Truckers more rested than pilots

[densoo]

Amazing, considering pilots can be on duty for 16 hours straight and can easily exceed 77 hours on duty in a 7 day period.

"Before 2003, truckers could drive no more than 10 straight hours before taking a break. They were also prohibited from driving after working 60 hours in seven days or 70 hours in eight, depending on the company's schedule.

"Under the new rule, truckers can drive 11 hours straight and work 77 hours in seven days or 88 hours in eight. The new rule also fails to require on-board recorders that would electronically track driver hours and make regulating them easier and more accurate."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/transport_truckers_dc;_ylt=AulGKYFDkjY5u6VgSjdd4CsDW7oF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

 

[tailhookah]

Truckers don't have flushing lavs and auto pilot... and a co-driver that's mandatory. I would argue it's much more fatiguing to drive a truck for 8 hours than fly a plane...

tail

 

[CA1900]

Truckers don't have flushing lavs and auto pilot...

Neither do our 1900's.

 

[ReverseSensing]

Fatigue is the elephant in the room that management and the FAA (and now apparently the DOT) just don't notice. How many smoking holes will it take?

 

[Slice121]

Truckers don't have flushing lavs and auto pilot... and a co-driver that's mandatory. I would argue it's much more fatiguing to drive a truck for 8 hours than fly a plane...

tail

Yeah, but they have the option to pull over if they feel fatigued BEFORE they get to their intended destination!

 

[Slice121]

Neither do our 1900's.

A gatorade bottle and the FO, what more do you need?

 

[TinGoose1]

The one thing the FAA has going for it is that you can't test a corpse for fatigue. If there was a test, you can bet the rules would have changed years ago. Instead of talking to a bunch of criminals on capital hill about fatique, how about some prime time ads? Commercials that show your red eye pilots dozing off on final because they haven't slept all night. Cold hard facts given directly to the public is the only way that any real change will occur. Until our union learns to play rough, we will continue to be the wimps crying in the corner because nobody will change the rules for us.

 

[FCPhotography]

Agree, would like to see some well run adds about pilots dozing off towards the end of their 15.5 hour day after waking up at 4:00AM, while also comparing our rest to truckers.

It would definitely get the public's attention.

 

[densoo]

The FAA itself studied this a few years back and found that one pilot napping in flight, especially on a redeye, resulted in far superior performance in the arrival. They also documented the "micro-nap" in which those who did not nap during the flight actually lost consciousness off and on during the arrival phase due to sleep deprivation. They didn't actually go to sleep, but their body was so starved for sleep that it forced a series of mini blackouts to attempt to restore itself. Result? FAA buried the report because no matter what the data suggests they cannot put out a circular that says pilots may now nap in flight, no matter what restrictions they put on it (only on redeyes, etc.).

 

[crashpad]

Truckers and Airline Pilots have absolutely nothing in common. This thread should be terminated.