Get Involved in the Hours of Service Driver Restart Study

Would you like to have an impact? FMCSA is recruiting truck drivers and carriers willing to participate in a Driver Restart Study. This study will measure and analyze the fatigue and safety performance levels of drivers who take two nighttime rest periods during their 34-hour restart break compared to those who take less than two nighttime rest periods during their restart break.

Drivers will be paid for their participation and carriers may be compensated for lost revenue due to the study and for the cost of installing data collection equipment on their trucks. During the study, participants will drive their normal revenue-producing routes.

The Driver Restart Study will compare data from five months of driver work schedules to assess the following:

• Safety critical events.
• Operator fatigue and level of alertness.
• Driver health.

The findings will help improve our knowledge of driver fatigue and alertness management.

Participation Requirements

1. The study team will monitor driver compliance on a daily basis.
2. Participating drivers will be required daily to complete one or more three-minute alertness tests.
3. Every driver may be required to maintain sleep/wake logs, record caffeine intake, and report sleepiness during the study.
4. Drivers will be asked to complete a survey about their experience upon completion of the study.

Hours of Service: Who Must Comply?

Most drivers must follow the Hours of Service Regulations if they drive a commercial motor vehicle, or CMV.

In general, a CMV is a vehicle that is used as part of a business and is involved in interstate commerce and fits any of these descriptions:

• Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
• Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more
• Is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers (including the driver) not for compensation
• Is designed or used to transport 9 or more passengers (including the driver) for compensation
• Is transporting hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards

Hours of Service Final Rule for Truck Drivers

The Hours of Service of Drivers Final Rule was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2011. The effective date of the Final Rule was February 27, 2012, and the compliance date of remaining provisions was July 1, 2013.

NOTICE: The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015 was enacted on December 16, 2014, suspending enforcement of requirements for use of the 34-hour restart. For more information see FMCSA’s Federal Register Notice