ASSESSMENT OF NON-CARRIER ENCOURAGED VIOLATIONS OF MOTOR CARRIER REGULATIONS: POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

The deregulation of the trucking industry in the early 1980s has led to significant changes in the way goods and products are moved throughout the United States. Prior to deregulation, approximately 20,00 motor carrier companies operated in an environment where operating authority was issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission, and entry into the industry was difficult. Since deregulation, there has been a significant growth in the number of motor carriers operating in the country, with the number now exceeding approximately 450,000 carriers. A consequence of this growth has been a significant increase in competition. Workplace practices today in many instances reflect the way shippers, receivers, and motor carriers are doing business in an unregulated environment. They include such practices as setting pick-up and delivery schedules that do not take into account Hours of Service (HOS) regulations and the need for rest and "Just-in-Time" delivery, requiring drivers to arrive on site at a specified time to load/unload or face penalties for late arrival. Additional practices include requiring drivers to arrive at a specific time to load/unload, but then not loading/unloading the trailer at that time and requiring the driver to remain on duty and not be able to rest; and requiring drivers to spend duty-hours to load/unload their vehicles and then driving in excess of HOS limits to meet schedules. These types of non-carrier practices encourage HOS violations (drivers must often choose between meeting customer demands or adhering to HOS requirements) and potentially represent a significant safety problem. Numerous studies have shown that drivers who violate HOS regulations and do not obtain adequate rest are at great risk for accidents. In fact, driver fatigue is identified as one of the major causes of truck accidents. This paper presents results of a study assessing the scope of these safety problems.

• Corporate Authors:

  University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  Center for Transportation Research
  Conference Center Building
  Knoxville, TN  United States  37996-4133

  National Safety Council

  1121 Spring Lake Drive
  Itasca, IL  United States  60143
• Authors:
  • Fleger, S A
  • Owens, N
  • Rice, L
  • Chen, K J
• Conference:
  • International Truck and Bus Safety Research and Policy Symposium
  • Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
  • Date: 2002-4-3 to 2002-4-5
• Publication Date: 2002-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 501-510

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Competition; Crash causes; Customers; Deregulation; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Hours of labor; Just in time production; Laws; Loading and unloading; Motor carriers; Penalties; Rest periods; Schedules; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Traffic violations; Truck crashes; Truck drivers; Trucking; Trucking safety; Working conditions
• Uncontrolled Terms: Arrival time; Noncarrier practices
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Law; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00924789
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 3 2002 12:00AM