The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the university tapped with completing the agency’s Congressionally required study on the 2013-implemented hours-of-service changes is still on the hunt for truck operators willing to volunteer for the study.
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, who’s heading the study for FMCSA, said last month it needs about 250 drivers to participate in the five-month study.
VTTI said this week drivers who participate could be compensated up to $2,000.
Drivers who participate will be studied for at least five months, and researchers will compare their schedules, crashes, near-crashes, crash-relevant events, operator fatigue and alertness and short-term health.
The study stems from a December 2014 appropriations law that suspended some federal hours of service rules until the agency completes the study, which will compare two groups of drivers — one that abides by pre-2013 rules and one that follows post-2013 rules.
Click here to learn more about the study or to register to participate.