FMCSA seeks feedback on “excessive” truck driver commuting
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking feedback the prevalence and impact of truck drivers commuting more than 150 minutes.
FMCSA To Take A Look At How Long Commutes Impact Truck Driver Fatigue
The FMCSA will be collecting feedback for 60 days in order to determine how “excessive commuting” (which they define as a commute of more than 150 minutes) on highway safety and driver fatigue levels.
From the FMCSA:
“Long commuting times can adversely affect commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in multiple ways, for example:
- Compromising off-duty time. Long commuting times can reduce a driver’s available off-duty time for sleep and personal activities. This can lead to excessive fatigue while on duty, creating safety concerns for both the CMV driver and other drivers on the roads.
- Impacting driver health. A recent study was conducted that monitored 4,297 adults from 12 metropolitan Texas counties. In this region, 90 percent of people commute to work. The study found that the drivers who have long commuting times were more likely to have poor cardiovascular health and be less physically fit.[2] This study showed that people who commute long distances to work weigh more, are less physically active, and have higher blood pressure.“
Following the study, the administrator is then required to submit to Congress the findings of the collective feedback.
The purpose of this study is to find the average amount of time a truck driver commutes. The FMCSA suspects that it is often longer than 150 minutes.
The FMCSA hopes to assess the number and percentage of drivers who commute, the distances traveled, time zones crossed, time spent commuting, and methods of transportation used.
The deadline to submit feedback is January 26, 2018.
To submit your public comment follow any of the following methods:
- Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
- Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
- Mail: Docket Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and the docket number. For detailed instructions on submitting comments, see the Public Participation heading below.