In two recent studies conducted by the American Trucking Associations, results found that drivers do not use the 
amount of hours of service allotted to them each week, thetrucker.com explains.
Currently, drivers are allowed 60 hours in a seven day period and 70 hours in an eight-day period. However, results did not come close to these amounts.
The first study analyzed over 118,000 drivers between the months of April to June, finding that in a seven day work week, excluding the 34 hour restart rule that allows drivers to start a new week once they undergo 34 consecutive hours off-duty, finding that the average driver operated 43.6 hours a week, the article notes.
Thetrucker.com further explains the results of the second study, which recorded 149 drivers from six different associations throughout April, finding that in an eight day period, drivers averaged 57.5 hours out of the 70 hours allowed (http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2010/12/10/HOScommentsaystruckerstypicallynotusingweeklyhoursallotment.aspx).
The ATA is among those fighting to keep the current hours of service rules, whereas the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration is urging to decrease the amount of time drivers are allowed on duty.
