The National Transportation Department has released new regulations on what hours commercial truckers can drive.

Missouri’s Transportation Department spokesman Chuck Gohring says the new regulations, which decrease the number of hours truckers can work per week and restricts drivers from being on the road between 1 and 5 am, are to keep drivers safe.

He says the rules hadn’t changed in decades, and it was time for regulations to be updated. Also, another new regulation, this one created by Missouri’s transportation department, commercial truck drivers in Missouri are prohibited from using their mobile phones while on the road.

He says there hasn’t been a formal response from any truckers unions to his office, but thinks there probably will be.

AUDIO Allison Blood reports. Mp3 [1:00]