In light of recent news, the trucking industry might have to embrace for new regulations. This is news that all shippers should watch closely. Before we delve into the proposed laws and their implications on trucking, we need to look at the current state of trucking safety. 13% of commercial truck accidents involve truck driver fatigue. In 2012, accidents with large trucks on the road involved 3,900 deaths and thousands of other people injured. This is a sore spot in trucking.
We all heard the horrific news in New Jersey about a multiple vehicle accident, in which there were numerous victims, include comedian Tracy Morgan. We are all praying for the best. According to the details of the incident, a truck driver with a WalMart truck was not properly observing the slow moving traffic at night on the New Jersey Turnpike. The result was this major accident. The National Transportation Safety Board has already stated that they will take an active role in this investigation and review it.
In late 2016, there is expected to be a new mandate for truck drivers. The mandate, which is enforced and implemented by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, calls for trucks to install an Electronic Logging Device. This is also known as an E-Log. The Electronic Logging Device is used for keeping track of the hours of driving. The American Trucking Association, and other organizations and companies, such as freight forwarders nationwide, support this mandate.
