Sleeper Pilot Program on Track for 2016

New Study For Sleeper Berth Rules

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s research division says it’ll likely be another year before it launches a pilot program to see if drivers can safely split their sleeper berth rest time.

According to Heavy Duty Trucking, the contract to conduct the 90-day study will be let in December, but the project will have to be cleared by the Office of Management and Budget, and the administrative preparations – leading to a possible 2016 start date.

Trucking Facts You May Not Know

The First Tractor Trailer

The first tractor trailer was invented in 1914 by Charles Freuhauf, who was a German-American blacksmith. Freuhauf built the truck in Detroit at a merchant’s request to transport his boat to the Ford Motor Company.  Freuhauf was then asked to build a similar tractor trailer to haul lumber, leading him to establish the Freuhauf Trailer Company in 1918. 

Largest Tractor

The world’s largest tractor was created by the French in 2005.  Named the TRACTOMAS TR 10X10, created by NICOLAS Industrie, this tractor has a “tare weight of around 40 tonnes, along with a vehicle total weight of 71 tonnes,” with an overall weight of truck and trailer of about 600 tonnes.

Trucks on the Silver Screen

The 70s were a boom period for truck driving movies. Steven Spielberg’s thriller Duel, the incomparable Smokey and the Bandit, the Chuck Norris vehicle Breaker! Breaker!, and Convoy were all major hits.

What is the longest interstate highway in the United States?

Interstate 90, it is nearly 3,100 miles long and runs from Seattle, Washington to Boston, Massachusetts. Interstate 80 is the second longest interstate, running from Teaneck, New Jersey to San Francisco, California for a total of 2,909 miles.