Each year, more than 36,000 people die on the roadways throughout North America - nearly 4,000 of which are related to large trucks and buses. Many are the direct result of aggressive and unsafe driving. And while that figure has been reduced over the years, the number of people that die on our highways is still too high. To put that figure in perspective: that would be the equivalent of all the people at a typical baseball game. Or more compelling, this fatality figure equates to more deaths than a 737 airplane crashing -- every other day for an entire year.
Next week, October 14-20, law enforcement across North America will target unsafe drivers during Operation Safe Driver, a program sponsored by CVSA and the FMCSA.
"We are calling on all drivers to make a difference, reduce unsafe and distracted driving behaviors and help us save lives across North America with this annual mobilization week," says Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA's executive director. "The truth is that most of these accidents are avoidable. That's why taking aggressive enforcement action as well as educating both passenger vehicle drivers and truck and bus drivers is a priority for CVSA; this program can and will save lives."
The program includes the release of a revised edition of the "Teens & Trucks: Curbing Distracted Driving" curriculum will be unveiled prior to the launch of Operation Safe Driver Week. This is an update to the Teens & Trucks curriculum produced several years ago, which will teach teen drivers how to adapt many of the same tactics used by professional drivers to reduce or eliminate on-road distractions.
The DVD also teaches teens and other drivers about the operating characteristics of large trucks, and explains how to safely share the road with them by staying out of the truck's "NO Zones" or blind spots.
"Teens & Trucks: Curbing Distracted Driving" includes a 23-minute DVD and a CD containing a handout of key tips for reducing distractions, a "no-texting, no-distracted-driving" pledge form for teen drivers and their parents, instructor guidelines and two radio public service announcements that state agencies can tag with their own identifier.
"Defeating Distracted Driving," the educational training program released in 2011, will also be promoted and distributed for Operation Safe Driving Week. This kit includes a DVD, two 30-second PSAs, a tri-fold handout, a PowerPoint instructional kit, talking points and model policies for motor carriers about the dangers of distracted driving for use by fleets, driving schools and other outlets. All three of these training programs were developed in collaboration with the Arizona Transportation Education Foundation and Arizona Department of Public Safety with funding support from FMCSA.
During this week, renew your focus on safe and distraction-free driving. Re-commit yourself to following these five practices:
- Long distance scan. We were born with two feet. We were meant to walk. When we’re walking, if we look two seconds ahead, we will avoid running into walls. In a truck, the scan must be 16 seconds ahead, or as far down the road as possible.
- Get the big picture. Too often, we don’t observe or understand what is coming in the next mile. Good drivers need to anticipate and plan for events that could occur in the next mile. What are the road and weather conditions? The traffic conditions?
- Keep your eyes moving. Don’t become fixated on one area. Be fully engaged in your environment and what’s going on around you. Scan every two seconds left and right, front and back of the cab.
- Leave yourself an out. Always anticipate poor driving decisions and avoid being surprised or trapped. Think about your best possible escape route or options at all times.
- Make them see you. When driving situation, other motorists often don’t register your presence until they make eye contact with you. Don’t assume they have.
With the growth of congestion on most of our nation’s roadways accelerating rapidly, and the amount of distractions, you need those tools more today than ever before.
Article Courtesy of National Private Truck Council (NPTC)
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
With record heat torching virtually every corner of the country, it is important to fully understand what you can do to protect you and your equipment from the higher temperatures and humidity.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are created when our body is unable to regulate our heat production at a safe level. The first step is to recognize the signs and symptoms for these conditions.
According to the National Safety Council, heatstroke is the most serious and life-threatening heat-related illness. In certain circumstances, your body can build up too much heat, your temperature may rise to life-threatening levels, and you can become delirious or lose consciousness. If you do not rid your body of excess heat fast enough, it "cooks" the brain and other vital organs. It is often fatal, and those who do survive may have permanent damage to their vital organs.
Symptoms of heatstroke:
- The victim's body feels extremely hot when touched.
- Altered mental status (behavior) ranging from slight confusion and disorientation to coma.
- Conscious victims usually become irrational, agitated, or even aggressive and may have seizures.
- In severe heatstroke, the victim can go into a coma in less than one hour. The longer the coma lasts, the lower the chance for survival.
What to do?
- Move person to a half-sitting position in the shade.
- Call for emergency medical help immediately.
