Safety

About Safety News...

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.

Government, Safety

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.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
March 20, 2017

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.

Letters to the Editor, Business, Government, Safety, Technology, Logistics

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, 2017
Editorial, Business, Government, Safety, Autonomous, Technology, Logistics

Editorial: 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, 2017
Perspective, Business, Government, Safety, Technology, Equipment, Autonomous

Opinion: 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, 2017
Business, Safety, Government

160 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.

Jonathan S. Reiskin | Associate News Editor
March 20, 2017
Business, Government, Safety, Logistics, Technology, Equipment

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.

Ari Ashe | Staff Reporter
March 20, 2017
Business, Safety

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.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
March 20, 2017
Government, Safety

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.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
March 14, 2017
Business, Safety, Government, Logistics

Interstate Acquires American Red Ball World Wide Movers

Interstate Group Holdings, the Springfield, Virginia-based parent of Interstate Van Lines, has acquired Indianapolis-based American Red Ball World Wide Movers, one of the oldest movers of household goods in the United States.

Daniel P. Bearth | Staff Writer
March 14, 2017
Government, Business, Equipment, Safety

Twin 33-Foot Trailers Would Boost Safety, Efficiency, New Analysis Concludes

A new analysis by traffic safety researcher Ronald Knipling has concluded that widespread adoption of twin 33-foot trailers would boost safety and efficiency for U.S. drivers, consumers and businesses.

Eric Miller | Senior Reporter
March 13, 2017