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On-Board Recording for Commercial Motor Vehicles and Drivers: Microscopic and Macroscopic Approaches

Approximately 2.3 million drivers operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. Crashes involving these vehicles are important safety concerns of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for several reasons (FHWA, 1999): 1. On average, CMVs travel 5-10 times the annual miles of passenger cars. Although the crash rate of CMVs has held steady for several years, the number of crashes has risen because the number of vehicles and distance traveled both are increasing. 2. Heavy trucks make up 3% of the registered vehicle population in the United states, account for 7% of all vehicle miles traveled, but represent 9% of motor vehicles involved in fatal crashes. 3. CMV-related fatal crashes and injuries cost the U.S. economy $15 billion annually. 4. Non-CMV vehicles and their drivers bear most of costs of CMV-related crashes: 85% of fatalities, 75% of injuries, 67% of economic losses. Hours-of-service of CMV drivers are covered under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), at Title 49, Part 395, of the Code of Federal Regulations. The regulations prohibit a driver from driving more than 10 hours following a minimum of 8 consecutive hours off-duty, or driving after 15 hours on-duty [including any driving time] following a minimum of 8 consecutive hours off-duty. They require a driver to be given at least 8 consecutive hours off duty between driving and on-duty periods. Drivers are also prohibited from operating a CMV after accumulating 60 hours on-duty in any 7 consecutive day period (if the motor carrier does not operate its vehicles every day of the week), or 70 hours in any 8 consecutive days (if the motor carrier operates CMVs every day of the week). The requirement for CMV drivers to record their hours-of-service, and for motor carriers to maintain those records is included in regulations written in 1939 and still in effect. The record of duty status (RODS), commonly known as a driver’s log, must be completed by all CMV drivers operating in interstate commerce. Details of the requirement are contained in 49 CFR 395.8. Because compliance with hours-of-service regulations (i.e., not exceeding maximum driving and duty time limits, and being afforded at least the minimum off-duty time for purposes of obtaining rest) has a strong influence on the ability of a driver to perform safely, the recording of duty status and time becomes an essential regulatory issue. The authors believe there are merits to both macroscopic (vehicle and operationally-oriented) and microscopic (driver self-monitoring) approaches for planning and monitoring duty and non-duty times to enhance safe and productive CMV transportation. Two FHWA projects -- a research study and an operational test -- are exploring the feasibility of these different, yet complementary, approaches.

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Web
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: pp 325-335
  • Monograph Title: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Transportation Recorders. Transportation Recording: 2000 and Beyond, May 3-5, 1999, Arlington, Virginia

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01088114
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jan 30 2008 12:31PM