- If humidity is below 75%, spray victim with water and vigorously fan. If humidity is above 75%, apply ice packs on neck, armpits or groin.
Heat exhaustion is characterized by heavy perspiration with normal or slightly above normal body temperatures. It is caused by water or salt depletion or both (severe dehydration). Heat exhaustion affects workers and athletes who do not drink enough fluids while working or exercising in hot environments.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:
- Severe thirst, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea.
- The affected person often mistakenly believes he or she has the flu.
- Uncontrolled heat exhaustion can evolve into heatstroke.
- Profuse sweating
- Clammy or pale skin
- Dizziness
- Rapid pulse
- Normal or slightly above normal body temperature
What to do?
- Sit or lie down in the shade.
- Drink cool water or a sports drink.
- Stretch affected muscles.
- If persistent, gently apply wet towels and call for emergency medical help.
Heat cramps are painful muscular spasms that happen suddenly, affecting legs or abdominal muscles. They usually happen after physical activity in people who sweat a lot or have not had enough fluids.
These conditions can be further escalated by your physical condition. People at a greater risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke are those with heart disease, skin diseases, endocrine disorders such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, insomnia, or that are overweight.
What can you do to prevent heat related diseases?
- Be prepared and use common sense.
- Limit your exposure to direct sunlight as much as possible. Drink more fluids (non-alcoholic); do not drink fluids that contain caffeine or large amounts of sugar. Sport drinks are good as they replace electrolytes and salt in your body. Avoid extremely cold fluids as these can cause stomach cramps. Drink often throughout the day 4-6 ounces at a time.
- Wear light-weight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing that does not create a safety hazard for your work environment. If outdoors, wear a hat to reduce direct exposure to the sun.
- Avoid hot foods and heavy meals. They add heat to your body.
- Consider packing a cooler with water for the day. Also, keep an umbrella in the truck if you are operating in extreme conditions (desolate, desert, etc.), this will allow you to move to an area with breeze and still be protected from the sun.
Next month, we will take a look at how to ensure your truck is ready for the high heat. Until then, stay cool and safe.
Article provided by the National Private Truck Council as one of their monthly safety letters for truck drivers.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) and the Medical Review Board (MRB) conducted a joint meeting in Alexandria, VA last month to finalize recommendations to the FMCSA regarding the development of regulatory options for addressing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) among CDL drivers.
The joint committees took a significant step toward potential regulation of the screening, treatment, and qualification of drivers at risk for OSA.
A total of 11 recommendations were given, including one stating the FMCSA should issue new guidance to medical examiners requiring that CDL drivers with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 35 be evaluated for OSA. In addition, the driver may be given a 60-day conditional card during the evaluation and treatment process.
The joint committee further recommended that a driver diagnosed with OSA may maintain certification with evidence of appropriate treatment (if any) and effective compliance, and if the examiner determines that the condition does not affect the driver’s ability to operate a CMV safely. Subsequent certification should be no longer than a one-year term. Future recertification should depend on proof of continued compliance with treatment.
Additional recommendations include:
- Commercial drivers diagnosed with apnea may not be unconditionally certified medically to receive their CDL, and must instead use a CPAP at least four hours nightly for 70 percent of nights. Any driver who reports excessive sleepiness during “the major wake period,” or experiences a crash associated with falling asleep, or has been found to be non-compliant in using a CPAP should be disqualified or immediately denied certification;
- Clinicians may cite any combination of possible factors to require or recommend sleep labs. For example, drivers who are male and postmenopausal females with a BMI of 28 or greater, who have experienced a single-vehicle crash or have a 17-inch neck (male) or 15.5-inch neck (female) should be prepared to prove they don’t have sleep apnea. Other factors include being 42 or older, family history, and having a small jaw or airway.
OSA is a condition where the tongue and soft palate relax when a person sleeps. They can collapse and obstruct breathing, causing a person to wake up so often that he or she is not refreshed by sleep. OSA is considered to be a treatable disorder, but happens to be extremely prevalent among commercial drivers. Obesity statistics suggest that well more than half of male adult commercial drivers are obese, a well-known OSA risk factor. It’s been reported that people with people with severe OSA are impaired similar to the effect of an alcohol level of 0.05.
Because both the MCSAC and the MRB are advisory in nature, the joint recommendations to the FMCSA may be proposed for a rule, ignored, or amended and later presented. Any rulemaking or guidance based on the recommendations would be put up for public comment, and a rulemaking could take years to develop.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Trucking 2011: Year in Review - CSA, HOS, Distracted Driving, & more
As 2011 winds to a close, it proved to be another year full of safety and regulatory changes.
