Trucking Safety and Compliance

According to an article provided by Zurich Financial to the Atlantic, using fleet telematics - an onboard technology that utilizes wireless communication, GPS sensors, computers and digital video to find out information on how truckers drive their routes - can lead to safer and more efficient fleets.

The Truckload Carriers Association and CarriersEdge recently announced the 2012 winners of the Best Fleets to Drive For survey, which was voted on by drivers and truck company owners. A number of fleets based in the United States and Canada won this recognition.

A new batch of fact sheets has been released by the Compliance, Safety and Accountability program launched by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which discuss a number of issues grouped in the Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category.

To help truckers with the new regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Compliance, Safety and Accountability program, the Nebraska State Patrol Carrier Enforcement Division will hold town meetings in six cities across the state.

Federal lawmakers are currently considering proposals from the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which would ban behind-the-wheel mobile phone use, including the use of hands-free devices, by truckers and all other commercial drivers.

In an effort to showcase the importance of the trucking industry, the Mississippi Trucking Association and the America's Road Team recently brought Interstate One, a high-tech trailer, to the Mississippi State Capitol.

According to The Associated Press, Republican Senator in Idaho Jim Hammond is pushing for a regulation that would allow truckers to drive 75 miles per hour on Idaho's interstate highway, the same speed cars are able to travel.

Recent data released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety agency shows the potential value of technology in improving trucking safety.

According to Roanoke, Virginia, NBC affiliate WSLS, Conway Freight has begun a training program that is designed to get truckers the training they need, as well as get them back in the workforce.

While the U.S. Department of Transportation recently enacted legislation that bans interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held mobile telephones, a number of trucking firms in Iowa already had restrictions on cellphone use due to the trucking safety hazard they pose, reported the Des Moines Register.