Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration plans to propose a rule in 2006 to link a truck driver’s medical certificate to the commercial driver’s license data system. Indiana and Arizona already have similar rules. FMCSA plans to establish a national registry of certified medical examiners by 2009. Only examinations conducted by someone on the registry would be accepted as proof of driving fitness by FMCSA.
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is Aug. 21-27. For details, visit this site.
As of July 5, the name carriers display on their trucks must be the same as the legal name or single trade name of the business that owns or controls the motor carrier operation. The same name also must appear on the carrier’s Form MCS-150. The requirement was included in a rule published in the June 2, 2000, Federal Register. For more information, visit this site and search Docket No. 3947.
International Brotherhood of Teamsters announced July 25 its decision to withdraw its membership in the AFL-CIO, citing major differences over the direction of the labor movement.
Schneider National Inc. is encouraging all its 21,900 employees to participate in Highway Watch, the national safety and security program administered by the American Trucking Associations under an agreement with the Department of Homeland Security. Training sessions at Schneider facilities nationwide began last month and will continue through September.
Freight Transportation Services Index for April was 112.6, a 0.1 percent increase over March, according to the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The April 2005 level is 1.6 percent higher than the April 2004 level of 110.9. The base year for the index is 2000.
Ontario Trucking Association has endorsed mandatory speed limiters on trucks and will finalize the details for ratification this fall. OTA will meet with truck drivers to discuss the devices, which are used in the European Union.
