Preventing truck and carhauling accidents

6/13/2011 Trucking Groups Call on NHTSA to Examine Truck Crashworthiness Standards

American Trucking Associations and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association together called on the federal government to begin researching standards for crashworthiness for heavy trucks.

"NHTSA has continuously developed crashworthiness standards for automobiles and light trucks, but to date has generally not applied crashworthiness standards to commercial trucks," the two groups wrote in a June 6 letter to David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. "We believe there may be opportunities to enhance the survivability of professional truck drivers if appropriate, research-based, uniform standards are developed."

To read the full article click HERE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seal of the United States Department of Transp...Image via Wikipedia
Related articles
---------------------------------------
 Trucks for Sale

2004 Peterbilt Truck
2004 Peterbilt Truck
1996 Freightliner Truck
2005 Western Star
 ----------------------------------------- 
Trucks and Carhaulers for Sale



Enhanced by Zemanta

No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Mega Truck Haul

I don't think there are industry awards for the largest specialized haul or the largest flatbed BUT if there were I think this would be the winner. I saw this online and realized it was not photoshopped but carry an actual jet that crashed in the Hudson river.
to read the original article click here


Related articles

 Trucks for Sale

2004 Peterbilt Truck
2004 Peterbilt Truck
1996 Freightliner Truck
2005 Western Star
 ----------------------------------------- 
Trucks and Carhaulers for Sale









Enhanced by Zemanta
No comments:
Labels: , , , , , , ,

Fuel price challenges for carhaulers and truckers...

More money to fill your carhauler…more money to fill your rig.

I am waiting and watching as fuel continues upward against the backdrop of 9.1% inflation. The price of goods is increasing everyday and no one is viewing the fuel situation for what it really is, a crisis and an opportunity. The crisis is that the price of fuel will get so expensive that the average American will struggle to purchase even the most basic of commodities from the grocery store. The opportunity is that it will galvanize the entire American public to pursue a mission of alternate energy programs everywhere to get us out of this boom-bust oil nightmare forever

To read the full article clickthis link

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Fuel imports in 2005Image via Wikipedia
Related articles
---------------------------------------
 Trucks for Sale

2004 Peterbilt Truck
2004 Peterbilt Truck
1996 Freightliner Truck
2005 Western Star
 ----------------------------------------- 
Trucks and Carhaulers for Sale
Enhanced by Zemanta
No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,

NAFTA: Mexican truckers to drive cargo into US interior

By Chris Roberts / El Paso Times, Texas
Sunday, May 29, 2011

As the Obama administration prepares to honor a 17-year-old treaty with Mexico allowing that country’s long-haul trucks into the U.S. heartland, emotions are again at fever pitch as businesses on both sides of the border predict job losses and industry upheaval.

The North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, included a provision that the United States and Mexico would allow each other’s trucks to haul cargo across the border for delivery anywhere inside the other country.

To comply with NAFTA, the Obama administration in April proposed a three-year pilot program with requirements for Mexican truckers that include a preliminary safety audit, purchase of U.S. insurance, English proficiency for drivers, truck inspections for every border crossing for at least the first three months, an 18-month probation period and a three-month renewal period for safety inspections after permanent authority is granted.

"Participating Mexican carriers and drivers would be required to comply with all applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including those concerned with motor carrier safety, customs, immigration, vehicle registration and taxation, and fuel taxation," according to the program’s legal description.

When the pilot program concludes, the Mexican haulers would receive the same authority granted U.S.-based truckers. Public comment on the proposed program ended last week, and the final version is expected later this year.

But the devil has been in the details in the United States as objections have arisen over safety, fair competition, reciprocity and other issues. Some Mexican carriers are concerned that opening the borders will encourage U.S. haulers to locate in Mexico and dominate their industry.

"I wasn’t in Congress when they voted for NAFTA," said U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas. "But I think we signed the treaty and we should follow the treaty and respect its conditions."


to read the full article click HERE
No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Government Cracks Down on Distracted Driving; What's a Fleet to Do? - Truckinginfo.com

From Truckinginfo.com ( Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine)

5/4/2011 Government Cracks Down on Distracted Driving; What's a Fleet to Do?
Guest commentary by Christian Schenk, vice president, product marketing, Xata

It's a fact: Fleets with the highest safety performance records also have stringent policies on in-cab cell phone use, according to the recent Strength in Numbers Fleet Benchmarking Study sponsored by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety.

