DOT establishes council to address self-driving vehicles, other emerging tech
The NETT Council will be a point of access for developers seeking approval to deploy new transportation tech, DOT says. It’s intended to ensure that deployment of new tech isn’t impeded and to streamline the process for obtaining safety authorizations,…
Teamters file lawsuit challenging FMCSA’s ruling on California breaks
The Teamsters Union has become more aggressive in its fight against the U.S. DOT’s late-December decision to exempt motor carriers from California labor laws that require period meal breaks and paid rest breaks.
House clears DOT funding bill that maintains ELD waiver for livestock haulers
Livestock and bee haulers have been allowed to run on paper logs and without an ELD since the mandate took effect in December 2017. However, the bill faces strong headwinds in ultimately becoming law, as lawmakers and President Trump square off over fu…
National truck-parking coalition releases working-group resource materials
Regardless of just where parking needs are greatest, in the wake of Jason’s Law and ongoing organization around the nation to address them, “today’s shortage of truck parking capacity is a national safety concern” — new resources from coalition workin…
DOT asking for crash examples to review for crash preventability program within CSA
The intention of the program is to test the feasibility of reviewing crashes in which truck drivers are not at fault and to remove them from carriers’ and operators’ Compliance, Safety, Accountability scores if they are deemed non-preventable.
Fines increased for regs violations
A Final Rule that published in the Federal Register today, Nov. 27, makes the new fine amounts effective immediately. The 2015 Act required FMCSA and other DOT agencies to issue an initial “catch-up” adjustment, followed by annual adjustments for infla…
Proposed program will allow young military vets to drive on interstate routes
OMAHA, Neb. – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is launching a pilot program to allow younger drivers to operate trucks on interstate routes. The three-year pilot program to allow 18-20-year-old drivers who possess the U.S. military equivalen…
DOT plans to survey truck stops, states and enforcers about parking shortage
Following up on a 2014 survey of truck drivers about the challenges they face in finding secure parking, the U.S. DOT’s Federal Highway Administration announced last week it plans to survey truck stop operators, state DOT officials and enforcement pers…
Trucking rap sheet: Driver sentenced after fatal crash, illegal hazmat transport, med cert fraud, more
Action in four trucking-related crimes has recently been reported, including drug testing fraud, illegal transport of hazardous materials, a driver imprisoned following a fatal crash and a former DOT employee sentenced for bank fraud.
Detention costs $1 billion, increases crash risk: report
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Delays before loading and unloading activities cost U.S. drivers and carriers more than $1 billion a year – and increase crash risks in the process, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General has found. Each&…