This special Year in Review segment highlights some of the articles from some of the most controversial and widely followed topics throughout the year.
We'll begin with Hours-of-Service (HOS) since this has been the most contested topic this year.
Hours of Service
• Happy Holidays! New Truck Driver HOS Rule expected by Christmas (12/05/2011)
• Final Truck Driver HOS Could Come Soon (11/10/2011)
• New Truck Driver HOS Deadline Looms – What’s Next? (10/20/2011)
• Truck Drivers’ Final HOS Rule Expected by October 28 (09/22/2011)
• FMCSA Delays Release of new Driver Hours-of-Service Rule (06/19/2011)
• FMCSA Publishes New Hours of Service Proposed Rule (01/16/2011)
Distracted Driving
• Final Rule Prohibits Hand-Held Cell Phone Use by CDL Truck Drivers (12/06/2011)
• Industry Awaits Final Rule to Ban Cell-Phone Use by CDL Drivers (11/09/2011)
• NTSB Recommends Complete Cell Phone Ban for Truck Drivers (09/22/2011)
• FMCSA Proposes Rule to Ban Hand-Held Cell Phone Use for Truck Drivers (01/17/2011)
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
• CSA Report Reflects Positive Feedback from Trucking Industry (12/04/2011)
• CSA Study Reveals Strengths & Weaknesses (09/24/2011)
• Report Reveals Most Truck Drivers Lack CSA Understanding (08/22/2011)
Sleep Apnea
• FMCSA Receives Sleep Apnea Recommendation for Truck Drivers (12/08/2011)
• FMCSA Adds Sleep Apnea Page to Website (07/13/2011)
• FMCSA Considers New Information on Sleep Apnea & Diabetes (07/12/2011)
Driver Medical Certification
• Update to Truck Driver Medical Certificate Changes (12/05/2011)
Driver Shortage
• Many Trucking Companies Facing Driver Shortages (02/07/2011)
Drug & Alcohol Testing
• Pending Bill to Address Drug/Alcohol Testing of CDL Drivers (05/12/2011)
EOBRs / Electronic Logs
• FMCSA Proposes EOBR Mandate for All Interstate Truck Drivers (02/03/2011)
Various Safety
• Economy, Hours-of-Service, Driver Shortage Top Trucking Concerns (10/19/2011)
• CDL Drivers: Reduce Accidents with Safe Backing Procedures (07/16/2011)
• Roadcheck 2011 Shows CDL Driver Safety Continues to Improve (07/15/2011)
• Will the FMCSA Begin Ranking CDL Drivers? (07/14/2011)
• Top 10 Work Zone Safety Tips for CDL Drivers (04/17/2011)
• FMCSA Regulatory Update (03/05/2011)
• Video Interview: FMCSA Administrator Discusses Safety Strategy (03/05/2011)
• Winter Weather Truck Driving (01/04/2011)
Driving Ambition will continue to blog with updates on important safety and regulatory topics. You can also visit us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for additional information.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Coming off one of the hottest months on record, the “dog days” of August, it is important for CDL drivers to be aware of what heat means. Working and driving in high heat and humidity puts an extra strain on you and your equipment.
Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate our heat production at a safe level. Symptoms of heat stroke include:
1. Fatigue, weakness, fainting
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Headache
4. Dizziness
5. Muscle cramps
6. Irritability
7. Sweating (absence or presence)
8. Paleness
These conditions can be further escalated by a driver's physical condition. People at a greater risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke are those with: heart disease, skin diseases, extensive burns, endocrine disorders (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.), high blood pressure, overweight, depression, insomnia and fever. Over the counter drugs can also contribute to a greater risk for these conditions.
But remember, all heat-related illnesses are preventable! What can you do to prevent them?
- Limit your exposure to direct sunlight as much as possible; wear good sunglasses when driving or working in the sun.
- Drink before, during and after physical labor to replace body fluid lost in sweating. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends fluid replacement not only as treatment for heat exhaustion, but as a preventive measure (i.e., water intake equal to the amount of sweat produced). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identifies drinking water as one of its top 10 tips for staying cool in hot workplaces. The agencies recommend drinking every 15 to 20 minutes -- not just during rest breaks -- to stay sufficiently hydrated and maintain a safe core body temperature. This puts less strain on the cardiovascular system and can lead to fewer heat-related illnesses and injuries.
