Combat Driver Fatigue and Comply with Safety Standards

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The transportation industry does not operate on a fixed schedule and drivers are often called on to work long hours during a shift, which can lead to driver fatigue. In the transportation industry driver fatigue is a very real and serious issue. Though driver fatigue can make you a road hazard even if you’re not a commercial driver, it can be even more hazardous when the fatigued driver is in control of over 4,500 kgs of steel and potentially carrying hazardous goods. This is why Transport Canada put the commercial vehicle hours of service regulations into place. 

 

The National Safety Code Standard #9, which is the standard that regulates hours of service, was developed by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA). The CCMTA is the organization responsible for controlling the administration and regulation of motor vehicle transport and highway safety in Canada. The Hours of Service standard was developed to improve safety on Canada’s highways by limiting commercial driver’s hours to ensure they remain alert behind the wheel and to decrease the fatigue they may feel while on the job.

Transport Canada takes driver fatigue very seriously and hours of service infractions are dealt with severely. It is therefore important that carriers and their drivers work together to carefully monitor each driver’s hours and ensure compliance with the National Safety Code standards.