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In a recent panel discussion held on Oct. 22 at the American Trucking Associations Management Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, carriers from across the country expressed their concerns about the new hours-of-service requirements for truck drivers. Many shared the belief that the newly imposed changes to HOS rules have negatively impacted operating efficiencies in the industry, as well as the capability to retain talented truck drivers.
By imposing these regulations, trucking companies will face an even greater challenge with driver retention. The decreased mileage is hurting truck driver wages and mandated breaks don’t appear to benefit drivers. Instead, many just sit around and waste 30 minutes when they could be on the road earning money. A recent carrier survey revealed that 44 percent of carriers believed that the new HOS regulations would have a negative impact on fleets’ abilities to find and retain qualified drivers.
Steve Gordon, COO of Gordon Trucking Inc., believes that the new HOS rules have taken a toll on the work-life balance for truckers. To attract drivers, the industry had been working to provide better schedules for drivers, such as offering more “out-for-a-week, home-for-a-weekend” opportunities. The new rules aren’t helping their cause. Overall, Gordon said he thinks the new HOS rules have been an added pain for drivers, causing them to lose out on times spent on routes.
Nevertheless, although the new mandates require truckers to take 30-minute rest stops throughout the workday, the entire panel agreed that this was not a beneficial change. Despite claims made by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration highlighting driver-health benefits to support this new rule, this rationale was also rejected by panelists. If anything, it may actually increase hazards because it’s driving talented and experienced drivers out of the profession.
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