At the end of 2011 the Federal Government passed legislation that required the regulation of the number of hours a truck driver can spend on the road. Strict rules determining rest breaks, night driving and time off from driving have reduced the number of hours that truck drivers can be on the road and the changes have put new pressures on the industry to find ways to remain cost effective while adhering to the new laws.

Truck owners, especially owner operators, know that their vehicle isn’t making money for them if it is off the road. The rising cost of both fuel and labor makes it vital for trucks to be operating for the maximum possible number of hours per week. As a result, many in the trucking industry think that the new legislation will impact on their income. The decreased number of hours that existing drivers can work before having to take a legislated break means that companies must find new drivers to keep their trucks rolling. All of this has the road transport industry worrying about the future viability of their business.

On the other side of the issue, the government’s latest studies of the social and fiscal impact of the new legislation have shown that the reduction in driver fatigue may actually contribute to greater profitability. With some estimates that fatigue is a factor in as many as 18% of all accidents, the returns from reduced downtime for both trucks and drivers can offset a significant portion of the perceived costs. Another positive influence of increased driver rest times is that there is a marked increase in the productivity and efficiency of workers who have had a proper amount of sleep. At the same time, addressing the health issues that affect truck drivers also reduces the amount of sick leave taken, further increasing the efficiency of the industry as a whole.

These issues aren’t new to the transport industry and as we come to understand their complexity the industry has worked towards improving the efficiency and the safety of trucking. The demand that this new legislation creates for new drivers make truck transport a growth industry, contributing to the current economic recovery by creating new jobs. While changes to the regulations may cause some small increase in transport costs in the short term, the contribution that they make to safety for all road users and the opportunities that the amendments bring about job creation make trucking a more sustainable industry in the long term. Contact https://www.bmishipping.com/ to find out how these changes affect your business.