22-04-2014, 11:39 AM
[u]Transportation Sustainability Research Centre[/u]
ABSTRACT
A study by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in 1990 indicated that a
significant number of fatal truck collisions and crashes were fatigue-related and that a
major contributor to fatigue was the lack of rest areas along the Interstate Highway System.
Drivers are now limited to driving 11 hours during a 14 hour shift after ten consecutive
hours off-duty. Prior to 2003, truckers could drive a maximum of 10 hours during a 15 hour
shift after eight hours off-duty and could extend the 15 hour shift with off-duty time such as
meal and fuel stops (U.S. DOT, 2003). The federal transportation bills passed during the
first decade of the 21st Century set aside funding to investigate the adequacy of truck
parking and rest areas and for programs to address parking shortages and reduce diesel
exhaust emissions from idling at rest areas (FHWA, 2005)