Transport Canada is proposing to repeal and replace Canada's current hours-of-service regulation, according to information published in the Canada Gazette February 15, 2003.
"The main objective of the proposed regulations is to reduce the risk of fatigue-related commercial vehicle accidents by providing drivers with the opportunity to obtain additional rest," the information states. "The Regulations also aim to reduce the complexity of the rules by making them easier to comply with and to enforce, for example through the reduction of the number of cycles and the elimination of the options to reduce off-duty time."
The central changes featured in the proposed regulations include:
•Increasing the minimum daily off-duty period by 25 percent from eight hours to 10 hours.
•Requiring that no fewer than eight of the hours of off-duty time be taken consecutively, with the additional two hours to be taken in increments of no less than a half hour.
•Reducing the daily maximum driving time by 18.8 percent from 16 hours to 13 hours.
•Reducing the daily maximum on-duty time by 12.5 percent from 16 hours to 14 hours, of which no more than 13 hours can be on-duty driving time.
•Eliminating the option to reduce the off-duty time from eight hours to four hours.
•Increasing the minimum rest period for co-drivers using a sleeper berth from two hours to four consecutive hours.
•Permitting within defined parameters, the averaging of on-duty and off-duty time over a 48 hour period.
•Reducing the number of available work/rest cycles from three to two: a maximum 70-hour cycle over seven days and a maximum 120-hour cycle over 14 days.
•For drivers who wish to switch or reset cycles, requiring a minimum of 36 consecutive hours off-duty before "resetting the clock to zero" for the 70-hour cycle and a minimum of 72 consecutive hours off-duty for the 120-hour cycle.
•Requiring a minimum 24-hour off-duty period, at least once every 14 days for all drivers.
To see more information about the proposal click here.