The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Division is responsible for enforcing federal laws and regulations regarding the health and safety of tractor-trailer drivers. Among the rules the agency enforces are the hours of service (HOS) regulations. These regulations dictate how many hours a tractor-trailer driver must drive until he or she is required to stop and rest.
A truck driver in Missouri must follow federal and Missouri hours of service regulations if he or she drives a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). A CMV is any vehicle that weighs at least 10,001 pounds; is “designed or used” to transport nine or more passengers for compensation, or sixteen or more passengers not for compensation; or is transporting hazardous materials that require hazardous-materials placards on the sides of the vehicle, regardless of its size.
Currently, CMV drivers carrying property may not drive for more than 11 hours, and must have at least 10 hours off duty before they make an 11-hour drive. The driver may split up the 11 hours into smaller units with breaks in between, but the driver may not drive after the 14th consecutive hour on duty, even if he took 10 or more hours off before that particular shift began. Driving shifts also have limits. In 7 days on duty, a driver may not drive more than 60 hours; in 8 days, not more than 70 hours. A 34-hour break “re-sets” the 7- and 8-day limits.
Drivers who trade off driving to give each other a chance to rest in the vehicle’s sleeper berth must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth between driving shifts, as well as an additional 2 consecutive hours in the remaining 16 hours in the day.
Despite the rules, many truckers in Missouri drive longer than allowed, or do not get adequate rest in between driving shifts. Truck driver fatigue is often a factor in St. Louis tractor-trailer accidents. If you think a truck driver’s fatigue and/or negligence may have injured you or a loved one, please don’t hesitate to contact an experienced St. Louis semi truck injury accident lawyer at Page Law. Our skilled and compassionate attorneys will examine your case and help you understand your legal rights and options. Call Page Law at 314-322-8515 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
