Horse Shoeing

We have all been so tired we hardly knew where or who we were. Hopefully this is the result of a really fun-filled night that went on way too long before a work day rather than a result of chronic insomnia.

Sleep is a very important life characteristic that has been a subject of study for years. While sleep can be a valuable tool, and a balanced necessity, it can also lead to destruction and demise. Not to be taken lightly, sleep deprivation can become a serious issue for many. Almost never more dangerous then when driving or operating large equipment, a lack of sleep can result in dire consequences. One such sleep exposed industry is auto shipping.

Regularly relying on truck drivers to travel long distances in short and efficient periods of time, the auto shipping industry is an area of expertise that is very susceptible to the drawbacks of combating sleep schedules and the safety concerns that follow. Driving is already a very sensitive task and mixing long hours with this type of work function can have devastating effects. The more we learn about the sleep laws of the road, and review details of sleep as related to truck driving, the more conscience we should become about some of the perils we may face when shipping vehicles.

With more knowledge will hopefully come more support to the laws that auto shippers must abide by. Auto shipping companies are making an all out effort to keep our roadways safe. A look at who created some of these laws and the content of them may help in that endeavor.

State highways, county highways, United States highways and interstate highways all have the same rules regarding sleep while working and driving as a truck driver and vehicle transporter. The governing body of these laws is The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration who is responsible for deciding driving hours and conditions for truckers involved in interstate commerce. All auto shipping companies should at least be aware of these guidelines as they almost always pertain directly to there business goals.

Partnering with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies and the National Institute for Occupational Safety, the Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducted numerous scientific and in-depth statistical studies about fatigue and the effects of sleep as connected to driving as an occupation. The resulting data and knowledge was then used to design what the administration labeled Hours of Service (HOS) regulations.

It is important to note that there are two sets of rules. One pertaining to passenger carrying vehicles and one directed towards property moving trucks. Auto shippers must abide by the more stringent property based regulations. Dissecting and reviewing these laws will help auto shippers do a better job, become more alert within their work environments and may even help save lives.

Auto shippers to avoid breaking the law must maintain a certain level of sleep rules. These laws dictate that drivers may be actually on the road a total of 11 hours without rest only after 10 straight hours of being off the road. They also note that the driver can not drive past the consecutive 14th hour on the job and can only return to the wheel after 10 hours of idle time. Other guidelines include that if drivers log a 60 hour 7 day work week or a 70 hour 8 day driving schedule then they must rest 34 hours straight before hitting the road again. And, lastly, drivers sleeping in their truck’s berth must take at least eight consecutive hours in the sleeper cabin plus an additional two straight hours either in the sleeper berth, off duty, or any combination of the two before continuing their driving.

It is mandatory that all of this is tracked through trucker logs and journals as well as on board computer recording devices. Some of the compiled daily information may include truck number, name of vehicle carrier and the main office address, date and time, total miles driven that day, name of co-driver, shipping document numbers and a driver’s signature to verify the truth of all entries.

All of this is closely watched and for very good reason. Fatigue can be one of an auto shippers most relevant foes. Due to the severity of the possible consequences while operating a large motor vehicle in a compromised state, automobile transporters would be wise to continue to help fight against the very serious problem of falling asleep at the wheel.

To read more on Car Transport or to get an online Auto Shipping Quote please visit MetroGistics.