FMCSA Launches Study of Hours-of-Service Options
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently proposed two pilot programs that could significantly change how long-haul truck drivers manage their rest and work schedules.
Both proposals seek to make federal Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations more flexible. But while the trucking industry welcomes these changes, truck accident lawyers and safety advocates are raising questions about how they might affect fatigue-related truck crashes across Indiana.
Truck driver fatigue has long been one of the most dangerous factors on Indiana highways. Drowsy driving can be as impairing as alcohol, slowing reaction times, dulling judgment, and leading to devastating collisions involving multiple vehicles. The outcomes of these pilot programs could directly impact how—and how often—such cases occur.
What New Rules Is the FMCSA Testing?
The FMCSA’s first pilot program would modify split sleeper berth requirements. Current rules require at least one continuous seven-hour rest period and another three-hour break. The pilot would allow drivers to divide their required 10 hours of rest into more flexible combinations, such as two five-hour segments, so long as total rest time equals 10 hours.
The second pilot would pause the 14-hour driving window, allowing drivers to stop the clock for up to three hours when off-duty, waiting for repairs, or stuck in detention at shipping facilities. Both programs will include only 256 drivers nationwide and will be monitored to see whether increased flexibility maintains the same, or greater, levels of safety as current regulations.
Truckers have long argued that rigid scheduling prevents them from sleeping when they are tired or from working around heavy traffic. Regulators, however, worry that flexibility could make it easier to stretch driving shifts beyond their limits, unintentionally promoting longer days behind the wheel.
Why It Matters for Truck Accident Cases
Indiana sees hundreds of serious truck crashes each year on interstates like I-65 through Lafayette, I-70 near Indianapolis, and I-69 through Bloomington. When fatigue is involved, the results are often catastrophic: jackknife accidents, rear-end collisions, and multi-vehicle pileups.
In a personal injury case, Hours-of-Service violations are often key evidence of negligence. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) record driver hours and rest breaks, allowing lawyers to prove when a driver exceeded legal limits or falsified records. If these FMCSA pilot programs lead to permanent rule changes, the legal landscape could shift.
More flexible rest periods may make violations harder to detect and could give trucking companies new defenses. A carrier might argue that a driver’s sleep schedule was “within approved flexibility,” even if fatigue clearly contributed to the crash. That’s why understanding these rule changes is critical for injury lawyers handling complex commercial trucking claims.
The Role of Fatigue in Truck Accident Liability
Even under current regulations, fatigue is one of the leading causes of trucking crashes nationwide. According to federal data, drowsy or impaired alertness contributes to roughly 13 percent of large truck collisions. In Indiana, attorneys often find that trucking companies pressure drivers to meet delivery deadlines despite safety risks.
If the FMCSA’s pilot programs become permanent, plaintiff’s attorneys will need to scrutinize not only driving logs but also rest patterns. This would include examining whether the driver actually had meaningful rest, not just logged hours. Expert testimony on circadian rhythm, fatigue science, and fleet scheduling may become even more valuable in litigation.
Staying Ahead of the Trucking Industry's Changes
For Indiana law firms that handle serious trucking accidents, monitoring federal developments like these isn’t optional; it’s part of building stronger cases. Whether the FMCSA’s goal of “equal or greater safety” is met remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: flexibility on paper doesn’t always translate to safety on the road.
As these pilot programs unfold, truck accident lawyers representing crash victims should be prepared for defense arguments built around compliance with new exceptions. The key question will remain the same: did the driver and company act safely and responsibly under the circumstances?
Until regulators prove that looser Hours-of-Service rules won’t increase fatigue-related risk, every truck accident involving questionable rest schedules deserves close legal scrutiny.
Get an Indiana Truck Accident Lawyer on Your Side
When a truck crash leaves you or someone you love injured, exhausted, and facing mounting bills, you need to take steps to protect your rights. You need strength in your corner. The Indiana truck accident attorneys at Boughter Sinak, LLC have built a reputation for coming out swinging for Indiana’s injured, taking on large trucking companies and insurers that put profits before safety.
Our dedicated legal team understands what’s at stake after a serious accident. We investigate driver logs, black box data, and company practices to hold negligent carriers accountable for the harm they cause. With millions recovered for Hoosiers injured in truck and commercial vehicle crashes, including a $12 million recovery, we know how to fight and win for our clients.
Don’t let a trucking company or its insurer decide what your case is worth. Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how our legal team can build a plan of attack to get the maximum compensation you deserve.
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