Park new anti-fatigue rules, truckers say

A truckers' organization says the Newfoundland and Labrador government's attempts to curb driver fatigue are not feasible.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Independent Truckers' Association wants new provincial regulations changed, even before they go into effect.

The rules will mean that truckers will have to work an hour less per day, dropping from a maximum 15 hours per day to a new limit of 14 hours.

President John Summers said that change may not seem like much, but it will pose problems for his members.

"With the reduced hours of driving, of course, guys are going to need some place to pull off and rest and reset their clocks, and right now there are no designated rest areas in this province," Summers said.

"That's going to be a major concern, because there's just no place to park."

While some transport trucks have sleeping units, Summers said the Highway Traffic Act forbids drivers from pulling over to the side of a highway.

Dianne Whalen, the minister of government services, said the regulations— which will be phased in over the next six months, taking full effect in July— will work.

"You know, the drivers should be planning ahead of time," Whalen told CBC News.

"If they do that, then they should be able to plan their stops, where their rest stops are."

Whalen added that there are provisions in the new rules to waive penalties for truckers handling emergency situations.