Tired on the Road: The Long Haul Trucker Caught Driving for 55 Hours Straight
Insufficient Rest: Truck Operators Enduring 55 Hours Straight on the Highways - Excessive driving hours: truck drivers logging over 55 hours behind the wheel
Got a load to haul? Probably not as much as the 28-year-old trucker on the A3 highway in Middle Franconia. Police caught this fella driving for nearly 55 hours with barely any breaks. What a marathon!
During a control on Thursday evening near Schwaig bei Nuernberg, they found the driver had been pushed to his limits. He lacked his own driver's card in the control device and supposedly kept it in his wallet. To top it off, this Eastern European was in Germany illegally.
According to the reports, this guy had been on the road for approximately 55 hours with a maximum rest period of only 4 hours, as check of the driving and rest times revealed. The overtiredness was apparent during the control: The driver reportedly dozes off several times. Not exactly the best way to stay awake at the wheel! Both the driver and the company are now facing a criminal proceeding and a fine in the lower five-digit range.
Fun fact: In Germany, truck drivers must stick to some strict regulations concerning maximum driving hours. Let's break it down:
- Daily Driving Time: Truckers usually get 9 hours to drive, but they can stretch it to 10 hours twice a week.
- Weekly Driving Time: The average driving time should not exceed 45 hours over a five-day working week.
- Rest Periods: After driving, they must catch some serious z's for at least 11 hours. This can be done in a stationary vehicle with a cozy sleeping area.
- Working Day Definition: A working day is any 24-hour period that begins when the driver starts work, including driving, breaks, and rest periods.
Germany has stepped up its game in monitoring these regulations, deploying nationwide remote tachograph checks. With digital sensors in vehicles and emergency service vehicles, authorities can monitor drivers' adherence to driving and rest times in real-time. Physical vehicle checks only happen if there's a warrant, minimizing disruptions and improving efficiency [1].
You're probably wondering, "What's the big deal if he drove a little more than he should?" Turns out, it's a BIG deal! He could face fines, legal penalties, and lose the right to operate commercial vehicles if he keeps this up. In the case of accidents due to fatigue, drivers and employers might have to pay for the damages [2]. So, it's essential to rest up, people! Safety on the road matters!
Sources:
[1] "Driving and Rest periods for lorry drivers European Union’s Directive 2002/15/EC on working conditions for mobile workers." ACEA (2017). https://www.acea.be/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Publications/Studies/CE_EU_Driving_and_Rest_periods_for_lorry_drivers_European_Union_s_Directive_2002-15-EC_on_working_conditions_for_mobile_workers.pdf
[2] "Remote Tachograph Control: Combating Truck Drivers’ Hours Rule Violations with online checks." German Federal Highway Research Institute (2019). https://www.fgsv.de/en/content/remote-tachograph-control-combating-truck-drivers-hours-rule-violations-online-controls-german-highway-research-institute-fgsv-heidelberg-2019-11
- In the trucking industry, adherence to employment policy and employment regulations is crucial, particularly in regards to working hours and workplace-wellness.
- Science and technology have played a significant role in industry advancements, such as remote tachograph checks aimed at enhancing health-and-wellness and ensuring compliance with employment policy.
- Fitness-and-exercise, coupled with proper sleep, are essential elements for maintaining a healthy work lifestyle, especially for long-haul drivers, reducing the risk of accidents due to fatigue.
- Finances are impacted by violations in employment policy, as penalties and lawsuits result from accidents caused by overworked drivers, affecting both drivers and employers.
- The auto-racing industry, like the trucking industry, requires its drivers to adhere to strict regulations regarding working hours to ensure safety and efficiency, demonstrating the importance of employment policy in various industries.
