Truck accidents

Lithium-ion battery fire disrupts terminal operations at Port of Los Angeles 

Several terminals were closed Friday at the Port of Los Angeles after a tractor-trailer carrying lithium-ion batteries overturned and caught fire nearby on Thursday.

Port officials said that APM Terminals, Fenix Marine, Everport and Yusen Terminals were closed as emergency crews continue to work at the scene.

Officials for the Los Angeles Fire Department said the fire could burn for up to 48 hours and that a roughly 7-mile stretch of California State Route 47, from the Vincent Thomas Bridge to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lithium-ion-battery-fire-disrupts-terminal-operations-at-port-of-los-angeles

Insurance FAQ: What exactly is DataQs?

Do you DataQ?

The answer should be yes, especially considering it could take you off the hook for a number of violations.

Let’s face it. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time — even those writing the tickets. If you receive a violation that you feel is without merit, don’t let it go unnoticed. 

DataQs allows users to track and petition a review of federal and state data issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that’s believed to be inaccurate or incomplete.

“It gives carriers...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/insurance-faq-what-exactly-is-dataqs

Defensive driving key in squelching distracted driving

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which means it’s time to have serious discussions with your drivers.

Distracted driving can happen to anyone and at any time — and it happens a lot more than you think. The National Safety Council estimates that eight motorists are killed every day from a distracted driving-related accident. 

Just last month, distraction was cited as the cause of a rollover crash of a lumber truck in Prineville, Oregon, after the driver took his eyes off the road to ret...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/defensive-driving-key-in-squelching-distracted-driving

The best way to eliminate driver distractions in a smartphone age

Motor carriers have tried everything to curb distracted driving-related accidents, from embracing hands-free solutions with phone mounts to even installing driver-facing cameras. However, the urge to check one’s phone proves too strong for some drivers, regardless of the “solution.”

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, if you are driving 55 mph and take your eyes off the road for five seconds to send a text message, you have traveled the length of a football field...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-best-way-to-eliminate-driver-distractions-in-a-smartphone-age

Truck driver killed in Texas after collision with freight train

A truck driver is dead following a collision Wednesday involving a tractor-trailer and freight train just northeast of Houston, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident happened just after 7 a.m. when a Kansas City Southern train struck the vehicle, which then burst into flames. 

“It appears the truck driver was parked on the tracks, in line with other vehicles, waiting for the traffic when the train was approaching,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a . 

The driver...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truck-driver-killed-in-texas-after-collision-with-freight-train

Taking the stand: Mock trials prep motor carriers for courtroom defense

No motor carrier anticipates a deadly accident will occur on its watch, but that tragic reality befalls many every year. Even more trouble awaits trucking companies caught off guard in the courtroom, leaving them on the hook for potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

Many trucking companies fall victim at trial to the “reptile theory,” a tactic plaintiffs’ attorneys use to exploit a jury’s strong opinions on safety and the emotional toll of accidents by depicting carriers in a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/taking-the-stand-mock-trials-prep-motor-carriers-for-courtroom-defense

Reputation management with Bluewire — Taking the Hire Road

On this week’s episode of Taking the Hire Road, DriverReach founder and CEO Jeremy Reymer welcomed Steve Bryan, CEO of Bluewire LLC. The two discussed the ever-rising threat nuclear verdicts pose to the industry and how to defend against them.

Bluewire builds AI-powered software for trucking companies to alert them of exposure points that could be used against them. Through data analysis, motor carriers can take action to mitigate vulnerabilities to protect their reputation.

Bluewire aims to...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/reputation-management-with-bluewire-taking-the-hire-road

Trust your instincts when GPS leads you astray

The semi truck may be king of the road, but its dominion only reaches so far; there are certainly places it doesn’t belong.

However, with time crunches, traffic, construction work and other constraints along the way, many commercial drivers opt for the fastest route even if it means straying far off the beaten track.

Brian Runnels urges drivers not to blindly trust GPS devices. As Reliance Partners’ director of safety and a veteran driver, he explains that the best navigational tools are often an...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trust-your-instincts-when-gps-leads-you-astray

Safety expert reflects on emotional toll of truck accident

One mistake behind the wheel can lead to devastating consequences to you and those around you. 

Semi truck accidents are unfortunately a common occurrence on our nation’s highways. Many drivers won’t admit it, but it’s easy for those who have managed to evade these harrowing events to lull themselves into the “It’ll never happen to me” mindset.

The truth: Many victims of traumatic accidents feel similarly right up until the moment of impact. Drivers able to walk away with their lives and no one...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/safety-expert-reflects-on-emotional-toll-of-truck-accident

Don’t skate past safety precautions on icy roads

It can happen in an instant — you’ve hit a patch of ice and lose control of your vehicle. As you instinctively press the brakes to no avail, the sudden loss of traction leaves you feeling helpless. Hopefully no one’s in your path as you careen down the highway.

Frigid weather can precipitate precarious situations like this on almost any road, as evidenced by last week’s ice storm that swept across the southern United States.

Freezing rain iced over highways across North Texas, spurring a series of

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/dont-skate-past-safety-precautions-on-icy-roads

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