FMCSA advances hours-of-service pilots that could lead to more scheduling flexibility for CDL drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) moved ahead with two hours-of-service pilot programs to explore safety impacts of providing truck drivers with more flexibility in their driving work days.
On August 27, 2026, FMCSA announced the next phase in the launch of two hours-of-service pilot programs designed to study the safety impact of providing truckers with more freedom in scheduling their driving days, which could open the door for new industry-wide rulemaking.
FMCSA completed pre-testing of the two pilot programs with a select number of commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders, and the agency is now on track to open the program to “many more drivers” in 2027.
Next year’s two pilot programs are expected to 256 drivers each, for a total of 512 participants. Drivers will receive up to $1,600 for completing all study tasks during the four-month study period.
What Are The Two Hours-Of-Service Pilot Programs?
In September 2025, FMCSA announced the Flexible Sleeper Berth Pilot Program and the Split Duty Period Pilot Program as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pro-Trucker package, a series of initiatives designed to improve the working lives of U.S. truckers.
The Flexible Sleeper Berth Pilot Program allows participating drivers to split the 10-hour off-duty period into two periods in any combination, provided the two periods total at least 10 hours and one period includes at least five consecutive hours in the sleeper berth.
The pre-test from this pilot lasted from April 1 through June 11, 2026 and involved nine drivers from three motor carriers in Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drivers received $600 for their six weeks of participation in the pilot.
The Split Duty Period Pilot Program allows participating drivers to pause their 14-hour driving window for up to three hours each day when they spend qualifying time in a non-driving status. The qualifying time may include off-duty time, sleeper berth time, or on-duty time spent at a pickup or delivery location.
The pre-test ran from May 18 through July 17, 2026, and included nine drivers from three motor carriers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Drivers received $600 for their six weeks of participation in the program.
CDL drivers and motor carriers interested in participating in the expanded pilot programs in 2027 are invited to send contact information to pilots@dot.gov.