- Anticipate conditions that will increase the need for water, including high temperature, humidity, protective clothing and difficulty of work.
- Keep in mind that by the time you are thirsty, you are already about 2% dehydrated. Once you are dehydrated, it's difficult to make up for that lost hydration.
- Drink 5-7 ounces of fluids every 15-20 minutes to ensure proper hydration.
- Keep individual containers of cool, clean water within easy reach at all times.
- Drink cool water, which is absorbed more quickly by the body than warm or very cold fluids.
- Try carbohydrate/electrolyte drinks to help avoid heat cramps that can occur up to several hours after working.
- Avoid coffee, tea or soda, which act as diuretics, further depleting the body of fluid. Never drink alcohol while working.
- Wear lightweight, light colored, loose fitting clothing that does not create a safety hazard for your work environment. If outdoors, wear a hat to reduce direct exposure to the sun.
- Avoid hot foods and heavy meals – they raise your body temperature.
- Pack a cooler with water for the day. Also, keep an umbrella in the truck if you are operating in extreme heat. This will allow you to move to an area with breeze and still be protected from the sun.
- If exposure to the sun is inevitable, apply generous amounts of sunscreen with a high SPF rating to exposed skin.
- Make sure your truck is in excellent condition. While operating in extreme heat conditions, a good pre-trip inspection is crucial; otherwise, you may find yourself and your unit on the side of the road exposed to the extreme heat.
- Be aware of the eight symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion (listed above) and seek immediate medical attention if any of them occur.
When you are properly hydrated, you are healthier, safer and more productive, no matter what the weather or working conditions.
Make it a safe day!
Courtesy of the National Private Truck Council (NPTC)
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The FMCSA’s Medical Review Board recently met to review studies on sleep apnea and diabetes as they affect a CDL driver’s fitness. The Board also reconsidered its recommendations to the FMCSA regarding the medical qualification of drivers who have been diagnosed with sleep apnea or diabetes.
Studies conducted in the United States indicated a significantly greater crash risk for drivers who are insulin-dependent. The Board recommended that the FMCSA streamline the medical exemption process to make the exemption due to diabetes available to more drivers.
The reports also identified sleep apnea as the largest safety concern of any area in which the FMCSA regulates drivers. There is a significant prevalence of sleep apnea in the driver population. Methods to screen for, diagnose, and treat sleep apnea remain controversial.
The Board discussed the use of Body Mass Index (BMI) as a marker for screening drivers for sleep apnea; the Medical Review Board had previously recommended using a BMI of 30 or greater to refer a driver for a sleep study diagnosis. The FMCSA’s Medical Expert Panel, however, had previously recommended using a BMI of 33 or higher for sleep study screening. One commenter suggested using a BMI of 33 or higher plus a neck size of 17 inches or more (for males) and other factors to refer drivers for a sleep study.
It was noted that portable diagnostic systems for sleep apnea were an effective alternative to a sleep study, but a concern exists whether the use of these systems would create more false positive or negative results.
Regarding sleep apnea treatment, the studies reflect that CPAP is the only treatment shown to be effective at this time in reducing crash risk. The studies indicated a reduction in crash risk of 72% following use of a CPAP device for one year, but noted that the studies are inconclusive on whether drivers using CPAP therapy return to a “normal” rate of risk or some "still-elevated" risk level.
The Board considered recommending that the FMCSA develop a step level of screening, diagnostic and treatment protocols. But the Board also noted that it would meet in conjunction with the FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee on August 29, 2011 in Alexandria, Virginia to discuss sleep apnea issues, and deferred making any new recommendations on guidance until after that meeting.
To further inform the transportation industry about the concerns of sleep apnea, the FMCSA has created a special sleep apnea page on their website.
With the controversy about how to screen for, diagnose, and treat sleep apnea continuing to grow among the CDL driver community, I encourage you to share your thoughts on the subject by commenting on this article.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Truck driver fatigue, and its connection to Hours of Service (HOS), has long been a major safety and compliance concern in the trucking industry. Earlier this year, the FMCSA issued a final rule mandated electronic onboard recorder (EOBR) use for carriers with “serious patterns of hours of service violations.” As an incentive to encourage the voluntary adoption of EOBRs, the FMCSA will no longer require supporting documents related to driving time for carriers that install EOBRs.
