In June 2025, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) updated the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC) to include the English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule under Part I – Driver. The rule stipulates that a driver can be placed out of service if they cannot read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with an enforcement … Continue reading “CHP Begins Enforcing FMCSA English Proficiency Rules for Truck Drivers”
According to the most recent statistics available from the National Safety Council, in 2023, 5,375 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash. This is an 8.4% decrease from 2022 but a 43% increase in the last 10 years. Also in 2023, 114,552 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury. Large trucks … Continue reading “Claims Series Part I: Why You Should Report Trucking Accidents Immediately”
While automobiles are more frequently involved in accidents, trucks, particularly larger trucks, are associated with more severe outcomes. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2023, 5,375 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, resulting in 5,472 deaths. Of these fatalities, 70% were passenger vehicle occupants, 18% were truck occupants, and 12% … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part IX: Accident Trends”
Defensive driving is a critical safety tool for truck drivers. It combines awareness, anticipation, and careful habits to help drivers avoid accidents before they happen. It allows drivers to be proactive on the road, predicting and averting potential issues. What is Skill Testing for Truckers Skill testing or training for truckers goes beyond the standard … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part VIII: Skill Testing for Truck Drivers”
The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires supervisors of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) drivers to complete 60 minutes of training on alcohol misuse and 60 minutes on controlled substance use to recognize reasonable suspicion of impairment. The objective of the training is to equip supervisors with the information and resources to identify physical, behavioral, speech, and … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part VII: Drug & Alcohol Supervisor and Driver Training”
It’s that time of year when weather conditions change, and truckers need to be aware of how adverse road conditions, like rain, snow, sleet, fog, and gusting winds, can impact visibility, braking distance, and overall vehicle control. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, approximately 12% of vehicular crashes are weather-related. Specifically, … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part VI: Managing Adverse Road Conditions”
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced it plans to repeal the High Priority Fleet and Drayage Fleet provisions under the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulation with a formal proposal due by October 31, 2025, and final action required by August 31, 2026. The repeal is due to legal challenges from various states, spearheaded by … Continue reading “California to Repeal High-Priority and Drayage Fleet Provisions”
In this part of our Defensive Driving series, we review procedures truckers should follow in the event of an emergency. Share and reinforce these measures with your drivers to keep them and others safe on the road. If Your Vehicle Stalls or Breaks Down The first thing a driver should do is secure the vehicle. … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part V: Emergency Procedures for Truckers”
The transportation sector has been hit by rising insurance costs over the last several years. There are several reasons driving costs – from nuclear verdicts to high vehicle repair costs, driver shortages, and other issues. Let’s take a look at how some of these issues impact insurance premiums in the trucking industry. Nuclear Verdicts Nuclear … Continue reading “What’s Behind Rising Transportation Insurance Costs?”
In this article of our defensive driving series, we cover the importance of implementing regular vehicle inspections. Vehicle inspections are a preventive safety strategy and a cornerstone of defensive driving, with each inspection an opportunity to reduce risk, improve driver confidence, and control insurance costs. Why Vehicle Inspections Are Critical Prevent Failures Before They Happen: … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Training Part IV: Vehicle Inspections”
