Some Truck Drivers May Experience Detention Time Regularly Due to Several Contributing Factors

		About Two-Thirds of Interviewed Drivers Experienced Detention Time within the Last Month

While there are no industry-wide data providing information on the  occurrence of detention time, interviews with drivers, industry  representatives, and motor carrier officials indicate that detention time  occurs with some regularity. For those drivers that  reported previously experiencing detention time, the amount of detention  time ranged from less than 2 hours to over 8 hours, and occurred at a  variety of different facilities, including production facilities and  distribution centers. These  limitations can occur, for example, when facilities overschedule  appointments for pickup or delivery or do not have enough staff or  equipment to handle the number of trucks scheduled, thereby creating a  backlog of vehicles that need to be loaded or unloaded. Poor service provided by facility staff: About 39 percent of drivers  reported that poor service by the facility staff was the reason they  experienced detention time. Scheduling practices: About 34 percent of drivers reported that facility  scheduling practices at some facilities led to detention time. Other factors: Drivers, industry representatives, and company officials  noted there are some other factors not under the control of the facility that  can contribute to detention time. Detention Time Can Result in Reduced Driving Time and Lost Revenue

		Detention Time Can Impact the Ability of Drivers to Make Scheduled Deliveries within the Hours of Service Requirements

Detention time can impact drivers’ ability to make scheduled deliveries  within the hours of service requirements by putting drivers behind  schedule and reducing available driving time. According to industry  representatives, the lost revenue can result from either missing an  opportunity to secure another load or having to pay late fees to the  receiver. In addition, some larger carrier companies are better able to handle  logistical challenges that could result from detention time. Additional Information on Factors Contributing to Hours of Service Violations Could Help FMCSA Determine the Impact of Detention Time on These Violations

Although FMCSA collects data from roadside inspections, which provides  information on the number of hours of service violations, the agency  currently does not collect—nor is it required to collect—information to  assess the extent to which detention time contributed to these violations. While FMCSA does not collect information on what factors contribute to  hours of service violations, officials and industry representatives stated  that detention time could be one of many such factors. To date, research conducted by FMCSA has not specifically included  efforts to determine the extent to which detention time occurs. In addition to FMCSA’s planned studies on detention time, collecting  information on the factors that contribute to detention time through driver  and vehicle inspections or other means could help FMCSA determine  whether detention time is a significant factor in contributing to drivers  violating hours of service requirements and, consequently, whether  additional federal action by DOT or Congress might be warranted to  mitigate detention time as a potential safety issue. Any federal action to address issues associated with detention time  beyond hours of service requirements would require careful consideration. Recommendations for Executive Action

To support the primary mission of FMCSA in improving the safety of  commercial motor vehicles, we recommend the Secretary of DOT direct  the Administrator of FMCSA to examine the extent to which detention  time contributes to drivers violating hours of service requirements in its  future studies on driver fatigue and detention time, and through data  collected from its driver and vehicle inspections. Agency Comments and Our Evaluation

We provided a draft of this report to DOT for review and comment. DOT  officials provided technical comments which we incorporated into the  report, as appropriate. GAO staff who made major contributions to this report are  listed in appendix V.

Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

To determine how regularly truck drivers experience detention time, the  factors that contribute to detention time, and how detention time affects  the interstate commercial motor carrier industry, we reviewed hours of  service regulations, legislation related to the regulation of the trucking  industry, and relevant Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration  (FMCSA) regulations; agency reports such as motor carrier efficiency  studies; Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) freight facts and figures;  and an Office of Motor Carriers study on trucking operations and hours of  service. To determine what federal actions, if any, could be taken to address the  issues associated with detention time, we reviewed existing research and  studies conducted by the Department of Transportation, such as FMCSA’s  Motor Carrier Efficiency Study and FHWA’s report that provided an  overview of the volume and value of freight flows in the United States. 11. 14.
Why GAO Did This Study

The interstate commercial motor carrier industry moves thousands of truckloads of goods every day, and any disruption in one truckload's delivery schedule can have a ripple effect on others. Some waiting time at shipping and receiving facilities--commonly referred to as detention time--is to be expected in this complex environment. However, excessive detention time could impact the ability of drivers to perform within federal hours of service safety regulations, which limit duty hours and are enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This report discusses: (1) How regularly do truck drivers experience detention time and what factors contribute to detention time? (2) How does detention time affect the commercial freight vehicle industry? (3) What federal actions, if any, could be taken to address detention time issues? GAO analyzed federal and industry studies and interviewed a nongeneralizable sample of truck drivers, as well as other industry stakeholders and FMCSA officials.

What GAO Found

While there are no industry-wide data on the occurrence of detention time, GAO interviews with over 300 truck drivers and a number of industry representatives and motor carrier officials indicate that detention time occurs with some regularity and for a variety of reasons. About 59 percent of interviewed drivers reported experiencing detention time in the past 2 weeks and over two-thirds reported experiencing detention time within the last month. Drivers cited several factors that contribute to detention time. About 43 percent of drivers identified limitations in facilities, such as the lack of sufficient loading and unloading equipment or staff. These limitations can occur when facilities overschedule appointments, creating a backlog of vehicles. Another factor cited by about 39 percent of drivers was the product not being ready for shipment. Other factors include poor service provided by facility staff, facility scheduling practices that may encourage drivers to line up hours before the facility opens, and factors not under the control of the facility, such as drivers filing paperwork incorrectly. Some facilities are taking steps to address these factors, such as using appointment times. Detention time can result in reduced driving time and lost revenue for drivers and carriers. For those drivers that reported previously experiencing detention time, about 80 percent reported that detention time impacts their ability to meet federal hours of service safety requirements--a maximum of 14 hours on duty each day, including up to 11 hours of driving--by reducing their available driving time. About 65 percent of drivers reported lost revenue as a result of detention time from either missing an opportunity to secure another load or paying late fees to the shipper. Some practices can mitigate these economic impacts, such as charging detention time fees and developing relationships with facilities so drivers become familiar with a facility's process. According to industry representatives, carrier companies are better positioned than independent owner operators to use such practices and are better able to handle logistical challenges that may result from detention time. While FMCSA collects data from drivers during roadside inspections, which provide information on the number of hours of service violations, the agency currently does not collect--nor is it required to collect--information to assess the extent to which detention time contributes to these violations. Agency officials stated that FMCSA does not identify the factors that contribute to hours of service violations, and detention time could be just one of many factors. To date, FMCSA research has focused on an overview of freight movement, but not the extent to which detention time occurs or how it may impact hours of service violations. FMCSA plans to conduct a 2012 study to better understand the extent to which detention time occurs. Obtaining a clearer industry-wide picture about how detention time contributes to hours of service violations could help FMCSA determine whether additional federal action might be warranted. However, any additional federal actions to address issues associated with detention time beyond hours of service would require careful consideration to determine if any unintended consequences may flow from federal action to regulate detention time.

What GAO Recommends

GAO recommends that FMCSA examine the extent to which detention time contributes to hours of service violations in its future studies on driver fatigue and detention time. We provided a draft of this report to DOT for review. DOT officials provided technical comments, which we incorporated into the report, as appropriate.