Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
On March 13, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief supplies in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently said it would make recommendations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and others to take steps to address motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving. The Board revealed its initial findings concerning the probable cause of a fatal March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla Model […]
Nearly 8,000 positive substance abuse tests of commercial drivers have been identified since the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule became effective January 6, according to the Agency.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) does not require employers to test employees in safety-sensitive positions for cannabidiol (CBD) use, the DOT’s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) announced February 18. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and other DOT agencies still require employers to test employees for marijuana use.
Employers in the trucking industry are facing heightened requirements for ensuring their drivers’ drug and alcohol compliance: Employers must perform twice as many random drug and alcohol tests of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and must query the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to check the records of current and […]
On February 4, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it is delaying the compliance date for its entry-level driver training (ELDT) rule from February 7, 2020, to February 7, 2022 (85 FR 6088). The agency said it needs additional time to complete development of the information technology (IT) systems necessary for the rule’s […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) plans to conduct an updated study into the factors in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes. In a January 15 request for information, the agency asked for public comment on how best to design and conduct a study—the Large Truck Crash Causal Factors Study (LTCCFS)—identifying factors contributing to reportable […]
In the second step taken under the Cleaner Trucks Initiative (CTI) it announced in November 2018, the EPA has released an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public comment on the outlines of proposed emissions standards for highway heavy-duty engines, which the Agency says it plans to issue in early 2020.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced December 27, 2019, that it is doubling the minimum annual percentage rate of random drug testing for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The agency is raising the minimum random drug testing rate of commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders from the current 25% to 50% for calendar year […]
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) released a draft strategic plan for studying motor vehicle safety issues over the next 10 years. The institute is seeking comment on its “Center for Motor Vehicle Safety (CMVS) Strategic Plan, 2020-2029.” Comments are due February 14, 2020.