Pirates continue to threaten crude oil shipping 

Nov 20, 2008

Ship owners continue to face piracy in the Gulf of Aden and other waters with a recent incident occurring off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia, in eastern Africa, according to news reports...

CVSA sets record for brake inspections 

Nov 20, 2008

A record number of 20,810 inspections were conducted last month during the Operation Air Brake Campaign, according to information from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)...

Study finds emissions
in barges, storage areas 

Nov 11, 2008

Two studies conducted by environmental divisions in Louisiana and Texas uncovered volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from barges in Louisiana and from storage and terminaling facilities in Texas...

ATA unveils highway safety agenda 

Nov 4, 2008

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has unveiled the details of a highway safety agenda designed to reduce the number of highway-related fatalities and injuries for all drivers on the nation’s highways, according to ATA information.

Augmenting an established platform of successful safety initiatives, ATA outlined what is said are 18 critical steps for further reducing highway crashes among all motorists.

The 18 safety recommendations supplement ATA’s existing safety agenda, which includes promoting greater safety belt use by commercial drivers; re-instituting a national maximum speed limit; speed governing of all new trucks; and a decade-long initiative to create a national clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results.

The recommendations were made earlier by ATA’s Safety Task Force and adopted by ATA’s Board of Directors at the annual Management Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans.

Ten recommendations to improve truck and passenger vehicle driver performance are:

•Policy on the use of non-integrated technologies while the vehicle is in motion

•Policy supporting uniform commercial drivers license (CDL) testing standards

•Support for a CDL graduated licensing study

•Advocate for additional parking facilities for trucks

•Advocate for a national maximum 65mph speed limit

•Pursue strategies to increase the use of seat belts

•Support for a national car-truck driver behavior improvement program

•Support for increased use of red light cameras and automated speed enforcement

•Support for graduated licensing in all states for non-commercial teen drivers

•Support for more stringent laws to reduce drinking and driving.

Three recommendations that focus on making vehicles safer are:

•Support targeted electronic speed governing of certain non-commercial vehicles

•Require electronic speed governing of all large trucks made since 1992

•Advocate for new large truck crashworthiness standards.

Five recommendations that will improve federal oversight are:

•Advocate for a national employer notification system

•Create a federal clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol test results of CDL holders

•Support a federal registry of certified medical examiners

•Create a policy supporting access to the national Driver Information Resource

•Support for required safety training by new entrant motor carriers....

DHS issues No-Match rule supplement 

Nov 4, 2008

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a Supplemental Final Rule that provides additional background and analysis for the department's Social Security number No-Match Rule, according to DHS information...

Milk security project
receives more funding 

Oct 21, 2008

The US Department of Homeland Security through the National Institute For Hometown Security in Somerset KY has announced additional funding of nearly $1.2 million for future development of a milk transportation security system spearheaded by the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture...

Tank truck carriers
take home ATA awards 

Oct 20, 2008

Several tank truck carriers have received honors from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Safety and Loss Prevention Management Council for their safety accomplishments and safety records relative to others within their operation type and size...

ATA expands
safety agenda 

Oct 13, 2008

The American Trucking Association (ATA) safety agenda has been extended with 18 new recommendations made by the organization’s Safety Task Force that was established earlier this year, according to ATA information. ...

OSHA holds PPE proposal hearing 

Oct 10, 2008

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) held an informal public hearing October 6 on a proposed rule involving personal protective equipment (PPE) and related training...

FMCSA medical plan
now on Internet 

Oct 9, 2008

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has information available about its truck driver medical programs posted on its Web site at fmcsa.dot.gov...

IG: DOT Canadian/Mexican
safety review flawed 

Oct 9, 2008

The results of a 2006 review by the Department of Transportation (DOT) on Canadian/Mexican carrier safety compliance were not statistically valid, according to an audit by the DOT Office of Inspector General (IG)...

FMCSA issues hazmat permit notice 

Sep 18, 2008

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued an enforcement policy notice...

DHS notes new Manufacturing Council 

Sep 9, 2008

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally recognized the creation of the new Critical Manufacturing Sector Coordinating Council (CMSCC) composed of companies such as automakers, heavy equipment manufacturers, and steel producers...

NEFI offers SPCC information 

Sep 3, 2008

The New England Fuel Institute (NEFI) is offering information on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rules discussed at a NEFI seminar conducted in July...

FMCSA seeking comments on cross-border data 

Aug 13, 2008

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking comments on the Pre-Authority Safety Audits for Mexican motor carriers that have applied to operate in the United States beyond the US/Mexico commercial zones, according to information published in the Federal Register August 12...