Feds Ponder Safety Summit Revival

ATLANTA — Federal officials are considering rescheduling the safety summit that was abruptly canceled in December because of concerns that labor and safety groups were not sufficiently involved.

TT File Photo

Julie Cirillo.

The Truck and Bus Safety Summit would be part of the Department of Transportation’s information-gathering efforts as it develops a plan to cut in half the number of truck-related fatalities over the next decade.

No decisions have been made on when, where or even if the summit will actually take place, Julie Cirillo, program manager for the Office of Motor Carrier and Highway Safety, said in a June 30 interview.

Federal Highway Administrator Kenneth Wykle canceled the summit 13 days before its scheduled start in December at the request of his superiors within the department. The cancellation cost the department nearly $100,000, and contributed to poor relations between trucking and federal regulators over the winter (4-5, p. 1).

Relations have improved enough that Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater told American Trucking Associations last month that he would seek industry input in developing a long-term strategy to reduce truck-related fatalities.

That input will come during two workshops this summer, according to a memo sent to trucking groups late last month. About 70 invitations were scheduled to go out last week to trucking executives, trade groups, safety advocates and unions for sessions to be held July 14 and 15 as well as Aug. 3 and 4 at DOT’s offices in Washington, D.C.

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