Just over a month ago, however, new legislation was introduced that would mandate the installation of EOBRs in all trucks operating in interstate commerce. The legislation, known as the Commercial Driver Compliance Improvement Act, was introduced by Senators Mark Pryor (D-Ark) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn).
The Commercial Driver Compliance Improvement Act would give the Department of Transportation 18 months to come up with a final rule and would take effect within three years after passage. The EOBR would be linked to the truck’s engine in order to identify the driver, record a driver’s duty status and monitor the location and movement of the vehicle. The legislation calls for utilizing existing technology and devices that are currently in the marketplace.
The bill also sets forth limitations on how the data in the recorders can be used. The data would not be admissible in any civil, criminal or administrative proceeding for any purpose other than establishing compliance or non-compliance with the hours of service rule, unless the owner of the truck consents.
Immediately following the bill’s introduction, five trucking companies announced their support: J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Knight Transportation, Maverick USA, Schneider National and U.S. Xpress Enterprises. They also formed a coalition, The Alliance for Driver Safety & Security, to urge Congress to pass the legislation and also to advance other measures that can improve highway safety.
All transportation firms that embrace the legislation are encouraged to join the coalition and support the effort. The Alliance plans to spend the rest of the year gathering allies and building support for passage of the bill next year. "Time is of the essence," said Steve Williams, chairman and CEO of Maverick USA. "As an individual carrier I can't sit around and wait for an opportune time better than now to advance this legislative solution."
Time really is of the essence. With a new HOS proposed rulemaking pending, support of the Commercial Driver Compliance Improvement Act could be the trucking industry’s attempt at a “compromise” - although the Alliance has officially stated that support of the bill has no connection to the rewrite of the HOS rules. This legislation allows the industry to enforce compliance with HOS rules, rather than just change the rules without a component of enforceable compliance. As Don Osterberg, Senior VP of Safety for Schneider National stated, “Electronic logs take the noncompliance issues off the table.”
The biggest argument against mandating EOBR compliance among all carriers relates to the considerable cost involved. Although there are currently solutions as inexpensive as $300-400 per unit, the costs will surely come down as the technology is more universally embraced.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
When Ann Ferro, the current FMCSA Administrator, was sworn in last year, it was with the agreement that the FMCSA would review and consider crafting a new Hours of Service (HOS) rule to put a lawsuit by special interest groups, including Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the Teamsters union, on hold.
With this settlement, the FMCSA would be required to have a formal draft of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by mid-July 2010, and would publish a final rule within 21 months of the date of settlement (Oct. 26, 2009), which would be July 26, 2011.
Between January and March 2010, the FMCSA held a total of 5 listening sessions across the country to get feedback from both drivers and carriers regarding current HOS rules, and any proposed changes.
Those who attended the listening sessions, both motor carriers and drivers, were primarily in favor of keeping the current HOS rules – a 14-hour workday, with a maximum 11 hours of drive time and 3 hours for loading/unloading, followed by a 10-hour off-duty period. The current rules also limit drivers to 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. They then may restart their 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty – also known as the “34-hour restart” provision.
From a safety perspective, the current HOS rules are working. "In the very real world of trucking, highway safety has improved in the past 6 years under these rules," said Dave Osiecki, ATA’s VP of Safety, Security & Operations. According to Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) figures released earlier this year, the truck-involved fatality rate in 2008 declined 12.3 percent from 2007. This decline marks the largest year-to-year drop ever and the fifth consecutive year the fatality rate has improved. Since new hours-of-service regulations took effect in 2005, the truck-involved fatality rate has come down more than 20 percent and is at its lowest since the U.S. Department of Transportation began keeping those records in 1975. The fatality rate has declined more than 66 percent since 1975.
According to research by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) on the current HOS rules, the total collision rate was down 11.7 percent and preventable collisions decreased 30.6 percent from 2004 to 2009. Another key finding from ATRI’s analysis was that, in 2009, the majority of commercial vehicle crashes (87%) occurred within the first eight hours of driving. A similar trend was found in an analysis of fatal truck collisions using the Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents (TIFA) database. A review of 2007 TIFA data showed that 80 percent of fatal truck collisions occurred within the first eight hours of driving.
This chart displays the distribution of DOT recordable collisions for each of the 11 driving hours. The crash rate peaks during the first three hours.
