Canadian HOS 16-hour rule raises concerns

April 1, 2004
Canadian federal and provincial governments have decided that if the 16-hour window is to be included in new Canadian hours-of-service regulations, the

Canadian federal and provincial governments have decided that if the 16-hour window is to be included in new Canadian hours-of-service regulations, the rule must be reviewed within one year after coming into effect. This is to determine whether there are negative safety and economic consequences, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA).

The fixed-window measure requires a truck driver to complete all driving time within 16 hours of coming on duty. CTA has argued that such a measure would discourage naps and rest breaks and would negatively impact a driver's productivity, as it would penalize drivers for taking more than the prescribed two hours of supplemental off-duty time in addition to the required eight-hour core rest.