ROCKVILLE, Md. – An advisory board that explores scientific evidence to support possible changes or additions to federal drug testing requirements is on track this summer to issue a recommendation that hair specimens be approved for the pre-employment screening of truck drivers and other “safety sensitive” federal workers.

A two-year compilation of federal crash data shows that most fatal, injury and tow-away truck-involved crashes occur during daytime hours, peaking from about 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to Data-analytics provider Vigillo.

Federal regulators have granted refrigerated carrier C.R. England Inc. a two-year exemption from a new requirement that truck drivers with learning permits who have passed their commercial driver license skills test be accompanied by an experienced “on-duty” driver-trainer for the drive home to pick up their CDL.

The House on June 9 approved spending legislation with key trucking provisions, including one that would permit twin 33-foot trailers on U.S. highways. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill now goes to the Senate.

The National Transportation Safety Board on June 8 issued a recommendation that collision avoidance systems be standard equipment on all new cars and commercial trucks.

Peter Rogoff, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s under secretary, said in a June 5 letter accompanying the release of a congressionally mandated study on truck size-and-weight limits there is not sufficient data to make any recommendations.

A division of the Department of Health and Human Services has published a request for a variety of information from the public and transportation industry stakeholders on the potential of use of hair specimens for drug testing.

WASHINGTON — A special federal advisory committee ironing out the details of a potential entry-level driver training rule finished its work May 29 but only after a vigorous debate over whether to recommend an hours-based or performance-based on-road training standard for new drivers.