On April 24, 2003, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the first substantial change to the hours-of-service (HOS) rules since 1939. The new HOS rules are aimed at improving highway safety and assisting in reducing the number of truck related crashes by addressing driver fatigue.

  The new rules allow drivers to drive 11 hours on-duty after 10 consecutive hours off-duty. Drivers may not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on-duty, following 10 hours off-duty. Similar to existing rules, drivers may not drive after being on-duty for 60 hours in a seven-consecutive-day period or 70 hours in an eight-consecutive-day period. This on-duty cycle may be restarted whenever a driver takes at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty.

  The FMCSA estimates the new rule will save up to 75 lives and prevent as many as 1,326 fatigue-related crashes annually. There were an estimated 4,902 truck-related fatalities in traffic crashes in 2002.

  The new rules take effect January 4, 2004. They apply to interstate freight carriers with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more and operating vehicles transporting hazardous material requiring placards.

  This final rule is available on the Internet by searching for docket number FMSCA-97-2350 at http://dms.dot.gov.