A Detailed Look at FMCSA Initiatives for the Remainder of 2020

This year, the trucking industry has gone through significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry has faced unprecedented issues from the ongoing driver shortage to driver health and higher demand for products in response to people staying indoors. In response to these novel times, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented several … Continue reading “A Detailed Look at FMCSA Initiatives for the Remainder of 2020”

Emergency Declaration Extended Through 12/31/2020

Federal regulators have extended a national emergency declaration order exempting carriers and truck drivers from certain hours-of-service (HOS) regulations until the last day of the year, December 31st. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declaration, issued in September, is the first multi-month extension of the HOS exemption since the order came in March in … Continue reading “Emergency Declaration Extended Through 12/31/2020”

HOS Rules Slated to be Released 9/29 by FMCSA

In recent weeks, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration met for its annual Trucking Safety Summit, where it laid down plans for forthcoming HOS rules for the trucking industry. One of the summit’s major takeaways shines a light on new hours-of-service regulations set to go into effect on September 29. Among the new nationwide HOS … Continue reading “HOS Rules Slated to be Released 9/29 by FMCSA”

Updates to Trucker Drug Testing Slated for Change

While all mandatory drug testing for truck drivers is conducted through urinalysis, there may be a change coming in the form of oral fluids or hair clippings. According to a recent study from the University of Central Arkansas, if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates hair follicle testing, nearly 300,000 truck drivers would … Continue reading “Updates to Trucker Drug Testing Slated for Change”

Caltrans Freight Mobility Plan Trucking Initiatives

Caltrans, California’s Department of Transportation, recently released its Freight Mobility Plan detailing it’s short- and long-term policies, strategies, and investments. The main focus of the Freight Mobility Plan points to the trucking industry, including parking, truck-only lanes, tolling, and the rise of autonomous trucking. The trucking industry fuels the state’s economy and is in the … Continue reading “Caltrans Freight Mobility Plan Trucking Initiatives”

DOT-FMCSA Updates to Drug Screening

On June 5, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a Grant of Waiver regarding drug screening for truckers. This was done in response to furloughed truck drivers who found themselves out of work due to the coronavirus’s spread, which caused significant disruption to the industry and the employees it served. As trucking employers … Continue reading “DOT-FMCSA Updates to Drug Screening”

What the Trucking Industry Should Know About OSHA Inspections

The trucking industry has seen major changes in a number of ways recently. Whether it’s systematic changes to legislation, like with California’s AB-5 legislation, or through unprecedented disruptions to supply chains, like with COVID-19, truck drivers and trucking companies have needed to adapt to the evolving industry. But while these changes have seemed abrupt, causing trucking … Continue reading “What the Trucking Industry Should Know About OSHA Inspections”

CA in Second Phase of Reopening After COVID-19

As the spread of COVID-19 looks to be on a downward slope, states across the U.S. have begun to ease their social distancing restrictions, allowing people to head back outside, back to work, and back to doing some of their normal things, like eating at restaurants and retail shopping. California’s Second Phase But one of … Continue reading “CA in Second Phase of Reopening After COVID-19”

AB-5 Legislation Update

The state of California has asked a federal court to begin lifting the preliminary junction against imposing AB-5 on the state’s trucking industry. The requests to the Court of Appeals for the state’s 9th Circuit is part of the appeal of the attempt by the California Trucking Association (CTA) to be granted an injunction against … Continue reading “AB-5 Legislation Update”

COVID-19: Temporary Suspension of Motor Carrier IRP Requirements

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to create stress and disrupt our daily lives when it comes to fearing for our health and safety, lawmakers and industry leaders are also having to deal with the logistical and economic fallout that could happen as a result. From businesses closing down for two weeks to people staying indoors … Continue reading “COVID-19: Temporary Suspension of Motor Carrier IRP Requirements”