A delay at a loading dock can take a substantial bite out of a driver’s available workday. FMCSA is preparing to test whether more flexibility in that schedule can help drivers manage delays and rest while maintaining safety.
In its August 27 update, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it had completed small pre-tests for two hours-of-service programs and was preparing to expand them in 2027. The changes described apply to participating drivers under the pilots. Carriers should continue scheduling under the rules that apply to their operations.
A Pause in the 14-Hour Window
The Split Duty Period pilot will test a pause of up to three hours per day in the 14-hour driving window. Qualifying non-driving time may include off-duty time, sleeper-berth time or on-duty time at a pickup or delivery location.
The possible benefit is easier scheduling around congestion, weather, breaks and detention. A driver could spend qualifying time waiting without using the same amount of the available window. The study will examine whether that flexibility works safely in practice.
FMCSA also plans to monitor whether shippers respond by keeping drivers waiting longer. That is an important part of the business question: a more flexible schedule has limited value if customers absorb the time through longer delays.
More Options for Sleeper-Berth Rest
The Flexible Sleeper Berth pilot will allow participants to divide rest into two periods totaling at least 10 hours, with at least five consecutive hours in the sleeper berth during one period. The study is intended to give drivers more choice in matching rest to their schedules and needs.
In its announcement, FMCSA described the question the programs will evaluate:
“whether providing truck drivers greater flexibility and control in scheduling their work can maintain or improve safety.” — FMCSA
Each pre-test involved nine drivers. The expanded programs are expected to include 256 drivers each, or 512 in total, with four months of participation and compensation of up to $1,600 for completing all study tasks. FMCSA is reviewing the pre-test results before the wider launch.
What This Means for Fleet Owners
The useful work now is to understand where time is being lost in your own operation. That information can improve planning even if the pilots never lead to a broader rule change.
- Measure detention by customer. Record arrival, loading or unloading, and departure times. Review repeat delays alongside appointment schedules and detention payments.
- Include drivers in the review. Ask where congestion, appointment timing and available rest locations make schedules difficult. Dispatch records alone may miss those details.
- Keep forecasts grounded in existing rules. Avoid counting on extra productive hours when deciding how many trucks or drivers a contract requires.
Drivers and carriers interested in the studies can request updates at pilots@dot.gov. For equipment planning, use the capacity your operation can deliver today and revisit the calculation if a tested change becomes available to your fleet.