FMCSA Hours-of-Service Regulations and Dangers of Truck Driver Fatigue

Commercial trucks are the largest and heaviest vehicles on the road at up to 57.4 feet long (in Colorado) and 80,000 pounds. These characteristics make semi trucks potentially hazardous to the safety of other motorists, which is why these vehicles, and their drivers, are governed under strict federal regulations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A traffic accident involving a big rig can cause a devastating amount of damage, even if it is relatively minor as far as the truck is concerned.


Aside from having to a hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), truck drivers are required to abide by a number of other regulations, such as adhering to maximum load amounts and obeying the Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations.

Fatigued Truck Driving

 

Truck drivers are responsible for transporting property from point A to point B in an efficient, timely, and safe manner, but, unfortunately, the “timely” part is what trucking companies and truck owners tend to care most about. Oftentimes, big rig drivers are offered bonuses or other incentives for prompt delivery or are even pressured to make speedy deliveries as the result of unrealistic timetables. This leads truck operators to continue driving on the road long after they’ve become fatigued and/or drowsy, which increases the likelihood of falling asleep behind the wheel, being inattentive or distracted, and failing to properly control the vehicle or make timely decisions.

Hours-of Service Rules

The FMCSA HOS regulations are in place to prevent dangerous situations created by truck driver fatigue, and a final rule established in December 2011 changed the HOS regulations to further avoid the dangers of driver fatigue. Unfortunately, some truck drivers and/or trucking companies falsify records and stay on the road much longer than is safe, potentially endangering the lives of everyone else on the road. The current HOS rules establish the following general requirements:

• 11-Hour Driving Limit – May drive 11 hours maximum after consecutive 10 hours off duty.
• 14-Hour Limit – May not drive longer than the 14th consecutive hour on-duty after 10 consecutive off-duty hours.
• 60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit – May not drive after 60/70 on-duty hours in 7/8 consecutive days. The 7/8 day period can be restarted after taking a minimum of 34 consecutive off-duty hours.

Violating these rules is not only illegal, but increases the chances of causing a serious injury or fatal truck accident. Truck drivers and companies that demonstrate such a blatant disregard for the safety of others by violating these regulations should be held accountable for their actions.

What You Can Do

If you or a loved one has been injured, or you have lost a loved one in a Colorado truck crash caused by truck driver fatigue or other form of negligence, experienced Colorado Springs truck accident lawyer Timothy R. Bussey can help you hold the at-fault driver and/or company liable for your losses. To learn more about getting the compensation you deserve call us today at (719) 475-2555.