New Hours of Service Rules For Truck Drivers in Wisconsin

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made the announcement this week that new hours-of-service (HOS) rules will come into effect by July 1, 2013. The HOS regulations apply to interstate transport, which represents the vast majority of the freight hauled by semi-trucks on the nation’s roadways. Your Wisconsin tractor-trailer accident lawyer has always supported the strict enforcement of HOS rules. these rules are one way to prevent devastating Wisconsin 18-wheeler crashes caused by tired and overworked truck drivers.
What will change with the new HOS rules?

• Reduction of the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work during a 7-day period from 82 hours to 70;
  
• Drivers will be encouraged take a break of at least 30 minutes before they drive after having worked for 8 hours, and drivers can take the 30-minute break at any time during an 8-hour window.
  
• Retain the maximum allowed daily driving time of 11 hours, but require drivers who have reached the maximum weekly work time to take two nights’ rest by remaining at least 34 hours off-duty.
  

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood commented, “This rule will help prevent fatigue-related truck crashes and save lives. Truck drivers deserve a work environment that allows them to perform their job safely.”
The FMCSA spent time and energy to listen to all the parties concerned by new HOS rules. Safety advocates, truck drivers, motor carriers, truck owners and law enforcement officials were asked to participate in six public sessions and to share their concerns and help develop the final rules.
Both motor carriers and truck drivers will face stiffer penalties if they violate the HOS rules. We sincerely hope that the enforcement of these rules will be stepped up as well, which in the end is the only way to counteract the negative effects of the pay-by-the-mile system and avoid catastrophic Wisconsin 18-wheeler accidents caused by overworked truck drivers.
If you have been injured in a Wisconsin or Illinois car, truck or motorcycle accident, contact the Wisconsin personal injury attorneys of Hupy & Abraham, S.C. today at 800-800-5676 (toll-free) or 414-223-4800 (local) for a free evaluation of your case, or send us an e-mail with your questions. Hupy & Abraham have lawyer offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton in Wisconsin, and Gurnee and Bloomington in Illinois.