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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is moving forward with two pilot programs that will examine whether greater flexibility in scheduling work and rest can preserve or improve safety under federal hours-of-service regulations.
Flexible Scheduling Under Review
The agency is advancing pilot programs focused on the Flexible Sleeper Berth and Split Duty concepts. The initiatives are intended to evaluate whether drivers can be given more control over when they take rest periods while continuing to comply with federal limits on driving and on-duty time.
One proposal could allow drivers to pause the 14-hour duty window under specific conditions. The pilot would test whether that flexibility helps drivers better align their work schedules with fatigue levels, traffic conditions, loading delays and available parking.
FMCSA Completes Pre-Testing
FMCSA has completed pre-testing for the programs ahead of their planned next phase. The agency has not indicated that the pilot concepts will immediately change the hours-of-service rules for the broader motor carrier industry.
Instead, the programs are designed to collect data on how alternative scheduling options affect driver fatigue, compliance and roadway safety. Results from the pilots could help determine whether any changes should be considered in the future.
Safety Remains the Central Focus
Current hours-of-service rules establish limits on how long commercial drivers may operate and remain on duty. The rules are intended to reduce fatigue-related crashes by requiring drivers to take specified rest periods.
Truck drivers and motor carriers have long argued that rigid scheduling requirements do not always reflect real-world conditions, including delays at shipping facilities, congestion and the availability of safe parking. The FMCSA pilots will evaluate whether additional scheduling flexibility can address those challenges without weakening existing safety standards.
