Laws Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Trucking Watchdog

Families of truck crash victims take action through Truck Safety Coalition

Every year, thousands of Americans suffer fatal injuries from truck crashes. Each one of those victims could leave behind dozens of family members, friends, co-workers and neighbors who are affected by a preventable tragedy. This week, the Truck Safety Coalition hosted a Sorrow to Strength conference. Truck crash survivors, and the families and friends of [...]

Trucking Watchdog2020-07-10T23:35:30+00:00Laws|

This crash shows you exactly why trucking companies are supposed to do safety inspections

A quick lesson in trucking law: maintenance duty You probably know that specific laws and regulations apply to all commercial trucks that use our public highways.* One of those rules: every trucking company must have a regular truck maintenance program to keep its equipment in safe operating condition. As a back-up, the truck driver must [...]

Trucking Watchdog2015-09-29T20:12:24+00:00Laws, Truck Tires and Maintenance|

Senator’s Truck Safety Act calls for hourly pay, insurance fix

Late on Friday, Senator Cory Booker introduced The Truck Safety Act (S. 1739). The bill would update Reagan-era insurance minimums; pay truckers for their time instead of their mileage; and, make commercial trucks use some of the same safety technology as passenger cars. Fixing the minimum amount of insurance for trucks The minimum amount of [...]

Trucking Watchdog2015-07-15T18:37:30+00:00Laws|

Congress is wrong: why the minimum insurance limits for trucks need to change

In June, the US House of Representatives passed a transportation bill – HR 2577– with a strange provision: it stops the Department of Transportation from updating minimum trucking insurance requirements. Commercial truck insurance minimums haven’t changed in 30 years. The federal government sets a “floor”: a minimum amount of insurance coverage commercial trucks must carry. [...]

Trucking Watchdog2019-04-23T22:56:03+00:00Laws|

Sleepy truckers putting everyone on the road at risk

Commercial truckers who admitted to falling asleep while driving are believed to cause more than 750 fatalities and 20,000 injuries every year. In truth, that estimate is likely quite low. It’s almost impossible to know how many truck accidents crashes sleepy truckers cause. The same is true for car accidents crashes: very few drivers admit to falling [...]

Trucking Watchdog2019-03-14T17:38:28+00:00Laws, Truck driver fatigue|

Trucking safety rule changes shows industry protecting profits over drivers

The trucking industry is getting a holiday bonus from the U.S. Congress. The federal spending bill just passed for 2015 includes a provision that will undo many of the trucking safety rule changes the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented last year. The current trucking safety rules—mandating a 30-minute break every 8 hours, and [...]

Trucking Watchdog2014-12-23T16:32:10+00:00Laws|

Trucking industry fights to hide truck safety records from public

It’s rare that hiding information helps to solve a problem. This is not an exception. The Safer Trucks and Buses Act, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Barletta, would remove the trucking carrier safety rankings from public view. Anyone can check a carrier’s safety record on the Federal Motor Carrier [...]

Trucking Watchdog2014-09-24T21:58:40+00:00In the News, Laws|

A plan to catch chameleons

Chameleon carriers are trucking companies that shut down to hide from penalties after multiple safety violations or crashes—and then re-open under a new name. For more, see Chasing the Chameleon. These carriers run some of the most dangerous trucks on the road: 18% of suspected chameleon carriers were in serious truck crashes, according to the [...]

Trucking Watchdog2020-07-10T23:32:22+00:00In the News, Laws|

Chasing the chameleon

The term “chameleon” refers to one that is subject to quick or frequent change, especially in appearance. Chameleons change in order to hide. Hiding from safety In the trucking industry, The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) use a DOT number to identify every company that operates semi-trucks. Theses [...]

Trucking Watchdog2014-08-08T15:29:44+00:00Laws|

Senate tries to weaken truck safety rules – right before semi hits Tracy Morgan

Just a few days prior to Tracy Morgan’s tragic truck accident, the U.S. Senate had moved to weaken federal hours-of-service truck safety rules aimed at preventing trucker fatigue. Mr. Morgan was seriously injured, and another comedian was killed, after their vehicle was struck by a semi. The truck driver was charged with death by auto [...]

Trucking Watchdog2019-12-11T21:22:29+00:00Laws|