We have all been so tired we hardly knew where or who we were. Hopefully this is the result of a really fun-filled night that went on way too long before a work day rather than a result of chronic insomnia.
Sleep is such an important event that many studies have been conducted over the years to determine its nature and to help those who have trouble with it. The lack of sleep can have serious consequences. These consequences are never so dire as those that involve driving or operating large equipment. An industry that is severely exposed to such dire consequences is auto shipping.
The auto shipping industry relies on truck drivers who travel long distances on the shortest and most efficient routes available. While driving these behemoths calls for strict attention to the road, other vehicles and driving conditions, it is also susceptible to sleep schedules that can be seriously disrupted while attempting to get a load to its destination as quickly as possible, only to turn around and deliver another one to another destination. The more that is learned about sleep on the road, particularly the details related to truck driving, the more conscientious we will all become about the dangers faced by the truckers.
Hopefully the more we know, the more willing we will be to abide by the laws and to support the auto shipping companies that are making a conceded effort to keep our roadways free of danger. Let’s take a look at who created some of the laws and a few of the methods used to prevent harm.
State, county, federal and interstate highways all must abide by the same rules and regulations regarding sleep while working as a truck driver, whether it be as a driver of an auto carrying vehicle or some other type of truck. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is the governor of these laws. They are responsible for determining driving hours and conditions for truckers involved in interstate commerce. Auto shipping companies must be aware of these guidelines as such rules and laws are very much involved in their business models.
The Motor Carrier Safety Administration partners with both the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies and the National Institute for Occupational Safety to conduct a multitude of scientific and in-depth statistical studies regarding fatigue and the effects of sleep in conjunction with occupational driving. The resulting information has been used to create what the administration refers to as Hours of Service (HOS) regulations.
It is important to note that there are two sets of rules. One pertaining to passenger carrying vehicles and one directed towards property moving trucks. Auto shippers must abide by the more stringent property based regulations. Dissecting and reviewing these laws will help auto shippers do a better job, become more alert within their work environments and may even help save lives.
Auto shippers to avoid breaking the law must maintain a certain level of sleep rules. These laws dictate that drivers may be actually on the road a total of 11 hours without rest only after 10 straight hours of being off the road. They also note that the driver can not drive past the consecutive 14th hour on the job and can only return to the wheel after 10 hours of idle time. Other guidelines include that if drivers log a 60 hour 7 day work week or a 70 hour 8 day driving schedule then they must rest 34 hours straight before hitting the road again. And, lastly, drivers sleeping in their truck’s berth must take at least eight consecutive hours in the sleeper cabin plus an additional two straight hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two before continuing their driving.
It is mandated that this schedule be tracked via trucker logs and journals and on-board computer devices. Bits of the compiled daily data might include truck number, the name of the vehicle carrier and the mail office address, date and time, total miles driven in a 24-hour period, name of the co-driver, shipping document numbers and driver’s signature swearing that all entries are true.
All of this is closely watched and for very good reason. Fatigue can be one of an auto shippers most relevant foes. Due to the severity of the possible consequences while operating a large motor vehicle in a compromised state, automobile transporters would be wise to continue to help fight against the very serious problem of falling asleep at the wheel.
To read more on Car Transport or to get an online Auto Shipping Quote please visit MetroGistics.
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