The North American Fatigue Management Program was formed by three teams of medical and sleep scientists from Canada and the United States that did the research on the development of the program and testing its efficacy, to ensure that we developed a fully comprehensive approach to fatigue mitigation. The program provides education on the following:
For the past several years, Canadian and American regulators, carriers, and researchers have worked on the development of a comprehensive approach for managing fatigue. This work has been led by a consortium of government and industry agencies with an interest in developing a more effective means of dealing with professional driver fatigue. The NAFMP Steering Committee agreed to develop a comprehensive FMP that would enhance a carrier’s ability to effectively deal with the challenges of fatigue in a highly competitive, widely dispersed, and rapidly changing industry. Learn more about our partners.
The multi-year collaborative research to develop, test and evaluate components of a fatigue management program (FMP) for commercial vehicle operators has resulted in a thorough understanding of the issues, opportunities and challenges inherent in managing operator fatigue in a 24/7 motor carrier environment. The NAFMP was developed through four distinct research, development and testing phases.
Phase one began through a series of focus groups with motor carriers to assist in the project design. Researchers identified fatigue management requirements and developed a comprehensive approach intended for drivers, dispatchers and company managers. Tools were identified for use in data collection; six drivers underwent a beta test.
Phase two involved the development of educational and training materials. Procedures for field testing the FMP were developed and assessed. Field data collection was completed in Alberta, Quebec and Texas. Screening and treatment for sleep apnea was added to the initial program. The evaluation involved six fleets and 38 drivers in Alberta and Quebec. An additional eight drivers in Texas joined later.
Phase 2 Final Report (PDF) (English)
Phase 2 Final Report (PDF) (French)
Phase three involved an operational field test with 77 commercial vehicle drivers in Alberta, Quebec and California. Among the findings were positive trends in sleep duration and sleep efficiency post-FMP, and reduced critical events:
Based on the research, findings and operational data from the first three phases, Phase 4 involved development of the recommended guidelines, Implementation Manual, and training materials and the development of the NAFMP website.
The North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP) is successful thanks to a thriving and collaborative international partnership between multiple jurisdictions, academics and motor carrier stakeholder groups.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Transport Canada are also part of the NAFMP Steering Committee.
The following motor carriers participated in the NAFMP operational field tests:
The following motor carrier and industry experts participated in the development of the NAFMP Return-on-Investment Calculator:
The NAFMP is a no-cost, voluntary, fully interactive web-based educational and training program developed to provide an awareness of the factors contributing to fatigue for its truck and bus commercial-vehicle drivers and carriers and others in the supply chain, with an awareness of the factors contributing to fatigue and its impact on performance. Guidance on health and wellness, time management, vehicle technologies and scheduling best-practices provide effective mitigation strategies to addressing fatigue while maintaining a healthy and productive work/life balance.
Yes. There is no cost or obligation to use the NAFMP and access the training modules.
Yes, all educational opportunities and materials are available in English, French and Spanish.
No, the program is 100-percent voluntary and optional.
Please see the Implementation Manual. If interested from a financial perspective, please visit the ROI Calculator.
While Hours of Service (HoS) regulations are necessary to limit a driver's hours of work and require off duty time that must be allotted each day and each week to drivers, they do not provide drivers and companies with relevant knowledge, motivation, attitudinal and safety culture changes or fatigue management tools. Moreover, they are not intended to dictate lifestyle choices outside of the work environment. There are many off-work factors that may contribute to fatigue (including physical health, the demands of busy personal lives, time-of-day, scheduling and stress) that can only be addressed through optional and complementary educational opportunities such as the NAFMP.
Many in the supply chain may not be fully aware of the different factors that can contribute to fatigue in the day-to-day lives of drivers, and the potential impact it could have on road safety and a driver's physical health and wellness. The variety of educational opportunities and strategies in the NAFMP will create a convivial environment for all interested participants in the supply chain to develop awareness and understanding the complexities of these issues and successful mitigation strategies.
The NAFMP website includes:
The NAFMP will provide the most up-to-date educational information and research on driver fatigue, health and wellness, and lifestyle management for all members of the supply chain.
No, a driver or carrier will receive benefit from the information provided in each of the 10 learning modules presented as stand-alone or in combination. However, to gain full benefit of the program, a carrier would use the step-by-step comprehensive approach described in NAFMP Implementation Manual.
The NAFMP will provide the most up-to-date educational information and research on driver fatigue, health and wellness and lifestyle management for them to enjoy a healthier and more productive lifestyle.
In addition to addressing improvement in safety performance and driver health and wellness, the NAFMP Return-on-Investment calculator will provide carrier executives and owners with cost/benefit information they would require to support a decision to deploy the program within their organization.
Clinical and operational components were designed in a three-phase research program over several years to:
The research included focus groups, data collection through beta testing with drivers, field testing with drivers, and sleep disorder screening and treatment. The FMP research was conducted by fatigue experts who collaborated with industry leaders with a goal to develop and assess the efficiency of such a comprehensive approach to fatigue management. This led to the development and deployment of the program through the Implementation Manual and the 10 training modules.
The NAFMP is a collaborative, international partnership between jurisdictions with diverse interests within the commercial carrier industry. The financial contributors are:
In- kind development support was provided by:
Course Curriculum and Development by:
Read more on our Partners Page.
Yes, drivers are welcome to participate for free on an individual basis.
Yes, the Learning Management System functionality of NAFMP can be adapted by all participants to track the completion and comprehension of the learning modules.
No, NAMFP is meant to compliment the HoS regulations" with "No, the NAFMP is meant to supplement" the HoS regulations.
You will see the efficacy of NAFMP through:
The NAFMP assists in the mitigation of fatigue via:
Once motor carriers recognize the critical fatigue contributing factors – including sleep deficit, number of continuous hours of being awake in a 24-hour period, time of day, time on task, sleep-related health problems and road monotony, they can help their drivers better manage fatigue and thereby reduce collisions.
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