News
Mandatory Direct Observation Drug Testing to Prevent Truck Accidents begins Today
Aug 31, 2009 - In a move designed to reduce the number of truck accidents linked to drug use by truck drivers, the Department of Transportation now requires any employee in “safety-sensitive” positions to submit to directly observed urination drug testing when taking return-to-duty or follow-up drug tests. Such tests are required of employees who, after completing mandatory substance …
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Overloading and Truck Accidents
Aug 30, 2009 - I recently represented a family for the death of their husband and father due to a truck that was overweight and had no brakes. When I think about overloaded trucks, I am also struck by a case that I handled a few years ago in which gasoline tankers were routinely permitted to leave the fuel-up …
New NHTSA Large Truck Braking Standards Announced
Aug 25, 2009 - As a truck accident lawyer, I have sat with too many families over the past years whose loved ones have been killed as a result of a large truck with faulty brakes. I’m pleased to see that NHTSA is taking steps to address this problem. In a move estimated to save 227 lives and prevent …
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Obama Nominates Anne Ferro to Head FMCSA
Jun 05, 2009 - On June 4, President Obama nominated Anne Ferro, president of Maryland Motor Truck Association, Inc., to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) . Ferro is widely regarded as a skilled and intelligent administrator with a solid record of advocating for driver safety. In its press release announcing Ferro’s nomination, the White House cited …
Obesity Linked to Sleep Disorder, Driver Fatigue: New Study
Apr 02, 2009 - In my work as a truck accident lawyer, I have handled many cases involving driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations. I support efforts to include screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in FMCSA-mandated, semi-annual driver medical screenings. It’s widely known that the obesity epidemic in America is a major contributing factor to the decline in our …
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McGovern (D-Mass) Proposes Legislation on Truck Size & Weight Limits
Mar 30, 2009 - In my law practice, I have encountered truck crashes involving overweight tractor-trailers and crashes with double and triple trailers. Recently, Congressman James P. McGovern (D-Massachusetts) reintroduced legislation that would extend truck size and weight limits to the entire national highway system, limits that currently only apply to interstate highways. States can – and often do …
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Newest Challenge to FMSCA Hours of Service Rules
Mar 27, 2009 - Another battle is brewing over the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours Of Service rule that allows truck drivers to work an 11-hour workday and reset their weekly limit by taking a 34-hour break. The rule in question was issued under the Bush administration in 2003. It extended the workday for truck drivers by …
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Bendix purchases Eaton’s VORAD collision warning system
Jan 15, 2009 - In a January 5, 2009 press release, Eaton Corp. announced that “…today it has sold its VORAD (Vehicle On-Board RADar) system to Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, which is based in Elyria, Ohio.” Update: New Trucking Bill Would Reward Purchasers of VORAD Systems. VORAD and SmartCruise are vision and object detection systems that can eliminate blind spots and …
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FMCSA Issues Rule Designed to Improve the Safety of Equipment Used in the Transportation of Intermodal Containers
Jan 08, 2009 - John H. Hill, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced new rules just before the 2008 holidays designed to strengthen safety requirements for intermodal container chassis, the special trailers that hold cargo containers when they are transferred from ship or rail to truck for final delivery. “We want to ensure that every piece of …
Top 50 Shipping Logistics Companies for 2008
Dec 21, 2008 - A logistics company procures transportation for shippers. UPS is number one. In addition to individual residential pickup, they service large companies such as Johnson & Johnson and General Electric. The top 50 Logistics companies in the United States, according to industry trade magazine Transport Topics are: UPS Supply Chain Solutions DHL Exel Supply Chain J. …
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New Medical Requirements for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers
Dec 17, 2008 - In December, 2008, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule designed to provide uniform requirements for medical examiners, and developed a process for combining the commercial drivers license (CDL) and medical certificate records for commercial truck and bus drivers. “While we have made significant improvements in motor carrier safety, these actions will support …
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5 Transportation Predictions for 2009
Dec 16, 2008 - I predict: 1. In 2009, the ongoing battle over truck drivers’ hours of service will be revisited either through langauage added to a transportation bill, the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C. once again, or a Congressional mandate to the new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) administrator to review and revise. 2. There will …
