Category Archives: Legislation

The $450 Billion Transportation Bill

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If you think it’s hard to wrap your head around a sum of money as large as $1 million, how about $450 billion?  That’s how much a bill being drafted by House Democrats would allot over the next six years to help fund highway and transit projects.  But some are beginning to question the bill since there’s been no determination on where the money would come from, especially when the country is already $787 billion in debt from the stimulus package.  Do you think the taxpayers should foot this bill too?  Is the country’s infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.) in bad enough shape that it warrants $450 billion to fix it up?  Truckers of all people should know!

Click here to read an article detailing the transportation bill.

The ATA’s New Safety Push

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The American Trucking Association has unveiled new 18-point safety policies intended to improve highway safety and reduce truck-related fatalities.  This comes at an important time for the industry as a $450 billion highway reauthorization bill remains a priority among trucking lobbyists in Washington.

A few of the policies include enforcing graduated licensing for young drivers, cameras to catch red-light running, tougher laws against drunk driving, safer vehicle designs, and more effective driver licensing and supervision.  The initiative also calls for maximum truck speed limits of 65 mph (many carriers have already installed speed governors to ensure drivers stay within that speed).

Click here to read a full list of the 18 safety policies proposed by the ATA.  For all you truck drivers out there, do you agree with the policies?  Are there other safety issues and policies the ATA should be pushing for?

Bill for Bigger Trucks Debuts

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Legislation that would allow commercial trucks to increase in size and weight on the country’s highways has finally made its way onto the desks of lawmakers.  The bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) and Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio), would allow trucks up to 97,000 pounds with a 6th axle to operate.   Currently, federal regulations mandate commercial trucks weigh less than 80,000 pounds and be no more than 53 feet in length.   To pass, the measure needs to be approved by states individually.  Supporters of the bill claim it would cut pollution and reduce highway congestion by enabling drivers to deliver more freight in less trips.  What do you think – if the bill passes, would it be better for the industry or more dangerous on the roads?

The Dangers of Obesity & Drowsy Driving

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photo via MSNBC
This trucker uses a machines to help him breathe better during sleep.

Sleep scientists at Harvard University say research indicates that there is a strong link between overweight truck drivers and sleep apnea, a disorder that causes a person’s airways to collapse several times a night.  People who suffer from sleep apnea wake up repeatedly throughout the night and as a result, they are never fully rested and their bodies are continually deprived of oxygen.   The disorder can lead to a wide range of other health problems including diabetes and prompt symptoms such as daytime sleepiness and fatigue.  Simply put, that excess weight you’re carrying may cause you to inadvertently doze off.

Just a few seconds of nodding off behind-the-wheel is more than enough time to cause a potentially fatal crash.  Subsequently, the push for federal rules that require mandatory testing of obese drivers is gaining traction.  Experts say screening drivers could help prevent fatal truck crashes – it’s estimated that 20% of all truck accidents are caused by drowsy drivers and sleep apnea increases the risk of a trucker being in an accident two to seven times.

For more than a year now, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has been considering new rules that would indeed require screening for truckers whose body mass index is more than 30.  Also, a growing number of truck driving companies, large and small, are voluntarily screening drivers for sleep apnea at their own expense.

When you know the health risks posed by obesity and the dangers of drowsy driving, do you think the government should require health screenings for overweight truckers?  Do you think truck driving companies should offer employees treatment for life-threatening conditions that could impact their ability to work?

“Putting U.S. Trucking on a Diet”

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That’s the title of a great new article put out by the New York Times this past Monday.  The article addresses the efforts to reduce carbon emissions along with anti-idling regulations and how the trucking industry is responding with new solutions.  Here’s a little tidbit I learned from the article: did you know that $378 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the big stimulus package passed by President Obama) is budgeted for the Department of Energy to use to reduce transport emissions to clean up the environment?  That’s a lot of money!  Of that amount, anywhere between $10 million and $75 million will go directly towards anti-idling solutions and technologies.  In addition, the EPA has allocated another $300 million towards a campaign to cut emissions from diesel engines.

From electrified truck stops (see here) to auxiliary power units, learn how to provide your cab with all the creature comforts you need while reducing your emissions and helping the environment by reading the article here.