Do you agree with the FMCSA Published 34-Hour Reset Field Study?

The recently published 34-hour reset field study on the FMCSA website.  The press release highlights their key conclusions based on a sample of 106 drivers (44 local, 26 regional, and 36 over-the-road).
Scientific inferences being promoted as conclusions from the study include:

• Less fatigue, 
• Deviated from their lane less, and
• Fewer accidents and injuries.

While the study is interesting, the sample size is quite small and controlled, representing less that 0.001% of the registered commercial vehicles in the U.S.  Additionally, the  conclusions are more inference than fact based.  As we read through the 52-page study, the language became less definitive and more opinion than fact.

We feel that broader and more independent studies need to be conducted that are not sponsored by the FMCSA as a public relations strategy to validate the claims used to promote the 34-hour reset rule decision.