Ferro Backs HOS Rule’s Restart Provision

A controversial 34-hour restart provision in its new hours-of-service rule will help ensure that truck drivers do not experience cumulative fatigue, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Anne Ferro told Transport Topics.

“The rule is geared toward reducing the effects of cumulative fatigue on the driver task and ensuring that the drivers who push the limits — those who drive beyond 70 hours a week — would no longer be able to do that, and on average would have proper rest breaks and overnight rest," Ferro said in an interview last Thursday.

The new rule, announced last month, reduces total driver allowable hours to 70 from 82 per week, but retains the 11 hour daily limit.

She estimated that reducing weekly hours would only impact about 15% of industry drivers.

Although the proposed rule leaned toward reducing daily driving hours to 10, Ferro said the agency did not possess the "available science, data and research" to cut allowable hours.

The rule “will make the highways safer for the folks operating and operating around trucks,” Ferro said, adding that “frankly, the expectations of this rule are that folks can start working on it today.

“It’s everybody’s personal responsibility to ensure that they're operating fully rested, fully alert, with full focused on the road and hands on the wheel,” Ferro said. “Employers know that and have an obligation to ensure that their drivers have every opportunity to operate in that manner.”