12DecThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has jurisdiction over the manufacturing standards for all new vehicles – cars, trucks, buses, and trailers. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) tells motor carriers how they must operate and maintain today’s vehicles, NHTSA rulemakings tell manufacturers how to equip those
8DecThe FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is approaching its three-year anniversary. That means new rules are coming on Jan. 6, 2023. Motor carriers must conduct background investigations before hiring a driver. The process includes checking for drug and alcohol violations within the past three years. When the Federal Motor Carrier
6DecBy: Steve Vaughn, vice president of field operations, PrePass Safety Alliance Old Man Winter is here… or maybe he is just peeking around the corner where you operate. Nothing to fear, though. You’ve got this – you are ready. Winter driving conditions mean all you and your team’s planning and
28NovUnder federal law, a longer combination vehicle (LCV) is any combination of a truck-tractor and two or more semi-trailers or trailers operating on the Interstate Highways at a gross vehicle weight greater than 80,000 pounds. LCVs only operate under special permit on designated highways in several states and on certain
22Nov“May you live in interesting times,” is the old (probably mythical) Chinese curse. Any owner-operator, and anyone who utilizes the services of O/Os in their business, knows that these times are indeed “interesting.” First, California adopted Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) in 2019, establishing the “ABC” test as that state’s standard
18NovThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering a plan that would require all trucks in interstate commerce to be equipped with devices that electronically transmit the identity of trucks to law enforcement. However, the proposal has raised several questions, including privacy concerns, and how this information would be used.
16NovA jackpot justice system has caused nuclear verdicts against trucking companies to escalate. In fact, nuclear verdicts—those verdicts over $10 million—against trucking companies have skyrocketed 967% in the last 15 years, according to research from the American Transportation Research Institute. “That is pretty frightening. These verdicts outpace increases in health
10NovState driver licensing agencies (SDLAs) have the task of implementing federal regulations on truck driver testing and licensing. Those requirements have increased recently with the establishment by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) of an entry-level driver training (ELDT) program intended to standardize and enhance the training regimen for
7NovThe Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is looking to gather information on the regulations surrounding the lease and interchange of vehicles, according to a notice in the Federal Register. FMCSA seeks approval through an Information Collection Request (ICR), to continue requiring motor carriers who lease or interchange equipment with others
3NovIn February of this year, leaders from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) wrote a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, urging the USDOT to prioritize truck parking in its work with states and localities. A particular focus was on the
1NovBy: Steve Vaughn, vice president of field operations, PrePass Safety Alliance November in an even-numbered year – election season. This year we have state and national mid-terms with a presidential election looming in 2024. Newspapers, websites, and TV talk shows are filled with pundits and polls. Who is up and
26OctIt’s become a caricature of today’s society – the human automatons, adorned with earbuds, eyes glued to cell phones. It has generated cartoons – the family at the dinner table, texting “pass the salt.” Technology has enveloped our life. For all its benefits – information, entertainment, automation – technology has,
