While the American Trucking Associations and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association are calling for crashworthiness standards for cars and light trucks to be applied to heavy-duty Class 7 and 8 vehicles, some OEMs are already saying their final products independently meets even higher standards. Volvo’s trucks feature a three-point seat belt, a driver’s side airbag, and technologies that reconfigure the steering wheel and Continue Reading

A prominent road safety researcher who once headed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s research division is calling into question the methodology and thus conclusions drawn from several studies used as the basis for proposals to revise the current hours-of-service rules. Dr. Ronald R. Knipling says the handful of studies the FMCSA allowed comment on during the extended discussion period were flawed either in their sampling or the stretch in comparing two very different subjects. At best, these findings would need more research or attempts at replication to make them Continue Reading

Two prominent trucking lobbying groups are hoping the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be open to applying their crashworthiness standards, currently applied to automobiles and light trucks, to commercial trucks as well. The American Trucking Associations and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association both petitioned the federal government last week to at least begin researching how such standards could help Continue Reading

Trucking will continue to be a dominant force of transporting freight across the country for the forseeable future, and even strengthening in the next decade, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA) forecast report. The U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast to 2012 predicts trucking will lead the way in terms of tonnage and revenue, with rail and domestic waterborne transportation behind. Overall, total freight tonnage is expected Continue Reading

Drivers who haul hazardous materials are backing out of the industry, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA), because of the financial burden of multiple background checks they must complete. To stem this exodus of qualified, veteran drivers, the ATA is appealing to Congress to eliminate duplicate background checks on drivers. These checks can cost about $150 for HazMat endorsements, and an estimated 1.2 million drivers have Continue Reading

The latest look into American trucking trends is now available in a report titled “American Trucking Trends 2011″ that has just been released by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). This annual report has been researched and published by the ATA for more than 60 years and contains insight into the factors shaping the industry every year. It is available exclusively from ATA Business Solutions and participating state trucking associations. To learn more or Continue Reading

After new highway safety numbers were released last week, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) is renewing its push for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to quit pursuing its recent proposed changes to hours-of-service (HOS) rules. The latest safety statistics show a significant reduction in the number of crashes since the last round of HOS rules took effect in 2004. In that time, the truck-involved fatality rate has dropped by 36 percent. Some critics are quick to point to the sluggish economy for the reduction in truck traffic–and thus crashes. However, the Continue Reading

Higher turnover among drivers may not sound positive, but the American Trucking Associations (ATA) chief economist sees it that way. Rising to an annual rate of 69 percent among large fleets, the turnover is the highest since the second quarter of 2008. Increased hiring and rising turnover, according to the ATA’s Bob Costello, shows that fleets are responding to signs of economic recovery. Though some changes can be attributed to Continue Reading

In response to the outpouring of feedback to its proposed changes to the hours-of-service rule, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending the public comment period. Now, the deadline for comment is March 4, which also allows the organization to review additional documentation, particularly Continue Reading

Hot topics at the Technology & Maintenance Council’s 2011 Annual Meeting were recent regulations affecting everything from the proposed mandates of electronic onboard recorders and fuel efficiency rules. American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves addressed attendees, and said it was the organization’s stance to accept the inevitability of EOBRs and cited their positive impact on safety. Other topics Graves addressed were fuel efficiency regulations, which he said came at a good time with rising diesel prices, and highway infrastructure funding and development, for which Continue Reading