One of the most common causes of truck accidents is truck driver fatigue. According to a study conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), 13% of commercial motor vehicle drivers were fatigued at the time of the truck accident. While driver fatigue is a result of several different factors including irregular sleeping schedules and long hours of work, the FMCSA and the U.S. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has implemented a set of hours of service regulations that property-carrying truck drivers must comply with.
11-Hour Limit
The first hours of service regulations are regarding the maximum driving limit per day. The regulations state that property-carrying truck drivers are limited to a maximum of 11 hours of driving. It is important to note that this 11-hour limit begins only once the truck driver has taken 10 consecutive hours off duty.
14-Hour Limit
The next restriction is that truck drivers are not allowed to drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour on duty, after having been off duty for 10 consecutive hours. In addition, if you spend more than 10 hours off duty, your 14-hour limit will not be extended.
30-Minute Driving Break
Another rule is that after driving for 8 consecutive hours, truck drivers must take at least a 30-minute, uninterrupted break. During this break, truck drivers can sleep, be completely off duty, or be on duty but not driving.
60/70-Hour Limit
The next restriction is regarding the maximum number of hours allowed over consecutive days of driving. If driving for 7 consecutive days, the truck driver may not surpass 60 hours of driving. If driving for 8 consecutive days, the truck driver must not drive more than 70 hours. The consecutive time period restarts only when a truck driver is off duty for at least 34 consecutive hours.
Sleeper Berth Rule
Another restriction concerns the sleeper berth. The sleeper berth provision allows truck drivers to split up their 10-hour off-duty period, so long as one off-duty period is at least 2 hours and at least 7 consecutive hours are spent in the sleeper berth. The combined sleeper berth time must amount to at least 10 hours.
Adverse Driving Conditions
In the event there are adverse driving conditions, such as icy roads, dense fog, or heavy rain, the hours of service regulations are slightly altered. If there are adverse driving conditions, truck drivers can extend the driving limits by up to 2 hours. This allotted time will allow truck drivers to catch up on the mileage and distance they would have otherwise reached had there not been any adverse driving conditions present.
Short-Haul Exceptions
There is one exception to the hours of service regulations regarding short-haul driving. This exception is limited to truck drivers driving only within a 150 air-mile radius of their normal work reporting station. Short-haul drivers must be back to their normal reporting location within 14 hours of starting. So long as these short-haul truck drivers follow these restrictions, they are exempt from having to report and keep records of their on and off-duty hours.
Liability in Truck Accidents
In the event you are in a truck accident, there are a number of different parties who may be held liable, including the truck driver or the trucking company. For example, if the truck company imposed unrealistic and unreasonable deadlines that forced the truck driver to violate the hours of service regulations, the truck company may be held liable. It is advised to speak with a San Antonio truck accident lawyer to help identify where the liability falls and to assist you in recovering maximum compensation for your injuries.
