Truck Safety Coalition

FMCSA allows ‘limited number’ of trucks to use pulsing brake lamps

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators have approved enhanced braking lights for a limited number of trucks over concerns that standards should first be updated before allowing the technology to expand within the industry.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted a five-year exemption to Springdale, Arkansas-based Encore Building Products, a construction materials hauler, to operate trucks equipped with an electronic module manufactured by Intellistop, Inc.

When the driver applies the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmcsa-allows-limited-number-of-trucks-to-use-pulsing-brake-lamps

Covenant’s CDL exemption approved over trucker objections

WASHINGTON — Regulators have approved a new-driver exemption for Chattanooga, Tennessee-based Covenant Logistics despite safety concerns voiced by owner-operators and crash victim advocates.

The exemption allows a holder of a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) who has passed the skills test but not yet received an actual CDL document to drive a Covenant truck while accompanied by a CDL holder who chooses to be off duty in the sleeper berth.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/covenants-cdl-exemption-approved-over-trucker-objections

Large truck crash fatalities fell 11% in 2023

WASHINGTON — Deaths from crashes involving at least one large truck fell 11% in 2023, according to the latest data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, hitting the lowest point in six years.

The drop in fatalities – from 5,417 in 2022 to 4,807 in 2023 – followed a corresponding 7% decrease in crashes overall that involved at least one large truck, which fell from 168,816 to 156,553. Injuries resulting from such crashes decreased 3%, from 76,550 to 74,001.

Large-truck crashes and...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/large-truck-crash-fatalities-fell-11-in-2023

OOIDA takes truck side-guard report complaints to Congress

WASHINGTON — Truckers have told House and Senate leaders to steer clear of writing laws based on a report they say is highly flawed that recommends requiring new safety equipment on their vehicles.

In a letter to Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., who chair the House Transportation & Infrastructure and Senate Commerce committees, respectively, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association President Todd Spencer said that the recent Advisory Committee on Underride...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ooida-takes-truck-side-guard-report-complaints-to-congress

NHTSA reports fatality, injury uptick in latest truck crash stats

WASHINGTON — Deaths and injuries resulting from crashes involving large trucks are increasing at a slower rate, but safety advocates assert regulators still are not doing enough to address the problem.

According to the latest estimates published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,936 people were killed in crashes involving medium- and heavy-duty trucks weighing over 10,000 lbs. (weight classes 3-8), a 2% increase from 5,821 deaths in 2021. That compares with estimates by...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nhtsa-reports-fatality-injury-uptick-in-latest-truck-crash-stats

Lax oversight of trucking contractors plagues Postal Service

WASHINGTON — Lax oversight by the U.S. Postal Service of the trucking companies, brokers, and drivers it contracts could be contributing to accidents and deaths on the nation’s highways, based on the results of a new safety report.

The audit, conducted by the Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General (OIG), was requested by Congress last year following a Wall Street Journal investigation into safety violations and fatal crashes involving long-distance carriers that haul mail for the agency.

The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/lax-oversight-of-trucking-contractors-plagues-postal-service

FedEx warns of higher costs under trucker rest break waivers

WASHINGTON — FedEx Corp. predicts higher costs on its linehaul and delivery routes as well as those of rivals if the Biden administration approves waivers governing truck driver meal and rest breaks in California and Washington.

In comments filed with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FedEx (NYSE: FDX) asserted that if the FMCSA were to waive its preemption over the two states’ meal and rest break (MRB) laws — which would make interstate carriers subject to the stricter state...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-warns-of-higher-costs-under-trucker-rest-break-waivers

Truckers push FMCSA to make brokers pay for detention time

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WASHINGTON — If drivers have to be federally regulated by hours-of-service rules, brokers should be...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/truckers-push-fmcsa-to-make-brokers-pay-for-detention-time

New data shows 14% decline in large-truck fatalities

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WASHINGTON — New preliminary data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-data-shows-14-decline-in-large-truck-fatalities

Crash victims allege DOT violations related to underride guard report

WASHINGTON — Truck safety advocates want the Biden administration to investigate whether regulators violated ethics rules and federal law in conducting cost-benefit assessments of crash protection equipment for truck trailers.

In a letter sent Thursday to U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General Eric Soskin requesting the investigation, the Truck Safety Coalition, along with a group of truck crash victim advocates and victim family members, alleged potential misconduct by DOT...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/crash-victims-allege-dot-violations-related-to-underride-guard-report

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