ATA Offers Tips to Fleets for Handling Hours of Service Changes
As the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals prepares to issue a final decision in American Trucking Association case against the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regarding the contentious restart and rest break changes to the HOS rules, the trucking industry should be prepared for the impacts those changes may have on their operations.
The industry finds itself in a 'hope for the best and prepare for the worst' position concerning the litigation and the July 1 effective date of the new rules. In order to help fleet members deal with the new rules, ATA contacted some of the industry's leading trucking companies about how they prepared for the new rules. The following are lessons learned from these interviews.
Train drivers. Operationally, the restart rule changes and the new 30-minute rest break requirement may cause significant disruption to your daily procedures. If caught off guard, unaware drivers may be confused about the requirements and potentially incur violations that could generate fines and that will affect carrier CSA scores.
Use real-world examples: While FMCSA has provided examples on their website of how driver logs may change, most companies ATA spoke with did not find them particularly helpful because they didn't reflect the daily operations of their company. ATA recommends that you develop logbook examples based on a typical and/or exceptional driving week at your company. Provide those to the drivers and compare them to examples under the current rules. If time and resources permit, it may be a good idea to select a small group of drivers to operate under the new restart and rest break provisions for a week or two. If you're able to do so, use their logs as examples to other drivers and allow trainees to ask questions.
Update route planning protocol: Whether you are using route optimization software or planning a route manually, it is imperative to update your protocol to reflect any HOS changes. With truck parking scarce, it may be challenging to find somewhere a driver can rest and it may have to come sooner, or later, than expected.
Discuss efficiency: The new rules have the potential to negatively impact the efficiency or productivity of your drivers. Drivers need to understand the importance of planning their week to the extent possible. Drivers who regularly utilize the current 34-hour restart may experience significant losses in productivity depending on what time of day they begin the new restart period. Additionally efficiency losses may be experienced as a result of the rest break provision or additional company procedures added to ensure compliance. In most cases, your drivers will desire efficiency and productivity as much as your company. Educating them on the benefits of planning will undoubtedly pay significant dividends.
Educate your entire organization and your customers: It is important that all parts of your organization are fully aware of the changes and their consequences. This is especially the case if your drivers use the current 34-hour restart. Driver managers will need to alter their procedures and the sales staff will need to work hard to adjust shipper and broker expectations. Flexibility will need to be built into business relationships to ensure continued efficiency and productivity.
ATA suggests using the following HOS Training Resources:
ATA's Summary of HOS Changes
http://www.trucking.org/
ATA's HOS Comparison Chart
http://www.trucking.org/
FMCSA's Summary of HOS Changes
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
FMCSA's Interstate Truck Driver's Guide to Hours of Service, Updated February 2013
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
FMCSA's Logbook Examples
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Other Potential Training Material Sources:
For additional training resources or ideas, ATA suggests reaching out to colleagues in the industry. The industry is dedicated to safety and has a long history of collaborating to meet its unique needs.
If you use electronic logging devices, your provider will also be able to provide useful insight and materials for HOS training.
Your insurance carrier may also be helpful.
Last, but not least, consider reaching out to your State Trucking Association who may be able to direct you to additional resources.