However, one way to improve the rule, which was suggested by many in attendance at the 5 listening sessions, would be to allow for more flexibility in the sleeper berth provision. This flexibility would encourage circadian friendly sleep and naps, rather than constraining drivers to one, inflexible option under the current HOS rules, which overlooks the individual needs of each driver. The current HOS rules, with a 14-hour clock that doesn’t stop once started, discourages drivers from stopping for meals or to stretch their legs, actually increasing fatigue.
According to the ATA, to better address the true causes of fatigue in transportation, FMCSA should focus its resources on (1) sleep disorder awareness, training and screening, (2) promoting the use of Fatigue Risk Management Programs, (3) increasing the availability of truck parking on important freight corridors, and (4) partnering with the trucking and shipping communities to develop an educational process that identifies for drivers the location of available truck parking.
The FMCSA acknowledged the industry’s pleas for more flexibility, but stressed concern over being able to prevent abuse. FMCSA Administrator Ferro stated, "We've heard about the need for flexibility…what I haven't heard yet is how you take a rule with flexibility in it and ensure you've got sufficient structure to go after the folks that are going to abuse that flexibility. We all know it happens today, it happened before, and it will happen again."
A recent document, filed on behalf of the Truck Safety Coalition, Public Citizen and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and posted on www.regulations.gov, reveals that daily driving time under a new HOS rule should be reduced by 27 percent. The document calls for a maximum 12-hour work shift, with no more than eight consecutive hours of driving per shift. The document, one of over 300 documents related to the new rule, also calls for universal electronic on-board recorder (EOBR) equipment.
The coalition said it wants to see a maximum of 40 driving hours in a seven-day period and a maximum of 60 hours of work time in a seven-day period. It also wants to see a minimum 48-hour, off-duty layover, rather than the current 34-hour “restart”. Industry reports indicate that a reduction of allowable driving time from eleven to eight hours, and elimination of the 34-hour restart rule, could cost the trucking industry $3.1 billion or more annually.
In late June, the office of DOT Secretary Ray Lahood received the first draft of a new HOS rule from the FMCSA. After reviewing it and determining it was not necessary to be sent back to FMCSA for revisions, the first draft was sent to the White House (Office of Management & Budget, or OMB) for what's expected to be an additional three-month review. Currently in the NPRM stage, the proposal is by no means in a near final form.
The OMB will consider how the rules will impact the larger picture, such as how much it will cost and how it will affect national economic policy. Once OMB signs off on the regulation, it will then be published in the Federal Register. The FMCSA’s goal is to publish the NPRM on November 4.
Once published in the Federal Register, the public will, for the first time, get full disclosure of the agency’s plan on what, if any, changes will be made to the current HOS regulations.
In April, during an FMCSA oversight hearing, Senate Sub-committee Chairman Lautenberg (D-NJ) said, “The Obama administration has made the right move by initiating a new rulemaking on driver hours…but let’s be clear: When this process is over, we cannot wind up with the same flawed regulations that the last administration designed.”
If this is any indication on the direction of a new HOS rule, the industry could be in for a rude awakening.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
At the first ever Sleep Apnea & Trucking Conference, held in Baltimore, MD, a sold out crowd of trucking industry leaders, sleep medicine professionals, regulators and vendors gathered to discuss solutions for the serious problem of sleep apnea in trucking. The two-day event was hosted by the American Sleep Apnea Association (ASAA) and co-sponsored by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the FMCSA.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), the most common category of sleep-disordered breathing, is a condition where airways become obstructed while sleeping, typically resulting in "hypoxia" or low blood oxygen levels at night. The obstruction leads to interruptions in breathing lasting several seconds at a time, loud snoring, and non-restful sleep. OSA has been demonstrated to significantly increase safety and health risks, leading to extreme daytime sleepiness.
Medical research has shown that OSA is a significant cause of motor vehicle crashes (resulting in a two- to seven-fold increased risk). Studies also suggest that commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators have a higher prevalence of OSA than the general population. According to FMCSA research, around 30 percent of drivers suffer from mild to severe sleep apnea.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) renewed its campaign to broaden the use of sleep disorder screening across all modes of transportation - air, rail, marine, and trucking - as part of a long-term effort to significantly reduce the negative effects of fatigue. According to NTSB Vice Chairman Christopher Hart, fatigue and sleep apnea are major problems of the trucking industry and regulators need better awareness and better treatments to address the problem properly.
