Numerous trucking groups have come out in support of a measure recently introduced in the Senate that would limit the size and weight of trucks traveling along all highways.  Known as the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act, the bill would limit tractor trailers to 53 feet or less and place a weight cap of 80,000 pounds.  At the moment, only those trucks which travel on interstate highways are subject to such rules, but the proposed bill would change things so that trucks on any highway are privy to the restrictions.  That would extend the restrictions to 220,000 miles of highway, up from the 44,000 miles currently covered.  Triple tractors would also be disallowed.  Persons impacted by truck crashes, as well as such groups as AAA and the Truck Safety Coalition, have come out as proponents of the law.

Follow this link for more about the bill.

In Louisville, Kentucky today, a meeting of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will be held, and one aspect of the event is focused on the allotment of resources of those entities that police the trucking industry.  The vice chairman of American Trucking Associations is concerned that not enough is being done to enforce laws that are in place to ensure safe driver behavior.  He cites data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration which shows that such enforcement in combination with inspections can be three times as effective as relying solely on inspections. He acknowledges that this could require officers to realign their priorities and cut efforts elsewhere but that such a move would be worth it.  He also calls for better policing of standard automobiles, whose drivers the ATA claims are in error in crashes with trucks seven out of ten times.

Follow this link for more information.

Those commercial trucking fleets with at least one Volvo in service are being encouraged to enter a contest which aims to find the safest fleet in Canada or the Untied States.  Every year for the past five years, Volvo Trucks and Michelin have teamed up to bestow two fleets with the Volvo Trucks Safety Award.  The contest is designed to encourage road safety by bringing to light those companies with the best safety records and programs meant to ensure that safety remains paramount into the future.  In addition to simple bragging rights, the winners also receive $25,000 earmarked for future safety measures.  The categories encompass fleets with less than and more than 20 million miles, and companies have until the end of this month to declare their eligibility.

Click here for more information.

Our highways continue to be inundated with commercial trucks hauling equipment to and from destinations, but the amount of parking available to such vehicles has not expanded thusly.  A survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute found that this was a chief concern among commercial drivers.  Not having the appropriate number of truck parking spaces could actually harm highway safety, as those truckers in need of rest or who need room for staging might not be able to find an adequate spot to do these things.  The Transportation Department and the Trucking Industry Mobility & Technology Coalition will thus hold a webinar on December 6 on this very topic.

For more information, follow this link.

Starting in May 2014, commercial drivers will no longer be able to go to just any physician in order to get the physical that allows them to keep their license.  Instead, a good portion of drivers will be required to go only to those doctors who have been certified to carry out this particular physical exam.  At this moment in time, it’s possible for commercial drivers who fail with one doctor to simply go to a new doctor who might not know the necessary standards and thus would pass the person.  The government hopes that this new rule will allow for a reduction in the number of crashes that take place because the person at the wheel of a commercial vehicle has sustained an adverse medical event.

Click here for more about this effort.

Last week saw 50 roadside commercial vehicle inspectors descending on Minneapolis, Minnesota for the North American Inspectors Championship and the National Truck Driving and National Step Driving Championships held by the American Trucking Associations.  The event provides recognition to those persons whose abilities have made the country’s roads a safer place through inspections.  It’s a way to give thanks to the individuals for improving upon commercial vehicle safety and promoting proper techniques among all inspectors.

To learn more about the event, follow this link.