CVSA Proposes New Restrictions on Driver Personal Conveyance Time

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is gearing up to request that federal authorities impose a two-hour daily limit on personal conveyance for truck drivers.

Personal conveyance allows drivers to use their commercial vehicles for personal errands while off-duty, such as heading to a hotel or grabbing a bite. Though, inspectors have found that during over 41,000 roadside inspections, nearly 40% of drivers were misusing this privilege—frequently enough extending their driving hours and breaching hours-of-service regulations.

CVSA argues that this misuse poses significant safety risks and complicates enforcement efforts. They believe it’s time for clearer guidelines. In addition to the proposed two-hour limit, they plan to suggest several othre changes:

– Eliminate the counting of personal conveyance as off-duty time.
– Clarify that it cannot be used once a driver’s legal driving hours are fatigued.
– Distinguish more clearly between personal trips, yard moves, and business-related travel.
– Prevent owner-operators from using personal conveyance for work-related commutes.

According to CVSA, the existing rules are too ambiguous, leading many drivers to unintentionally violate them. Previous attempts at reforming these policies have fallen flat; however, this time around, CVSA feels confident due to solid data backing their claims.

If these new regulations take effect, they could significantly alter how truckers manage their schedules and how companies ensure compliance with safety standards. this shift might also encourage better practices across the industry by promoting accountability among drivers while enhancing overall road safety.