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Driver Log Books

September 14th, 2006 Posted by Amelia

The US Department of Transportation has recently updated its Hours of Service rules for truckers, making it critical that drivers maintain accurate driver log books.

Fatigue and falling asleep at the wheel are the primary causes of trucking accidents. Some studies show that an exhausted driver is as great a risk as a drunk driver. The Hours of Service rules are established to mandate how much rest truckers must have over a specified period, in an effort to avoid fatigue-related accidents. Prior to these changes, the last DOT update to the Hours of Service rules was in 2003.

More workplace fatalities result from motor vehicle accidents than any other cause. Every year, more truckers die than those in any other occupation do. Although some jobs such as firefighter are more dangerous than trucking, the enormous number of truckers on the road means that they have many, many more accidents and fatalities.

For over-the-road truckers hauling property (not passengers), the changes primarily affect truckers whose cabs have a sleeper-berth. Under the new rules, drivers must take 10 hours off duty in each 24-hour period. The change allows drivers to split their sleeping or off-duty time into two blocks, as long as each block is at least 2 hours. This provision allows truckers to sleep for 4 or 5 hours twice a day if they like. It also allows truckers to sleep for 6 hours, and take a 2 or 3 hour nap at another time during the day.

The previous rules dictated that drivers had to take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper-berth, plus 2 consecutive hours off duty (in the sleeper-berth or relaxing elsewhere). The new changes reflect research that shows drivers may actually be more alert with two shorter sleep periods, rather than the traditional 8 hours. The research shows that after 6 to 8 hours of driving, truckers who take a short nap may be more alert than those who sleep for 8 to 10 hours once per day.