FMCSA Reviews Crash Risk Linked to Driver Schedules

FMCSA Crash Risk Study: What Truck Drivers Should Know

FMCSA Launches Crash Risk Study on Driver Schedules

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a new research effort focused on understanding how driver schedules impact crash risk in the trucking industry.

The agency is requesting public comments as part of a new Information Collection Request (ICR) titled Crash Risks by Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Driver Schedules. This study aims to collect data from motor carriers to better understand how work hours, rest periods, and other scheduling factors affect safety outcomes and overall crash risk.

Officials say the goal is to examine how different schedules may influence both crash involvement and inspection violations across the industry.

What the Crash Risk Study Will Measure

According to the notice, FMCSA plans to collect several types of data to support the study.

This includes:

• Hours of Service (HOS) duty logs
• Crash and incident records
• Inspection violation data
• Driver demographic information

Much of this data will come from electronic logging devices (ELDs) and telematics systems, while carriers will provide additional details directly.

The agency will also use existing federal databases, including records of DOT-reportable crashes and inspections.

FMCSA states that all data will be collected electronically and later combined into a larger dataset for analysis.

Focus on Fatigue and Crash Risk

One of the main goals of the study is to better understand how fatigue impacts crash risk.

FMCSA has said more data is needed to answer key questions about how driving hours, rest breaks, and scheduling patterns affect driver performance.

The research builds on earlier Hours of Service (HOS) rules, which already aimed to reduce fatigue-related crashes. However, the agency notes that current data is not enough to fully understand how different schedules affect crash risk.

By collecting more detailed information, FMCSA hopes to identify patterns that may lead to safer scheduling practices in the future.

How Carriers Will Participate

The study is expected to involve around 60 motor carriers, although participation is voluntary and may expand beyond that number.

Carriers will be asked to complete simple setup tasks, such as:

• Connecting telematics systems for HOS data
• Providing crash and event data
• Sharing driver demographic information

Each response is estimated to take about 15 minutes, with some data submitted one time and other information provided on a quarterly basis.

The total estimated annual burden for all participants is about 45 hours.

What Happens to the Data

FMCSA says the collected data will be used to create a de-identified public dataset.

This means all personal information will be removed before the data is shared for research purposes. The final dataset will be stored in the FMCSA Data Repository and made available after legal requirements are met.

Officials say this dataset will help support future safety research and improve how crash risk is analyzed across the trucking industry.

Driver Concerns About Crash Risk and Schedules

During an earlier comment period, drivers and industry groups raised several concerns related to the study.

One of the most common issues was fatigue, with some drivers stating that current regulations can still lead to driving while tired. Others noted that fear of discipline may discourage honest reporting of fatigue.

There were also concerns about:

• The rigidity of current HOS rules
• Limited availability of safe truck parking
• Pressure from carriers and shippers affecting schedules

FMCSA acknowledged these concerns but noted that the study is focused specifically on analyzing how schedules relate to crash risk.

Why Crash Risk Research Matters for Truck Drivers

Although the study is aimed at carriers, the results could directly affect truck drivers in the future.

Changes based on this research could impact:

• Hours of Service regulations
• Scheduling flexibility
• Fatigue management policies
• Enforcement priorities

Because driver schedules play a major role in daily operations, any updates tied to crash risk findings could change how drivers plan their trips and manage rest periods.

Public Comment Deadline

FMCSA is currently accepting public comments on the proposed data collection.

Comments must be submitted by May 20, 2026, through the federal government’s online portal.

The agency is asking for feedback on whether the data collection is necessary, how accurate the burden estimates are, and how the process could be improved.

What Comes Next

Once the comment period closes, FMCSA will review feedback and move forward with the approval process through the Office of Management and Budget.

If approved, the study will move into the data collection phase, with participating carriers providing information over time.

The results are expected to play a role in shaping future safety policies and research efforts related to commercial truck operations.

A Step Toward Better Crash Risk Data

FMCSA officials say there is currently no single, comprehensive dataset that connects driver schedules with crash outcomes.

Without this information, the agency believes it is difficult to fully understand how HOS rules and real-world operations impact crash risk.

This new study is intended to close that gap by building a structured dataset that can support long-term improvements in roadway safety.

For truck drivers, the findings could influence how schedules are managed and how crash risk is addressed across the industry in the years ahead.