What New Federal Proposals Could Mean for Truck Safety in South Carolina
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced two new pilot programs that could change how truck drivers manage their hours of service (HOS), which are the critical rules that limit how long they can drive and when they must rest.
While these programs are designed to increase flexibility for truck drivers, they’ve sparked new debate about how changes to rest and work hours could impact roadway safety. For families across South Carolina who share the road with commercial trucks every day, these potential shifts could have serious consequences.
At Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law, we’ve represented victims of truck crashes caused by fatigue, inattention, and violations of HOS regulations. Our Lexington truck accident lawyers know how important these safety rules are and how dangerous it can be when they’re stretched too far.
Here’s what the FMCSA is proposing, what’s at stake, and why the trucking industry and safety advocates are paying close attention.
What Are the FMCSA’s Proposed Pilot Programs?
The FMCSA is currently seeking public comment on two pilot programs designed to test adjustments to existing hours-of-service rules. Both programs would temporarily relax certain HOS requirements for a small group of participating drivers with the goal of collecting data that could support permanent regulatory changes in the future.
The two pilot programs include:
The Split Sleeper Berth Pilot Program
This program would allow drivers to divide their required 10-hour rest period into two segments of their choosing. For example, two five-hour breaks instead of the current seven-hour and three-hour split.
Under current law, drivers who use sleeper berths must spend at least seven consecutive hours in the sleeper, leaving only three hours for their secondary rest period. Many truckers say this schedule is too rigid and doesn’t match real-world driving conditions, traffic delays, or their natural sleep cycles.
The 14-Hour Driving Window Pilot Program
This proposal would let drivers pause the 14-hour on-duty clock for breaks ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours. In practice, this would mean drivers could take a rest or wait out heavy traffic without losing valuable working time.
Many drivers have complained that the current rule, which starts counting the 14-hour duty period once they begin driving, often forces them to choose between taking a rest and finishing their routes on time.
Only 256 commercial drivers would be selected for each pilot program. They would operate under these modified rules while the FMCSA monitors performance, fatigue levels, and crash data.
Why the FMCSA Is Considering These Changes
The FMCSA says the goal of both pilot programs is to determine whether giving drivers more flexibility can improve safety, not weaken it.
Many truckers argue that strict HOS rules often do the opposite of what they’re meant to achieve. When drivers can’t adjust their rest periods to match their natural fatigue levels, they may end up driving tired simply to meet delivery deadlines or comply with the letter of the law.
In other words, flexibility might allow drivers to rest when they actually need to, instead of when the clock says they should.
The FMCSA’s mandate is to ensure that any new rule achieves an “equivalent or greater level of safety” compared to current regulations. These pilot programs are a way to gather evidence before making permanent changes.
Why Safety Advocates Are Cautious
While many in the trucking industry welcome more flexibility, safety organizations worry that these changes could lead to longer driving days and less predictable rest patterns, increasing the risk of fatigue-related crashes.
Truck driver fatigue is a well-documented danger. Studies by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have shown that fatigue is a factor in nearly 1 out of every 10 truck crashes involving serious injury or death.
When drivers are allowed to pause their work clocks or split their sleep into smaller chunks, it can blur the lines between rest and duty time, making it harder to ensure drivers are truly alert when behind the wheel.
For victims of truck crashes, this issue isn’t theoretical. Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving, leading to slower reaction times, lane departures, and catastrophic highway collisions.
How These Rules Could Affect South Carolina Drivers
If the pilot programs eventually lead to national rule changes, South Carolina’s roadways could see real-world effects, both positive and negative.
- Potential Benefits:
- Drivers might have more control over their schedules, allowing them to avoid high-traffic periods and drive more efficiently.
- More flexible rest periods could reduce frustration and stress among long-haul drivers, thereby improving safety.
- Potential Risks:
- Extended duty periods could increase fatigue for some drivers, especially those under pressure to meet delivery deadlines.
- Smaller rest periods may not provide enough time for full recovery, especially on consecutive long-haul trips.
- Enforcement could become more complicated, making it easier for unsafe driving practices to go unnoticed.
For families sharing South Carolina’s interstates and highways with large commercial vehicles, these shifts could change the risk landscape significantly.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in South Carolina
If you’re injured in a crash involving a commercial truck, you need to act quickly. Trucking companies and their insurers often have legal teams and investigators on the scene within hours. Their goal is to protect their bottom line, not yours.
Our Lexington truck accident lawyers move fast to preserve evidence, review logbooks, analyze black box data, and determine whether the driver or company violated HOS regulations.
Even if new rules are adopted, truck drivers and their employers will still have a responsibility to operate safely and prevent harm. When they fail to do that, they should be held accountable.
Standing Up for Safety and Accountability
At Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law, we understand both sides of trucking law. Our attorneys have worked for insurance defense firms and seen firsthand how carriers minimize or deny valid injury claims. Today, we put that experience to work for South Carolina families who’ve been hurt by negligence on the road.
Whether the FMCSA’s pilot programs lead to long-term regulatory change or not, one thing remains constant: every trucking company has a duty to put safety first.
When they don’t — when fatigue, pressure, or profit come before human life — we’ll be there to hold them accountable.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident in South Carolina, contact Johnson + Johnson Attorneys at Law today for a free consultation. We’re proud to fight for the people of Lexington and beyond, and we would be honored to talk to you about your potential legal case.
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