TMC Orders Midnight-to-4 A.M. Shutdown as Fatigue-Related Crashes Rise

TMC has allegedly instructed its drivers to shut down between 12 a.m. and 4 a.m., a move driven by a spike in pre-dawn accidents linked to fatigue and reduced visibility. According to internal driver communications circulating online, night dispatch is now reminding drivers to stop rolling before the most dangerous hours of the night, when alertness drops sharply and crash severity climbs. The directive reflects a growing recognition in the industry that pushing through the early-morning window is one of the highest-risk behaviors for commercial drivers.

The decision is backed by long-established research on sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm crashes. Studies show that driving while fatigued can mirror the reaction-time impairment of driving drunk, and the hours between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. are statistically the deadliest for fatigue-related wrecks. During this period, the human body enters its deepest biological “low,” slowing reflexes, reducing awareness, and increasing the likelihood of lane drift, missed hazards, and micro-sleep episodes. TMC’s shutdown mandate aims to break that cycle, forcing drivers off the road when the body is most vulnerable and reducing the chances of catastrophic overnight crashes.