Truck drivers could eventually gain more control over how they use their daily work and rest periods under two federal pilot programs preparing for a broader launch next year.
One program would allow participating drivers to pause the 14-hour duty window for up to three hours during qualifying non-driving time. The second would test more flexible split-sleeper options, as long as total rest reaches at least 10 hours and one sleeper period lasts at least five consecutive hours.
FMCSA has already completed small pre-tests and expects the full studies to begin in 2027 with 512 drivers combined. The agency will use the results to determine whether the added flexibility can improve scheduling without reducing safety.
Source: TruckingInfo