Karen L. Heaton, MSN, RN, College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, 4621 Cliff Ave., Louisville, KY 40215, (502) 314-6597, klheat2@uky.edu

The nature of long-haul trucking places drivers at risk for fragmented, erratic and unpredictable schedules. Sleep deprivation, sleep-dose dependent performance changes and performance deficits have been noted in truckers. Distortion in the perception of sleepiness has been found in truck drivers. Motor vehicle crashes are significant causes of occupational fatalities in this group. Sleep debt is implied in as many as 47% of fatal, single-vehicle, heavy truck crashes. A recent revision in hours of service (HOS) regulations for commercial drivers may be ineffective as a stand-alone measure to decrease fatigue in long-haul truck drivers. Improved occupational health and safety related to this policy revision will be limited without attention to other influencing issues. This paper reviews the evolution of the HOS revision against the backdrop of complex interactions between labor policies; economic deregulation; shipper/consignee practices and political pressures. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) grounded the HOS revision in state of the science research of sleep and human circadian fluctuation. In spite of this scientific effort, augmentation of the HOS revision with policy action directed toward the other influencing variables is offered as a more effective means of positively impacting occupational health and safety for truck drivers. Specific policy alternatives and advocacy opportunities are presented that may be used in public health to positively impact occupational health and safety for this group of workers.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the most recent revisions to the commercial drivers' hours of service regulation.
• Recognize significant variables interacting with hours of service that impact truck driver occupational safety and health.
• Identify specific policy alternatives and advocacy opportunities directed to trucker occupational safety and health and hours of service regulations.

Keywords: Public Health Policy, Occupational Injury and Death

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am the president and owner of a one truck trucking company, Nightingale Express, Inc. It is not my primary source of income.