Survey: Seven in 10 Truckers Using Mobile More Often for Business

11/19/2012
Survey: Seven in 10 Truckers Using Mobile More Often for Business
Truckers are increasingly doing business via mobile devices, according to UShip.com's third annual mobile usage survey. It also shows significant shifts in use of smartphone GPS navigation over traditional GPS units and a greater appetite for social media and apps via mobile.... More >

FMCSA Defends Hours Rule

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration defended its hours-of-service rule in a court filing, arguing that limits on the 34-hour restart are reasonable.

The agency also told a federal appeals court that the risks of the 11-hour limit on driving are outweighed by the productivity savings, and the 30-minute rest break improves safety.... More >

FMCSA Proposes Tough Sanctions for Carriers That Repeatedly Disregard Safety Rules

Safety regulators want to impose the ultimate penalty, loss of registration, on truck and bus operations that show egregious disregard for the rules.  Click Here for the complete story.

FMCSA Proposed Rule Targets Officials of Unsafe Carriers 
Federal officials are seeking authority to shut down motor carriers that employ officials who have shown “egregious disregard” for safety regulations.  Click Here for the complete story

New FMCSA Initiative - Driver Medical Card Validation

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its State partners will be conducting random verification's of driver Medical Examiner's Certificates (MEC) during enforcement activities.

The purpose of these validations is to obtain verbal confirmation that the medical examination was conducted and the information on the Medical Examination Certificate is accurate. It is not to evaluate the driver's medical fitness to operate a CMV.

We will take the following steps to validate the authenticity of MECs:
1. Contact the Medical Examiner's (ME) office at the telephone number indicated on the certificate;
2. Explain the inquiry's purpose and indicate that it is intended solely to confirm that the document presented by the driver matches the records maintained by the ME. Direct contact with the actual ME is not required - an authorized staff member may provide the requested information; and
3. Provide the driver's name and date of birth, the date of issuance of the MEC and any restrictions indicated thereon and request verbal confirmation of the information provided.
The FMCSA appreciates the MEs' cooperation in our effort to eliminate the use of fraudulent MECs and to keep medically unqualified drivers off our nation's highways.

Be prepared for this new enforcement of the coming changes in driver medical qualifications.

Target Defendants:"Protecting Trucking Companies in Litigation"

Click here to view a webinar presented by Vertical Alliance Group, Inc and Scott Carey, Attorney and managing partner of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C.  Learn what you must do to protect your company from lawsuits and crippling punitive damages.