In 2014, the number of people in the U.S. who died in traffic accidents fell to 32,675, just a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year, but still continuing a general decade-long decline. That’s more than 10,000 fewer deaths than in 2005, a remarkable improvement. This year may break that impressive trend, however. Federal officials say that a statistical…

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed its version of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 after days of fiery debate and multiple amendments. Some of the last-minute changes are aimed at making our roads safer, while others are certain to lead to more accidents involving 18-wheelers, semis and other big rigs if they gain White…

The use of cameras in tractor-trailers and other big rigs has produced amazing safety results, but many in the trucking industry continue to resist the new technology based on a profit-at-all-costs mindset. Fortunately, some trucking companies are actively adopting cameras for their fleets regardless of the widespread industry opposition. By using cameras to record what happens inside and outside…

The growing shortage of truck drivers is something we have discussed on this blog before, and now the latest numbers are in. Don’t be surprised to learn that they aren’t pretty. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the trucking industry lost 4,000 jobs in September alone. In a recent report, the American Trucking Associations industry group says the…

Many of us have presumed that the Texas oil boom of recent years directly impacted the increasing number of tractor-trailer accidents on our highways, including those resulting in significant injuries and deaths. Now, a study compiled by researchers at Texas A&M University has confirmed what we believed all along. The report published earlier this month details how crashes significantly…

Is there any piece of legislation that seems more of an oxymoron than the Safe, Flexible, and Efficient (SAFE) Trucking Act? This bill would allow already dangerous trucks to haul more than 5 tons over what they are allowed today. Yet, that is the proposal from Congressman Reid Ribble of Wisconsin. The new bill, introduced in September, would allow…

Last year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) instituted a new program that requires anyone seeking a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to first undergo a physical examination conducted only by doctors and other health professionals who are listed in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. The new requirement initially was met with resistance by the trucking industry…

In addition to the pending mandate for Electronic Logging Devices in tractor-trailers and other big rigs by 2017, which we have covered here previously, the trucking industry is getting another safety boost from new 18-wheelers that are factory-equipped with technology to help drivers do their jobs better while saving fuel and curbing accidents. The Wall Street Journal recently reported…

Although you may not have read about it in your local newspaper, we should soon find out whether the federal government will approve a new rule that will make our highways safer for everyone. On or around Sept. 30, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget is expected to adopt a new rule proposed by the Federal Motor…

It has been very disturbing, but not surprising, to see this week’s news that a Wal-Mart tractor-trailer driver was desperately lacking sleep when he caused last year’s horrific wreck that killed one man and severely injured comedian and popular television star Tracy Morgan. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report, Wal-Mart big rig driver Kevin Roper had…