New Regulations Against Truck Driver Fatigue

Lack of sleep is a common cause of accidents involving large trucks, and the U.S. Department of Transportation even estimates that about 28% of American truck drivers may be suffering from sleep apnea and nearly 83,000 accidents per year are caused by fatigued drivers. Even more concerning is a study by the Sleep Medicine Division of the Harvard School of Medicine, in which nearly half of surveyed semi-truck drivers admitted to “drifting off” on a long drive.

Driving at night carries a greater inherent risk than driving during the day not only due to reduced visibility, but also the increased risk of fatigue, especially on long drives; no American citizens are more vulnerable to these risks than professional truck drivers. Their work is highly demanding and can involve long and irregular hours, tight schedules, loading and unloading cargo, and insufficient time for recovery, all of which can combine to create a serious risk of an accident.

Above all, their demanding and time-sensitive schedules are believed to underlie and exasperate many of the other issues, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has recently implemented new regulations to help combat fatigue among truck drivers.

They include:

– The maximum average work-week for truck drivers will be reduced from 82 hours to 70; – The work-day is limited to 14 hours and the daily driving limit to 11 hours; – Truck drivers are required to take a 30-minute break during the first eight hours of their shifts; – Truck drivers who reach the 70-hour maximum within one week may resume if they rest for 34 consecutive hours (with stipulations).

If you or a loved one has been injured in an truck accident involving a professional truck driver, contact 844 See Mike, LLC for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.