Safety

The Department of Transportation Friday proposed banning interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating a commercial motor vehicle, and sets stiff fines for violators.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has appointed three new members to its Medical Review Board.

American Trucking Associations last week asked the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to facilitate the use of consolidation bins in transporting small packages of hazmat materials.

I was reading your Nov. 1 issue and came across the article about the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, electric onboard recorders and hours of service. I read the article and felt I should put in my 2 cents’ worth on this issue.

When the next freight transportation capacity shortage makes itself known, whether it’s in the second half of next year or at the start of 2012, no one should say they weren’t warned well in advance.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said last week that it was making several changes to its CSA safety monitoring system that industry officials said would shield the industry from misleading interpretations.

Big-picture executives have the ability to see well beyond the day-to-day grind. If you’re in this category, you support an active safety department and insist on taking a variety of preventive measures.

BALTIMORE — New regulations from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that are focused specifically on trucker health standards will have to wait until next year, Administrator Anne Ferro said.

BALTIMORE — Improving employees’ health can pay off for trucking companies whose unique issues include a lack of exercise and smoking, experts said.

Earlier this year, American Trucking Associations released a very upbeat forecast for U.S. freight transportation. That’s good news, but motor carriers will be challenged to keep pace with this growth.