CVSA COMMITTEE AND PROGRAM NEWS
Five Reasons Why Fatigue Is a Tough Cookie to Crack
By Rodolfo Giacoman, Fatigue Management Program Specialist, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
Late last year, CVSA adopted a program that has little to do with enforcement and yet a lot to do with road safety: the North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP). NAFMP resulted from collaborative efforts by federal, state and provincial governments, along with industry organizations. It was developed by sleep and fatigue management scientists and field-tested by motor carriers from both Canada and the U.S., over the course of four development phases spanning more than a decade. Uniquely, it is sponsored by federal regulatory agencies but is entirely voluntary. While the NAFMP seeks to reduce driver fatigue, it does not place the entire burden of fatigue management on drivers. It also considers the role played by drivers’ families,
motor carrier executives, managers, trainers, dispatchers, shippers, receivers and brokers. While it is a free program, it does require an investment to implement its five major components: 1. Safety culture 2. Fatigue risk management system 3. Sleep disorder screening and treatment program 4. Trip scheduling practices and fatigue management technologies 5. Education and training via a Train the Trainer Course with PowerPoint slides or the eLearning platform, both of which are available at nafmp.org (while on the NAFMP website, check out the return-oninvestment calculator)
Some may wonder, why all the fuss? Aren’t hours-of-service (HOS) rules and a good night’s sleep all you need to avoid fatigue? Please consider the following five reasons why fatigue is a tough cookie to crack without a comprehensive strategy to address this multifaceted issue. REASON 1
Fatigue Cannot Be Regulated HOS rules allow drivers to sleep and rest, and compliance with these rules is proven to lower crash rates. They are generally enforceable and encourage periods of rest to combat fatigue. However, HOS rules are not a proactive approach, less a comprehensive one. In addition to the time on the job, several Continued on next page
FIRST QUARTER 2022
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