Feds Test Truckers Hitting Pause on Driving Limits for Sanity Breaks
Published Date: 10/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The FMCSA is launching a pilot program letting truck drivers pause their 14-hour driving window for up to 3 hours at cargo stops to see if it improves their work-life balance without hurting safety. About 256 drivers will join this study, helping the agency gather data on driver fatigue and performance. Comments on this plan are open until December 7, 2026, so the public can weigh in before it moves forward.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Pilot lets drivers pause 14‑hour window
FMCSA will run a pilot letting participating commercial drivers pause their 14‑hour driving window for up to 3 hours at the location of cargo pickup or delivery. About 256 drivers will take part, each for a 16‑week study period, while FMCSA collects safety and fatigue data to compare driving under current rules versus the split duty pause.
Carrier eligibility limits who can join
Motor carriers must meet specific eligibility rules to participate: have interstate operating authority and required financial responsibility, not be a high or moderate risk carrier, not have an "Unsatisfactory" safety rating, have no FMCSA enforcement actions in the past 3 years, and have driver and vehicle out‑of‑service (OOS) rates not above the National average. Unpaid civil penalties may also be grounds for exclusion.
Driver participation requires safety qualifications
Drivers must meet safety-related requirements to join: not be listed in FMCSA's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, not have license suspension/revocation/disqualification for listed offenses in the 2 years before participation, hold a valid commercial driver's license, and maintain a valid medical certificate on the Agency's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. Drivers must also be employed by an approved carrier or certify as owner‑operators and agree to study procedures.
Participation requires daily monitoring and time commitment
Study participants must provide daily data (surveys, psychomotor vigilance tests, sleepiness ratings, drivers' records of duty status, and telematics) and wear a wrist actigraphy device. FMCSA estimates about 16.68 total hours of respondent time per driver over the 16‑week participation period, with an estimated total annual burden of 4,270.92 hours across all respondents.
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