NTSB’s Hall Renews Call For Onboard Data Recorders
Before he vacates his office Jan. 18, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Jim Hall plunged a thorn into the trucking industry's side by reiterating his call for mandatory use of electronic onboard recorders, hourly pay for drivers and tighter restrictions on hours a driver can work.
In an interview last week, Hall, who announced in December that he would step down from the board, said his priority has been to improve safety, but that he and members of the trucking industry have sometimes disagreed on the best ways to accomplish that.
“People tend to care about what they talk about, and I’ve seen more talk about heavy-vehicle safety and more focus on the issue,” Hall said, adding that the fact that people were spending time talking about trucking safety was a sign that progress is being made.
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He said the industry has made progress in highway safety since June 1994, when President Clinton appointed him board chairman. But he did not back down from his contention that motor freight carriers need to do more.
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For the full story, see the Jan. 15 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.
