The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is launching a study to examine how shipping delays, known as detention time, affect truck driver safety and commercial vehicle operations.
Why it matters: Extended detention time at loading docks can lead to a host of issues, from reduced income for drivers and carriers to potential safety risks due to rushed driving to meet schedules.
- The year-long study will gather data from 80 carriers and 2,500 drivers utilising electronic logging devices, transportation management systems, and other tools.
- Researchers aim to determine how delays impact compliance with Hours of Service regulations and contribute to on-road safety incidents.
- Finding ways to reduce detention time could result in safer roads and more efficient shipping processes.
Deeper dive: The study will also look into the economic costs tied to detention time, including its effect on supply chain management and likelihood of crashes, according to the Federal Register.
Public comments on the study are open until March 18, 2024, giving the trucking community an opportunity to weigh in on this important issue.
The bottom line: By addressing detention time, FMCSA hopes to advocate for policies that benefit drivers and carriers economically while improving overall safety on the road.
Informed strategies resulting from this research could potentially mitigate the downtime drivers face at shipping and receiving facilities.