In addition, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration research shows that commercial drivers reaching for objects such as a cell phone while driving are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event. Even worse, drivers entering phone numbers on a handheld-phone keypad while driving increase their risk of an accident six-fold. Perhaps most alarming, though, is a study released last year by Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute that showed that when truckers text, they are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or close call.

No wonder the U.S. Department of Transportation, as part of its campaign to end distracted driving, imposed a ban prohibiting text messaging while operating a commercial vehicle.

More regulation is likely. Late last year, FMCSA proposed a new regulation that would prohibit interstate commercial truck drivers from reaching for, holding or dialing a phone while operating a motor vehicle. And as mentioned, there is already a regulation that prohibits other handheld devices, which means that drivers may not respond to a text, record hours of service or change duty status while the vehicle is in motion. Note that the proposed regulation includes language that protects the safe use of in-cab devices for trucking operations.

Keep your eyes on the road

Since electric onboard recorders (EOBRs) were introduced well over a decade ago, fleet owners have come to rely on that technology to track hours of service, reduce out-of-route miles, control speeding, communicate with drivers, etc. That technology increasingly runs on such wireless devices as cell phones, smartphones and Android-based tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy.

While these devices and the associated mobile fleet-management software that runs on them has made life easier for fleet owners and drivers, it's clear that any form of distraction that takes a driver's eyes off the road will no longer be tolerated. In fact, violators could soon face penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense. Violators with multiple offenses could lose their commercial driver's license. Carriers could also be penalized -- up to $11,000 for each offence.

How can fleets protect themselves?

Besides telling your drivers that distracted driving will not be tolerated under any circumstances, now's the ideal time to purchase a fleet management solution. If you're considering a solution that runs on handheld devices with vehicle synchronization, don't put off your decision. As long as you choose a solution that runs without driver intervention, you won't have to worry, even if the proposed ban goes into effect. And the sooner you make your decision, the sooner you'll improve safety and compliance and begin realizing the other benefits that come with having 360-degree, real-time information about both your drivers and their vehicles.

Take the Xata Turnpike solution, for instance. Cited by the FMCSA as the least expensive compliant electronic logs on the market, the Xata Turnpike hardware connects directly to a vehicle's engine computer, pulling fault codes and other data. Once installed, the Turnpike software automatically records a wide variety of driver and vehicle data, including everything needed to maintain driver logs. Your drivers keep their eyes on the road and you enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your drivers are safe and you're in compliance.

to read the full article click HERE

No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Trucking and Transportation News

Trucking News from Around the Web!





diesel fuel pump on the engineImage via Wikipedia

Related articles
---------------------------------------Peterbilt truck model with two rectangular hea...Image via Wikipedia

 Trucks for Sale



2004 Peterbilt Truck

2004 Peterbilt Truck

1996 Freightliner Truck

2005 Western Star

 ----------------------------------------- 

Trucks and Carhaulers for Sale

Enhanced by Zemanta
No comments:

Backlash to FREE EOBR's for Mexican Truckers

 Even more backlash...

Seal of the United States Department of Transp...40 Congresspeople have already rallied to end this nightmare proposal. I dont see any political benefit to the current administration to keep it

Here is the original article from Transport Topics

Dump Mexican trucking proposal: Lawmakers

May 5, 2011 12:13 PM, By Brian Straight, managing editor
A group of 44 lawmakers delivered a signed letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood yesterday demanding that the Obama Administration abandon plans to restart a controversial cross-border trucking program for Mexican motor carriers.

To read the full article click HERE



From Transport Topics
3/23/2011Photo portrait of U.S. Senate Mark Pryor

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood outlining his opposition to the U.S. proposal to buy electronic onboard recorders for Mexican trucks that will travel within the United States.

“I do not believe this concept is fair for U.S. carriers who are not eligible for such payments,” Pryor wrote in a letter dated Thursday.

exotic tie down strap
A Department of Transportation official said earlier this month that DOT will pay for EOBRs for Mexican trucks entering the United States under an agreement with Mexico. The program is meant to ensure drivers’ compliance with hours-of-service regulations while in the U.S.




To read the full article click HERE
Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)