There are two parts to truck safety on the highways across Texas and our great nation. The first part is to ensure that the truck drivers are adequately trained and implementing policies to ensure compliance with the federal regulations for drivers and trucking companies. The second part is to ensure that the equipment on the […]
While it is at the least disheartening to realize that one of the responsibilities of a government organization is to maintain fatality statistics related to highway deaths, in fact, that is one of the reasons for the existence of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The average Texan believes that a truck accident would never […]
The Department of Transportation routinely conducts studies to evaluate opportunities to improve safety on our roadways by 18-wheeler drivers and trucking companies. One such study evaluated large truck crash cases and came up with an overview of the truck accidents. Every year thousands of people die and tens of thousands of people or […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). MCMIS contains information relating to the safety of commercial motor carriers who are subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. The information reported in the MCMIS is invaluable to monitor the safety of truck drivers and trucking companies. The information […]
Updated 2021 A person need only turn on a cable news channel and view for a reasonable period before seeing a report about electric vehicles. From hybrids to all-electric derivations, the age of the electric motor vehicle is upon us. One area in which electric vehicles are almost nonexistent is in the semi-truck arena. Industry […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines a “large truck,” also known as a semi-truck or big rig, as being a truck that has a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more. A truck of this nature can carry a load that weights upwards to an additional 70,000 more without obtaining […]
Trucking Vital to US Economy There is no doubt that the trucking industry is the lifeblood of our American economy. The proof is in the pudding, with over 70% of all freight transported throughout the United States arriving on big rigs. Tractor-trailers haul more than 10.5 billion tons of […]
Each year the state of Texas is required to collect and analyze crash data gathered by Texas officers when filling out crash data reports. The data is helpful to authorities for planning purposes and anticipating safety needs within the state of Texas. Currently, the state of Texas retains ten years of data from the […]
Updated 2021 A recently published study by the US Department of Transportation – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration emphasizes the role of less experienced truck drivers in the causation of accidents. The study was aimed at determining the “critical reasons” and associated facts that contributed to serious commercial vehicle crashes. Using available data, the analysis […]
If you listen to a radio station are likely to hear one or more trucking companies advertising employment opportunities for truck drivers. This is not a new phenomenon but one that has been going on for the last several years. The truth of the matter is that trucking companies are having difficulty finding […]
The trend over the last decade has been one of give and take with respect to large truck crashes. The overall number of accidents involving commercial vehicles has dropped in the last 10 years, however, the number of fatalities from truck crashes has increased. There’s little doubt that the costs associated with the […]
Total revenue estimates produced by the trucking industry are over 255.5 billion a year. Of this figure ‘for hire’ or ‘common carriers trucking’ companies generated revenue estimated at 97.9 billion. They outdid air transportation by 18 billion. Private fleets generated revenue estimated at 121 billion. Their operating ratio is 95.2, which means […]
*The average semi truck and trailer is 70 to 80 feet long – 4 of them end to end make a football field. *Depending on road conditions, weight of the load and several other factors, the length of time to stop an eighteen wheeler is 40% greater than that of an automobile. […]
Trucking is big business in this country. One reliable source offers the following statistics. “The trucking companies, warehouses, and private sector in the U.S. employ an estimated 8.9 million people employed in trucking-related jobs; nearly 3.5 million were truck drivers. Of this figure, UPS employs 60,000 workers and 9% are owner-operators. LTL shippers account […]
With so many trucks on the roadway, many individuals may not give them a passing thought as they have become such a common part of transportation. However, it is important to understand many components about semi-trucks, both in order to educate and to fully understand what it takes to man these extremely powerful vehicles. As […]
There are many problems that can arise when it comes to tractor trailers and their potential for roadside accidents. One of the most subversive problems can arise when it comes to loads and the problem of them falling off of tractor trailers. The nature of falling loads, especially unsecured loads, can be extremely detrimental, not […]
On roadways across America trucks transport tons of hazardous materials each and every day. As with other tractor-trailers the potential for injury is great due to the size and weight of the commercial trucks and adding hazardous materials to the cargo increases the danger to the public. 5000 Hazardous Spills Each Year Recent statistics […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is expected to release a new study on how crashes are accounted for in the next week or two. The report has been expected for some time now and relates to how the agency analyzes fault for truck accidents that are kept in the database. The Compliance, Safety Accountability […]
While many individuals may be aware that automobile crashes, unfortunately, occur seemingly on a day-by-day basis, few are privy to the fact that the type of car can also factor into both the seriousness of the crash and the potential for injuries and fatalities. In this regard, large trucks can often intensify the seriousness […]
In the latest figures to be released by the US DOT, there were over 104,000 people injured in accidents involving big trucks. Almost 4000 people were killed in those accidents. Fatal truck accidents actually showed an increase from preceding years, which is probably due to the increase of miles driven by the […]
Recently, authorities in the state of Nebraska decided to have unannounced truck inspections. The site selected was located in South Sioux City. The results were astounding to say the least. The state patrol found more than 99 violations and 10 commercial vehicles were taken off the roadways as being out of service. Additionally, drivers where […]
