and make $120-$240 a day or breakdown racks, while sleeping and make $500-600 a day………what are the guys doing! ?
Honesty most guys actually comply 4 days a week then break down racks 3 days a week!
What do I do? Well the thought of breaking FEDERAL law just doesn’t sit well with me and making all that extra money WHO NEEDS IT, RIGHT.
I love my job, I love the guys I work with, I love delivering flowering plants, I love breaking down racks it keeps me in killer shape.
1. Protect your life and health
2. Protect the public
3. Maintain a happy attitude as much as possible, be respectful and polite
4. Make money and support your family and help friends
139,817,912. Give a damn what my oppressive, tyrannical power hungry FEDERAL thinks about it!!!!When their laws got so absurd even a 8 year old can point it out WE ARE OBLIGATED AS AMERICANS TO SAY ” ENOUGH YOU MONSTERS, WE NO LONGER SUPPORT YOUR UNCONSTITUTIONAL LAWS AND HAVE ZERO INTENTIONS OF ABIDING BY THEM!!!!!