Hart proposed that the FMCSA incorporate new sleep disorder suggestions in an online medical examiner book. He also said he believes FMCSA will complete a revised examination report form by September to include the assessment of sleep disorders and publish a best practices guide for examiners.
Currently, there are few rules in transportation addressing OSA. In trucking, FMCSA asks about sleep disorders, OSA, daytime sleepiness, and snoring on the questionnaire completed by commercial truck drivers undergoing examination for medical certification. Further, the FMCSA Medical Review Board in 2008 recommended that the adminstration require OSA screening for all drivers with a body mass index (BMI) over 30, but the FMCSA has yet to act on that recommendation.
Regulators say that sleep disorders are big problems of the trucking industry. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro, who spoke at the Conference, said that fatigue-related crashes need to be reduced in the trucking industry, and that more research, programs, events, and targeted outreach and intervention will reduce drowsy driving accidents. "We consider fatigue to be a high risk behavior, something we're addressing as part of our core mission to reduce severe and fatal crashes involving commercial motor vehicles," said Ferro. "We know sleep apnea contributes to fatigue, that it interferes with safe driving. Thus sleep apnea is a threat to safety."
Over twenty speakers spoke at the two-day conference. Among them was R. Clay Porter, partner, Dennis, Corry, Porter & Smith, LLP. Mr. Porter examined the potential legal ramifications of drivers with sleep apnea on the road. While sleep apnea has not become a major player in the realm of truck litigation, it is "going to be part of this legal landscape sooner rather than later." Recommendations have already been made placing drivers, employers, and physicians on notice about this problem, along with proposed specific steps that should be taken to reduce preventable accidents attributed to OSA. In addition, existing case law exists to frame an argument for punitive damages for employers, and criminal convictions for employees and employers if OSA problems are ignored or hidden. The word to the wise is "deficio gero vestrum periclitatus", which roughly translates to "fail to act at your peril."
Those unable to attend the sold-out conference can purchase the Resource Toolkit, a comprehensive manual with materials on sleep apnea and trucking, which will be available after the conference at http://www.satc2010.org/. You can also click here for a variety of sleep apnea treatment options from the ASAA.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
After the FMCSA's scheduled "listening sessions" in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Los Angeles, and Davenport, IA, the general consensus appears to be a desire to keep the hours-of-service (HOS) rule as it is. However, there are a handful of changes carriers and drivers indicated that they'd like to see, primarily changes that relate to allowing for more flexibility with the 14-hour rule, the use of truck sleeper berths, and taking breaks.
When looking at HOS, the FMCSA maintains it has three goals: first, raising the bar to entry so only the safest carriers can enter; second, maintaining a high standard of safety; and third, removing high-risk motor carriers.
Some of the suggested changes to the current HOS deal with the need for greater flexibility with the 14-hour rule. For example, some have proposed allowing drivers to take a short break during the day by stopping the 14-hour clock that limits a driver's workday. Ralph Garcia, a driver for ABF Freight System and a member of America's Road Team, said, "If they could split it up and let the drivers have a little bit more flexibility, I think it would be a lot more efficient for drivers, as far as rest periods and how they feel, and it would be a benefit to the company...we need to encourage drivers to take naps, which, by the way, would promote shorter continuous driving...and we need those breaks to not affect the 14-hour clock."
Tommy Hodges, chairman of the American Trucking Associations and Titan Transport, suggested the agency redefine the 10 hours and offer "flex time," or time the driver can use at his discretion. He also encouraged the use of naps to make drivers more alert - something the current rules make nearly impossible without using up precious driving time.
Jim Fitzpatrick, who has spent many years as a consultant to the carrier industry, told the panel the current rule does not allow for the driver to sleep when he's sleepy. "We cannot mandate sleep over time," he said. He suggested that drivers could take the 10 hours off any time over a 24-hour period, rather than requiring the hours be consecutive.
In addition, delay issues during loading and unloading also count against the 14-hour day. Most drivers don't have a problem with the 11-hour driving limit, but the delays frequently experienced during loading and unloading can make the 14-hour workday too tight. Some have suggested that the time at the shipper and receiver should not count against the driver.
Although the FMCSA intends to issue a revised driver-hours rule by July, statistics alone, such as the significant decline in the large truck fatal crash rate, indicate that major changes to the federal hours-of-service are not necessary.
The agency is considering a fifth listening session to accommodate those interested in participating.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.