"This is a package that our members can work with," said ATA president & CEO Bill Graves. "The rule is easy to understand, easy to comply with, and easy to enforce."

Graves said the final HOS rule reflects components of an earlier ATA proposal by increasing the amount of rest time for professional truck drivers and promotes the body’s natural 24-hour Circadian rhythms, as opposed to the current rule that is based on an 18-hour day.

"It’s not everything we wanted, but it is a much better rule than we had three years ago," said David McCorkle, who headed ATA's HOS committee at the height of the rules debate. "We can live with this one."

The final rule, which is based on a 24-hour day, sets new on-duty and rest time guidelines for commercial motor vehicle operators for the first time since 1939.

Drivers will be allowed to be on duty for 14 consecutive hours, one less that the current standard. However, they will be permitted to drive 11 hours a day instead of 10. Drivers must be off duty for 10 consecutive hours instead of eight.

Official publication of the rules in the Federal Register is scheduled for May 25, but enforcement is not expected to begin until sometime in early 2004.