Recent Safety Alerts

Cell phone ban for commercial vehicle drivers
takes effect today 1/4/12

A new federal law banning the use of hand-held phones by commercial vehicle drivers goes into effect today. So that means truckers and bus drivers, even on local roads, aren’t supposed to be using their cell phones while driving. The new law is part of a push by federal transportation officials to cut down on the number of crashes caused by distracted driving, specifically those caused by drivers using cell phones.
Here’s the new law, enacted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Read the Fredricksurg.com Transportation Blog.

The final rule prohibits commercial drivers from using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial truck or bus. Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) after two or more serious traffic violations. Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000. Approximately four million commercial drivers would be affected by this final rule.

The synopsis: NO TEXTING, NO DIALING, NO HAND-HELD CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE

The National Transportation Safety Board recently said that all states should enact laws against drivers using cell phones, so that is something to watch this year. Nine states and Washington, D.C., already have laws banning cell phone use by drivers, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Read the final rules here.

US Department of Transportation Links:
Commercial driver's license standards; requirements and penalties
Qualifications of drivers and longer combination vehicle (LCV) driver instructors
Prohibition against texting

Drivers: 12 Hours Max Per Week - FMCSA’s New HOS Final Rule

FMCSA’s new HOS final rule reduces by 12 hours the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work within a week. Under the old rule, truck drivers could work on average up to 82 hours within a seven-day period. The new HOS final rule limits a driver’s work week to 70 hours.

In addition, truck drivers cannot drive after working eight hours without first taking a break of at least 30 minutes. Drivers can take the 30-minute break whenever they need rest during the eight-hour window.

Companies and drivers that commit egregious violations of the rule could face the maximum penalties for each offense. Trucking companies that allow drivers to exceed the 11-hour driving limit by 3 or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and the drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense.
Commercial truck drivers and companies must comply with the HOS final rule by July 1, 2013. The rule is being sent to the Federal Register today and is currently available on FMCSA's Web site at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/HOSFinalRule.

Read the press release from U.S. Department of Transportation here.