PHMSA contemplating several revisions to Hazardous Materials Regulations
The Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA)--the federal agency that regulates the multi-modal transportation of hazmat--is proposing several potentially-significant revisions to its Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs), according to an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) published on July 5, 2023. According to the Notice, "PHMSA is publishing this ANPRM to solicit stakeholder feedback on initiatives PHMSA is considering that may modernize the Hazardous Materials Regul
Brandon Wiseman
When trucking regulations run amok
Regulations have been my profession, my life, for many years. Trucking regulations, to be precise. I’ve devoted my career to helping fleets better understand and comply with the hundreds of safety-related regulations that govern their operations. And I step in to defend those fleets when they inevitably run afoul of the rules. Trucking is a heavily regulated industry, understandably so. It’s dangerous. Thousands of people die in the U.S. each year in accidents involving large trucks and buses, n
Brandon Wiseman
Telematics for Trucking: A Guide to Choosing the Right Solution
The term "telematics," at least in trucking, is generally understood to mean use of electronic devices to collect and transmit data about commercial vehicles and drivers. This data can be used to improve safety, efficiency, and compliance. In a recent episode of the Trucksafe LIVE! podcast, we broke down that term, identified some of the most common types of telematics solutions, and discussed some of the benefits and pitfalls that fleets should consider when deciding whether to implement a part
Brandon Wiseman
Understanding FMCSA civil penalties
In January 2023, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced inflation-adjusted increases to its civil penalties. Now, it’s probably not surprising to you that the FMCSA is vested with the authority to enforce its safety regulations by assessing civil penalties. It’s really no different than other government agencies imposing fines for other types of non-compliance. That in mind, there are some nuances to the FMCSA’s civil penalties which are worth discussing, at least at a
Brandon Wiseman
What property brokers MUST know about their role in highway accidents
In late 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a case involving C.H. Robinson, one of the largest property brokers in the world, in which Robinson was alleged to have negligently hired a motor carrier that caused a bad accident and severely injured the plaintiff in the case. Robinson contended these types of lawsuits against property brokers are preempted by a federal law known as the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act or FAAAA, which generally prohibits states from enforcin
Brandon Wiseman
How carriers can protect themselves against cargo loss & damage
Cargo and freight claims can be a complex and daunting area of transportation law. However, proper planning and understanding of the risks involved can go a long way in avoiding costly issues.In a recent episode of our Trucksafe LIVE! podcast, we were fortunate to have two leading experts on the topic, transportation attorneys Kristen Johnson and Craig Helmreich, join us to discuss their experiences and insights.First and foremost, Johnson and Helmreich emphasized the importance of having a clea
Brandon Wiseman
2022 in Review: Top Trucksafe Content
2022 was a big year for the trucking industry and a busy one for us at Trucksafe! We met a lot of great carriers and safety professionals this year and were honored to help our carrier clients on a number of compliance-related projects. We produced and published well over 100 hours of DOT-related content across our various platforms. We developed a couple of new courses through our Trucksafe Academy. We launched our Trucksafe Compliance Network and hosted a bunch of free educational webinars. We
Brandon Wiseman
When should trucking companies hire a dedicated safety director?
Whether you've just started your motor carrier operation or have been at it for some time, you undoubtedly know that trucking is a heavily regulated industry, and for good reason. Operating large trucks and buses is inherently dangerous. The consequences of unsafe operations can be severe. Navigating the multitude of federal and state safety regulations that govern highway transportation and implementing effective policies and procedures to minimize accidents are tall tasks. And they probably ha
Brandon Wiseman
5 steps to improve your out of service rates
Out of service rates are important metrics for regulated motor carriers. These rates, which are publicly available on each carrier’s SAFER profile, indicate how frequently a carrier’s vehicles and drivers are being placed out of service (i.e., prohibited from operating) for serious violations during roadside inspections. As we detailed in a previous article, out of service rates are one of five critical safety metrics that fleets should be closely monitoring and working to improve. High rates ca
Brandon WisemanNever Miss an Update
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