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…

The Senate currently is considering the Comprehensive Transportation and Consumer Protection Act of 2015, which is perhaps the most disingenuously named bill in our nation’s history. In addition to not being comprehensive, the bill actually may put policies in place that will endanger citizens rather than actually protecting them. As a result of intense lobbying from the trucking industry…

We’ve previously discussed the looming shortage of drivers in the trucking industry and the unwise proposal to allow younger drivers to operate heavy trucks on the nation’s highways. Unfortunately, that ugly bird has come to roost in the form of a recently introduced bill that currently is being considered by Congress. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., introduced new language in…

If you’re like me, the name “Samsung” makes you think of televisions, smart phones and other personal electronic devices. However, a new product currently in the development stage at the South Korean company potentially could save lives by preventing serious tractor-trailer accidents in the U.S. and elsewhere. Samsung’s new “Safety Truck” is designed to address the growing number of…

I recently traveled to Europe with my family for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Magna Carta at the same place where “The Great Charter” was signed in 1215. The Texas Lawbook recently published an account of our trip, including photos from the celebration that was attended by such noteworthy dignitaries as U.S. Attorney General…

The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a bill to provide funding for the U.S.Department of Transportation (DOT) through 2016. Sadly, the approved bill includes several provisions that will only make our highways more dangerous in the coming year. The House version was approved June 9, and the U.S. Senate is expected to pass its own version in the…

A U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania once again has introduced troubling legislation that would exempt trucking and bus companies from the current federal system that calculates “safety scores” based on driving records. Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) filed the bill, HR 1371, after an identical measure failed to gain traction with other legislators last year. The curiously named bill, the “Safer Trucks…