David A. Kolman, editor, Fleet Maintenance

Kolman’s Korner: The safety and operational impacts from the 34-hour restart provisions

July 20, 2015
The findings may surprise you.

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released the results of a new analysis of the safety and operational impacts from the 34-hour restart provisions of the Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. Among the findings was a “statistically significant” increase in truck crashes after the July 1, 2013, rule change implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

In this latest study, ATRI analyzed an extensive truck GPS database to identify changes in truck travel by time-of-day and day of the week that may have occurred after the rule change. It also examined several years of pre- and post-July 1 federal truck crash data to quantify safety impacts resulting from the HOS rules change.

Truck traffic shift

The truck GPS data analysis identified a shift of truck traffic from nighttime to daytime and a shift of truck traffic away from the weekends to more congested weekdays, with the biggest decreases in truck activity occurring on Sunday nights.

The crash data analysis showed a statistically significant increase in truck crashes after the July 1, 2013 rule change, specifically with injury and towaway crashes, which would be expected, noted ATRI, based on the shifting of trucks to more congested weekday travel due to increased traffic exposure.

Explanations

ATRI’s report featured some possible explanations for the GPS and crash data findings as a result of operational changes the industry had to make post-July 1, 2013. Among these:

- Drivers abandoning use of the more restrictive 34-hour restart in favor of the rolling recap.

- Expanded use of weekend productivity by drivers, particularly Friday into early Saturday driving.

- Earlier weekend dispatches for drivers to avoid disruptions to early week (Monday-Tuesday) operations.

ATRI – the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization – is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.

About the Author

David A. Kolman | Contributor - Fleet Maintenance

Sponsored Recommendations

Ask the Experts: Boost Profitability by Capturing Body Repair Materials Billables

Quality body repairs on medium- and heavy-duty trucks depend on the use of specialized adhesives, sealers, and other allied materials. Unfortunately, many shops face challenges...

Fleet Maintenance E-Book

Streamline your fleet's maintenance and improve operations with the Guide for Managing Maintenance. Learn proven strategies to reduce downtime, optimize in-house and third-party...

Celebrating Your Drivers Can Prove to be Rewarding For Your Business

Learn how to jumpstart your driver retention efforts by celebrating your drivers with a thoughtful, uniform-led benefits program by Red Kap®. Uniforms that offer greater comfort...

Guide To Boosting Technician Efficiency

Learn about the bottom line and team building benefits of increasing the efficiency of your technicians in your repair shop.