Tag Archives: driver fatigue
Federal Rule Bans Hand-Held Cell Phone Use by Commercial Drivers on the Road
Studies show that commercial vehicle operators using hand-held cell phones while driving have a higher risk of getting into truck accidents. Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation made its latest effort to end distracted driving with a final rule … [Read more]
Oregon Log Book Inspections Place 22 Percent of Drivers Out of Service
Oregon trucking enforcement officials conducted detailed inspections of commercial drivers’ log books and vehicles last month, resulting in 22 percent of big-rig drivers being placed out of service. Most of the violations involved driving too long without taking a mandatory … [Read more]
Teamsters, Safety Groups Support HOS Changes in Letter to President Obama
As the October 28 deadline nears for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to announce any Hours of Service rule changes for commercial truck drivers, the Teamsters Union and several public health and safety organizations have sent a letter to … [Read more]
Hours of Service Rule Change Faces House Resistance
Republican members of the House Transportation committee have vowed to work “aggressively” to prevent changes in the current Hours-of-Service rules that would lead to shorter road hours for commercial truck drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering a … [Read more]
NTSB: No Cellphones for Truck Drivers
As I noted last year in reference to a serious truck crash near Munfordville, Kentucky, multiple fatalities make the job of a truck accident attorney even harder to bear. This week, however, I am heartened by news that that particular … [Read more]
Fatal Bus Accident Illustrates Dangers of Driver Fatigue
As a truck accident attorney, I am concerned about safety issues such as driver fatigue, a common factor in fatal truck and commercial vehicle wrecks. As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) considers a change to the hours-of-service rules, … [Read more]
Fatigue Checklist Violated Fourth Amendment, Says Court
Recently, the Fourth Amendment helped a truck driver win a case. After the Minnesota State Patrol put Stephen House through a line of questioning for no apparent reason and then ordered him out of service (OOS) for 10 hours, he … [Read more]
Obama Nominates Anne Ferro to Head FMCSA
On June 4, President Obama nominated Anne Ferro, president of Maryland Motor Truck Association, Inc., to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) . Ferro is widely regarded as a skilled and intelligent administrator with a solid record of … [Read more]
Obesity Linked to Sleep Disorder, Driver Fatigue: New Study
In my work as a truck accident lawyer, I have handled many cases involving driver fatigue and hours-of-service violations. I support efforts to include screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in FMCSA-mandated, semi-annual driver medical screenings. It’s widely known that … [Read more]
Newest Challenge to FMSCA Hours of Service Rules
Another battle is brewing over the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours Of Service rule that allows truck drivers to work an 11-hour workday and reset their weekly limit by taking a 34-hour break. The rule in question was … [Read more]