Category: Trucking Regulations

Regulations are an integral part of the trucking industry. In times of crisis, such as conditions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic or natural disasters, regulatory authorities like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) often issue emergency declarations. Understanding how to deal with state and federal emergency declarations is a critical aspect of risk management for … Continue reading “Emergency Declarations for Truckers in 7 Minutes”

In the wake of the continuing economic hardships imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it is extending its emergency declaration to provide regulatory relief for truckers involved in essential transportation assistance efforts. The commercial transportation industry has been essential during recovery efforts and has been instrumental in keeping … Continue reading “FMCSA Extends Emergency Declarations Again”

The trucking industry has experienced outsized effects during the coronavirus pandemic. Deemed essential workers, yet at a higher risk of contracting or spreading the COVID-19 virus due to their interactions with others, the trucking sector has been at a crossroads. Higher freight demands and thousands of truckers out of work due to illness have complicated … Continue reading “Congress Further Considers Apprenticeship Program for Prospective Drivers Under 21”

Recently, the American Trucking Association (ATA) called on policymakers across the government, asking that the trucking industry members receive priority for the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, there are two approved vaccines, with two more expected for release in the coming months. ATA sent letters to President Joe Biden, the former Trump Administration, the Centers for Disease … Continue reading “Will Truckers be One of the First COVID Vaccine Candidates?”

This past December, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an extension to its emergency declaration initially made last spring in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The extension provides relief from hours-of-service regulations for commercial motor vehicle drivers in the trucking industry. It is now expected to expire on February 28th, following month after month of extensions. … Continue reading “Emergency Declaration Extended Through February 2021”

A new year means new changes for minimum wage laws throughout the United States. From state to state, employers are facing updates to minimum wage increases that may affect their employee base. In California, where more than 137,000 trucking companies (most of them small) operate, trucking companies are following their own changes that took effect … Continue reading “Minimum Wage Increases on January 1st, 2021”

One of the lawsuits challenging the contentious AB-5 bill in California, which includes an unpopular ABC test for drivers in the trucking industry, suffered a significant blowback in the California Court of Appeals. On November 19, the Court of Appeals reversed the earlier trial court decision in the People v. Cal Cartage Transportation Express, LLC, … Continue reading “AB-5 Ruling Update in People vs. Superior Court of Los Angeles”

  Under the current Trump administration, the federal auto emission standards set by the Obama White House were all but stripped away, calling for only a 1.5-percent increase in carbon emissions standards per year through 2026, a significant slowdown in regulation compared to the five-percent yearly increase that came before it. But with a Biden-Harris … Continue reading “How Will Biden’s Administration Affect Emissions Standards & Autonomous Vehicles?”

This year, the trucking industry has gone through significant disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry has faced unprecedented issues from the ongoing driver shortage to driver health and higher demand for products in response to people staying indoors. In response to these novel times, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) implemented several … Continue reading “A Detailed Look at FMCSA Initiatives for the Remainder of 2020”

Federal regulators have extended a national emergency declaration order exempting carriers and truck drivers from certain hours-of-service (HOS) regulations until the last day of the year, December 31st. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declaration, issued in September, is the first multi-month extension of the HOS exemption since the order came in March in … Continue reading “Emergency Declaration Extended Through 12/31/2020”