**FMCSA Flex Time: Will Cross-Border Drivers Finally Get a Break?**

by TRUCKERS VA
(UNITED STATES)

Intro – Wait… Mexico and Canada drivers need rest too?

There’s a new FMCSA pilot program on deck that’s got drivers talking — it aims to test *more flexible rest and off-duty periods*. But here’s the kicker: the **current version doesn’t include cross-border drivers**. That’s right. If you haul from Mexico or Canada into the U.S., you’re watching this pilot like a kid outside the candy store.


Now advocacy groups and industry leaders are saying, “Yo, let our guys in!”
And honestly… it’s about time.

What’s this FMCSA pilot program all about?

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) wants to experiment with **split sleeper berth flexibility**. Right now, you’ve got strict rules like 10 hours off-duty and how you divide your time matters (like the classic 8/2 or 7/3 split). But let’s be honest — **real-world trucking ain’t math class**.

This new pilot would let drivers break up their rest periods more freely — giving them the ability to rest when they’re actually tired, not just when the clock says so.

Sounds good, right? Until you find out…

Cross-border truckers are being left out

Drivers who cross from Canada or Mexico into the U.S. are **excluded** from participating. Why? Bureaucracy, as usual.

But here’s what makes it ridiculous:

Same roads, same risks – Cross-border truckers drive on U.S. highways, face the same traffic, weather, and delivery pressure.

Same freight, same fatigue – They're hauling the same loads and dealing with the same rest-stop shortages.

Same people – They’re human too, y’all. Tired is tired, no matter what country your logbook starts in.

Advocates are pushing the FMCSA to rethink this exclusion, saying it’s not just unfair — it’s unsafe.

Who’s speaking up?

A mix of driver groups, industry experts, and yes — even some lawmakers — are calling for the pilot to include everyone.

Here’s what they’re saying:

“Leaving out cross-border drivers creates a two-tier system.”

“It’s a matter of equity and safety.”

“Drivers know their bodies better than a federal spreadsheet does.”

There’s even talk that excluding international drivers could skew the pilot’s data, making it less useful for long-haul policy reform. You can’t test fatigue flexibility if you’re not looking at all the fatigue.

What could go wrong?

If cross-border drivers stay excluded, we might see:

More drowsy driving – because the rigid rules don’t match real-world fatigue

Increased pressure – especially for Mexican and Canadian drivers trying to squeeze into U.S. schedules

Inaccurate results – the pilot won’t reflect how real trucking works across borders

It’s like testing rain tires in Arizona and saying you’ve got winter figured out. 🧠

What are drivers saying?

We scrolled forums, CB radio chatter, and real driver feedback — and the word on the street is clear:

“Let us manage our own bodies. We ain't robots.”

“If you trust me to haul your freight, trust me to nap when I need to.”

“I’ve been crossing the border for 15 years. The rules have never made sense.”

Bottom line: flexibility should follow the freight. Whether you’re coming from Texas or Tijuana, rest should be about safety — not geography.

Industry response: Some smart folks are waking up

Trucking associations are starting to lean in. Some Canadian and Mexican logistics firms are joining the push too, pointing out how **cross-border haulers are vital to U.S. supply chains**.

Even a few large fleets are like, “Hey, if we want more flexibility for our U.S. drivers, let’s not leave out the border boys.”

And if that pressure keeps building, FMCSA might just reconsider.

Final Gear Shift: Let 'em in or lose credibility

If the FMCSA wants *real results* from its flexible rest pilot, it can’t cherry-pick the data. Cross-border drivers are part of the trucking backbone — ignoring them is like testing a bridge without checking both ends.

Truckers deserve policies based on real-world fatigue, not just regulatory borders.

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