Recent proposals may impact new hires in the trucking industry

Many companies and owner-operators are concerned that the new rules that have been proposed by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will negatively impact the driver shortage, Cedar Valley Business Monthly reports.

Drivers, not companies, are being held more responsible under the proposed rules that could affect trucking safety, log books and hours of service. As a result, some experts believe that these measures could impact as many as 30 percent of eligible drivers.

Experts told the news provider that state departments of transportation cannot suspend licenses. However, drivers are graded based on their adherence to the rules, which can impact them positively or negatively with regards to pay and job opportunities.

"It is going to weed out the bad drivers," Darrin Gray, president of Gray Transportation, told the news source. "It is out there as a scorecard, so when you hire them you know what you are getting because of their performance on the road."

Employers can enroll there employees into compliance training for truck drivers to educate them on the new regulation that are currently being proposed by FMCSA. These classes can help operators stay up-to-date on industry trends and promote trucking safety.

By Anna Byrne

Recent proposals may impact new hires in the trucking industry

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011