Fatigue is a major danger for truckers. Often, they face time pressure to get cargo delivered by a certain time and will drive long stretches at a time to get to their destination faster. The quicker it gets to its destination, the more trips they can make and the more money they earn.
Last year, 759 truckers died, the highest death toll for any occupation, due to the large number of workers who pursue it.
The U.S. Department of Transportation attacked the problem last year, issuing new rules that limit the number of hours truckers can drive in a week to 70, down from 82. It also capped the number of hours they can drive consecutively to eight without at least a 30-minute break. To make sure they comply, trucks are equipped with GPS systems.
"A big rig can be deadly when a driver is tired and overworked," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood when the rules were announced last December. "This will help prevent fatigue-related truck crashes and save lives."
