Recent regulations have helped in keeping truckers better rested.
In December 2011, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revised the hours-of-service (HOS) regulation for truck drivers. The HOS law mandates how many hours a trucker must rest before resuming the wheel.
Drivers now may only work up to a limit of 11 hours daily. They must also take a break of at least 30 minutes every eight consecutive hours. These breaks, as well as stops for food, are recorded in the driver's logs.
In addition, truckers must rest between the hours of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. twice a week and are required to take 34 hours off every seven days.
The fines for HOS violations are hefty: Companies allowing drivers to work just three hours over the limit can be fined $11,000 per offense, and drivers must pay up to $3,750 per offense.
Most of Quality Distribution Inc.'s 130 terminals in the U.S. and Canada have lounge areas where drivers can sleep.
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