Agency develops bridge oversight program to help promote trucking safety

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced a bridge oversight program that will help the agency closely monitor how states perform routine maintenance of their overpasses, Trucker News reports.

This measure is geared toward promoting trucking safety and increasing security among the general public. Officials told the news source that the new FHWA approach on the matter will help them clearly and easily identify bridge issues in each state.

They added that under the new system inspections will include bridge load limits, loss of sediment from the foundation due to erosion and frequency of the reviews by each individual state.

Under President Barack Obama's plan, more than $70 billion is being funneled into the new program to help maintain bridges and roads, which includes $320 million toward overpass upkeep.

Safety directors can enroll their employees in online truck driver training courses to educate them on safety issues concerning bridges such as when they are icy. Moreover, these sessions can keep operators up-to-date on current events that affect their industry.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, nearly 74,000 injuries were attributed to large truck accidents in 2009.

By Andie Martin

Agency develops bridge oversight program to help promote trucking safety

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011