FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, October 16, 2006

Contact: Rebecca Brewster
(770) 432-0628

ATRI began collecting quarterly data this year in an effort to track changes in driver safety performance and measure it against the overall safety impacts of the 2004 hours-of-service rules, which included a more flexible sleeper berth provision. This data collection is for carrier safety data from the third quarter of 2006. 

ATRI?s study represents the second stage of data collection as part of its continuing research to measure the safety impacts of the hours-of-service rules changes.  Information required includes collision and driver injury data covering the period July 1 through September 30, 2006. Data by participating motor carriers should be submitted no later than November 10.  ATRI will be collecting this same data on a quarterly basis throughout 2006.  Carriers interested in providing data can contact ATRI?s Brian Smith at (770) 432-0628 or at bsmith@trucking.org.

ATRI published the findings from its first hours-of-service study, ?Safety Impacts of the New Hours of Service,,? earlier this year, analyzing the safety effects of the 2004 rules. The study compared the data with previous hours-of-service rules that had governed driver health, safety and carrier productivity for decades. This research found that the 2004 driver work and rest rules generated significant improvements in driver safety performance.

http://www.atri-online.org/research/results/safetyandhumanfactors.htm.

ATRI is the trucking industry?s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization.  It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation?s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.