Under proposed HOS rules, many loads require additional transit time for three reasons: on-duty and rest time can no longer be split, waiting time becomes "on-duty" time, and "mandatory weekends" create long breaks in service.

Fleetline safety advisor J.D. Detterman made a comparative study to learn how service would fare under the new rules. He found that the effect of the proposed rules could vary a great deal on a load, depending on how many hours a driver had already used that day, how close he was to a mandatory weekend, and how much time he had to wait to load and unload. The following examples are just two of many that Detterman completed.

(Road King thanks Dart/Fleetline for permission to reproduce this chart).

Trip one

• Covington,GA to Plainview, TX (430 miles)
• Weekday delivery and tailgating required
• Driver starts trip with 3 hours on-duty

Current Rules

Wednesday
8-8:30 a.m.	.5 hr	Fuel and pre-trip
8:30-11 a.m.	2.5 hr.	Loading
11 a.m.-4p.m.	4 hrs.	Drive time (220 miles)
4-5 p.m.	1 hrs.	Meal Break
5-8 p.m.	3 hrs.	Drive time (165 miles)
8 p.m.-4 a.m.	8 hrs.	Break
Thursday
4 a.m.-4:15 a.m.	.25 hrs	Pre-trip
4:15 a.m.-5:15 a.m.	1 hr.	Drive Time (45 miles)
5:15 a.m.-7:45 a.m.	2.5 hr.	Unloading
5:15 a.m.-7:45 a.m.	2.5 hr.	Unloading
Total Time Lapse: 22.75 hours

Proposed Rules:

Wednesday
8-8:30 a.m.	.5 hr.	Fuel and Pre-Trip
8:30-11 a.m.	2.5 hr.	Loading
11 a.m.-4 p.m.	4 hr.	Drive time (220 miles)
4-5 p.m.	1 hr.	Meal Break
5-7 p.m.	2 hrs.	Drive time (110 miles)
7 p.m.-6 a.m.	11 hrs.	Break
Thursday
6-6:15 a.m.	.25 hr.	Pre-Trip Inspection
6:15-7:45 a.m.	1.25 hr.	Drive time (73 miles)
7:45-10:15 a.m.	2.5 hrs.	Unloading
Total time lapsed: 26 hrs. Lost productivity: 14.3%

Trip Two

• Kansas City to Denver (602) miles
• Weekday delivery with no tailgating required
• Driver starts trip with 3 hours on-duty on 5th work day

Current Rules:

Sunday
8-8:30 a.m.	.5 hr.	Fuel & Pre-Trip
8:30-9 a.m.	.5 hr.	Bobtail to Kansas City
9-9:15 a.m.	.25 hr.	Drop & hook
9:15 a.m.-4:15p.m.	7 hrs.	Drive time (385 miles)
4:15 p.m.-12:15 a.m.	8 hrs.	Break
Monday
12:15-12:30 a.m.	.25 hr.	Pre-Trip
12:30-4:30 a.m.	4 hrs.	Drive time (217 miles)
4:30 a.m.-4:45 a.m.	.25 hr.	Unload
Total time lapse: 20.75 hrs.

Proposed Rules:

Sunday
8-8:30 a.m.	.5 hr.	Fuel & Pre-Trip
8:30-9 a.m.	.5 hr.	Bobtail to Kansas City
9-9:15 a.m.	.25 hr.	Drop & hook
9:15 a.m.-5 p.m.	8 hrs.	Drive time (427 miles)
5 p.m.-12 a.m.	7 hrs.	Mandatory weekend
Monday
12 a.m.-12 a.m.	24 hrs.	Mandatory weekend
Tuesday
12 a.m.-7 a.m.	7 hrs.	Mandatory weekend
7-7:15 a.m.	.25 hr.	Pre-trip inspection
7:15-10:15 a.m.	3 hrs.	Drive time (175 miles)
10:15-10:30 a.m.	.25 hr.	Unloading
Total time lapsed: 50.75 hours Lost productivity: 145%