The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is preparing to formally ask federal regulators to limit truck drivers’ personal conveyance use to two hours per day.

What’s Related

Personal conveyance allows drivers to operate their commercial vehicles off-duty for personal reasons, like traveling to a hotel or getting food. However, inspectors say that during more than 41,000 roadside checks, nearly 40% of drivers were misusing this time, potentially using it to extend their driving hours in violation of hours-of-service rules.

CVSA says the misuse has created safety risks and enforcement challenges, and that clearer limits are needed. Along with the two-hour cap, the group plans to ask regulators to:

• Stop counting personal conveyance as off-duty time
• Clarify that it cannot be used to reach a “safe haven” once a driver’s time has run out
• Draw clearer lines between personal use, yard moves, and business-related driving
• Restrict owner-operators from using personal conveyance to drive home for work-related reasons

CVSA says the current rules are too vague, which has led to drivers bending them, sometimes without even realizing it. Past attempts to tighten the policy have failed, but this time, the group believes it has the data to back it up.

If adopted, the rule could have wide-ranging effects on driver routines and how companies manage compliance.