The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently announced it will study increased flexibility in the current hours-of-service regulations, which will help determine if providing drivers with greater control over their own schedule will reduce fatigue and improve safety, according to a statement from the agency.
The two pilot programs, which are expected to include the participation of some 500 drivers, include:
- Split Duty Period pilot program: This will allow participating drivers to pause their 14-hour “driving window” for no less than 30 minutes and no more than three hours. The program seeks to collect data and assess whether added flexibility can maintain or improve safety outcomes.
- Flexible Sleeper Berth pilot program: This will explore additional sleeper berth split options beyond the current “8/2” and “7/3” configurations. FMCSA will test the safety implications of allowing drivers to divide their 10-hour off-duty requirement into “6/4” and “5/5” split periods. The research will examine how these alternatives affect driver fatigue and overall safety performance in order to determine whether a wider range of rest options could benefit both drivers and the motoring public.
Protocol development for both pilot programs will begin in early 2026.
This is not the first time the FMCSA has said it will study these issues. There was an earlier attempt in 2017 and one in 2021.
“Truck drivers are the backbone of our economy, and we owe it to them to explore smarter, data-driven policies that make their jobs safer and more enjoyable,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “These pilot programs will help identify real solutions for America’s drivers without compromising safety.”
