Safety
Transportation businesses face a host of dynamic risk issues that can significantly impact their financial and operational health. The news in this category focuses on the latest safety and security initiatives, resources and regulations and addresses topics that include fleet safety, claims administration, driver hiring and retention, risk management and compliance.
Hair Drug-Testing Proposal May Be Delayed Until 2018
A proposed rule that would allow trucking companies to conduct government-certified pre-employment drug testing using hair samples likely will not be publicly released until the end of 2017 or early 2018, according to a top official with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Daily Briefings from Transport Topics
Transport Topics has partnered with Spoken Layer to make one-minute daily briefings available on all your smart devices. Simply say “Alexa, play Transport Topics” or “Okay Google, talk to Transport Topics” to get the day’s biggest trucking headlines.
Trucking Visits Trump at White House
Despite Mandate, Hair Testing Rule Still Months Away
A proposed rule that would allow trucking companies to conduct government-certified pre-employment drug testing using hair samples likely will not be publicly released until the end of 2017 or early 2018, according to a top official with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Letters: Entry-Level Driver Training, Cost Containment
Readers discuss the regulatory side of entry-level driver training and the best way to maximize profit is containing costs.
March 20, 2017Editorial: A Useful Discussion on Safety
Last week, we cheered the apparent demise of a federal regulatory provision regarding hours of service. Now we’d like to salute a positive development: a recent discussion on truck safety before a Senate subcommittee.
March 20, 2017Opinion: Effectively Utilizing Telematics Solutions
The electronic logging device mandate for tracking hours of service has brought a lot of attention to truck telematics, and many experts are providing advice on how to prepare for that transition. But one aspect of telematics that few are addressing is how underutilized most existing systems are. In my estimate, only three in 10 fleets are utilizing their telematics system to the max.
March 20, 2017160 US Carrier Bankruptcies Idle 4,510 Trucks in 4th Quarter
The freight-hauling capacity of at least 4,510 heavy-duty U.S. trucks evaporated during the last three months of 2016 as 160 fleets shuttered their doors and quit the industry, according to a study by investment firm Avondale Partners.
Truckload Driver Pay Inches Up in 4th Quarter
Salaries for truckload drivers rose at the low rate of 0.04 point in the fourth quarter year-over-year, according to the latest National Transportation Institute index (or 0.03% on a preliminary basis), the slowest in 2016.
Panelists Push for Better Crash Data, Technology at Truck Safety Hearing
Improving truck crash data and monitoring of high-risk carriers are among the key factors that will lead to improved heavy truck safety, a panel of trucking experts told a Senate Commerce subcommittee last week.
Panelists Push for Better Crash Data at Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Truck Safety
Improving truck crash data and monitoring high-risk carriers are a couple of key factors that will lead to improved heavy-truck safety, a panel of truck experts told a Senate Commerce subcommittee March 14.