Practical EHS Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
According to the EPA and the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), ensuring that Americans can buy the types of cars and light trucks they prefer is at the heart of the EPA’s/NHTSA’s final rule amending and establishing carbon dioxide (CO2) and fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has provided additional regulatory relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. New steps taken by FMCSA include temporarily allowing drivers with expired Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs) to continue operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), allowing drivers with Commercial Learner’s Permits (CLPs) to drive without an observer, and allowing employers […]
On March 19, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) expanded its Hours of Service exemptions for commercial motor vehicle drivers transporting personnel and supplies necessary to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 […]