The FMCSA Plans New Study on Driver Fatigue and Schedules

FMCSA to Study How Driver Work Schedules Affect Crash Risk

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is starting a new study to look at how truck driver work schedules may link to crash risk. The agency announced the plan in a notice published on November 17, 2025. The study will collect many types of information from carriers to build a large data set that shows how schedules and safety outcomes connect.

FMCSA Will Collect Data From Carriers

FMCSA says it needs more complete information about how driver schedules relate to crashes and violations. To fill that gap, the agency plans to gather several kinds of data from selected motor carriers.
The information will include:

• Hours-of-service (HOS) logs
• Crash and incident records
• Inspection violations
• Driver demographics
• Telematics information, such as speed and movement patterns

FMCSA states that these pieces of data must be put together to examine schedule-related risks. The agency also says it does not have a data set like this today, which is why the new collection is needed.

Why FMCSA Is Studying Driver Schedules

The agency wants to understand how the timing and pattern of a driver’s work may affect safety. This means looking at when a driver works, how long each shift lasts, and how often they drive each week.
These factors can shape fatigue and impact how drivers perform on the road. They may also influence the chances of a crash or an inspection violation.

For carriers, the study may signal future changes in how schedule risk is viewed. More detailed information could lead to updates in guidance or in how certain rules are enforced.

Study Connects to Earlier DOT Efforts

This new schedule study follows recent DOT and FMCSA pilot programs that explored different ways drivers can split their rest time or adjust work periods. Those past programs tested options like flexible sleeper-berth splits and different duty-day structures.

FMCSA now plans to use this new data to see how real-world schedules match up with crash outcomes. That may help the agency decide whether current hours-of-service rules fit the way drivers actually work.

Comment Period Now Open

The FMCSA is asking the public to comment on this data-collection plan. Comments can be sent in until January 16, 2026.
People may share thoughts about:

• Whether the information request is needed
• How clear are the instructions?
• How much time and effort it may take for carriers to respond

Carriers who might be affected may want to review their current systems. This includes how they track driver hours, telematics data, and inspection information. Simple steps now may help them prepare if the agency adds new requirements in the future.

What Could Change for Drivers and Carriers

As FMCSA looks at driver schedules, the results could guide future decisions on safety rules. Possible changes may involve:

• More focus on scheduling practices
• New ways to measure fatigue risk
• Different expectations for how carriers track or report schedules
• More detailed use of telematics during reviews or audits

Drivers may also see more attention placed on rest periods and the timing of work. Carriers may need to look at their dispatch patterns, shift lengths, and route planning if the study shows clear risk trends.

What to Watch Going Forward

There are several key questions as the study begins:

• Possible changes to HOS rules may come from the findings.
• Greater use of telematics in safety reviews is another area to watch.
• Links between schedule patterns and crash risk may become clearer.
• New guidance for how carriers assign shifts could also be considered.

FMCSA will use the new data to study these issues. The goal is to understand how schedules affect safety and how rules and programs may need to be adjusted.

Summary

FMCSA will gather detailed schedule, crash, and inspection information from motor carriers as part of a new study on work schedules and crash risk. The agency hopes the data will show how schedule patterns shape driver fatigue and safety outcomes. The public can comment on the plan until January 16, 2026.

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