Washington — As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration considers updating the methodology it uses to determine if truck and bus companies are fit to operate safely, the agency has scheduled a public listening session.

Washington — Aviation labor unions are applauding the safety provisions included in a bill, recently signed into law by President Joe Biden, that reauthorizes funding for the Federal Aviation Administration.

Greenbelt, MD — Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspectors placed 11.6% of the trucks and buses they examined out of service for brake-related violations during a recent safety blitz.

Washington — Railroads must develop certification and training programs for train dispatchers and signal employees, under new Federal Railroad Administration final rules.

Arlington, VA — Most drivers would approve the use of vehicle technology designed to prevent or limit speeding, results of a recent survey from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show.

Washington — More than 1 out of 6 female truck drivers experience harassment or discrimination daily, while almost a quarter have left the industry over personal safety concerns, a new report finds.

Washington — Vinn White is the acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration after being appointed deputy administrator by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on June 25.

Greenbelt, MD — Commercial motor vehicle inspectors across North America will conduct brake system inspections – announced and unannounced – Aug. 25-31 during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week.

Washington — The Government Accountability Office has agreed to look into how vehicle design – including that of large commercial trucks – could improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users.

Washington — A new rule requires railroads to “proactively provide” real-time electronic information about hazmat shipments to 911 call centers or emergency responder mobile apps as soon as they become aware of an incident.

Washington — A hotly contested proposed rule that would require speed-limiting devices on heavy trucks has again been delayed.

Washington — In an effort to help school bus drivers make safe choices at railroad crossings, a rail safety education group has released a series of free training videos.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has awarded almost $480 million in grants for safety initiatives related to large trucks and buses.

Washington — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the House is aimed at bolstering the safety of the nation’s rail network via modernization and investment in grant and pilot programs.

Washington — Federal action aimed at easing restrictions on marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act could jeopardize federally required drug testing for workers in safety-sensitive jobs, the National Transportation Safety Board warns.

Dallas — OSHA Region 6 has updated and renewed its Regional Emphasis Program focused on transportation tank cleaning operations.

Washington — Although oral fluid drug testing has been federally approved for truck drivers and workers in safety-sensitive transportation positions, its use as an alternative to urine testing has been delayed and remains in flux.

Philadelphia — Training requirements that vary by state may leave some newly licensed teen drivers “ill prepared for safe driving,” results of a recent study suggest.

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is cautioning truck drivers about a “very convincing” fraudulent email requesting various personal information not required on agency forms.

Vehicles get submerged in water. If it happened to you, would you know what to do?

Washington — Transit agency leaders must help support employee well-being with a clear commitment to addressing mental health, wellness and resiliency – and should provide resources, according to a new report.

Vienna, VA — Registration is open for the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety’s annual conference, set for Oct. 8-11 in Atlanta.

Washington — The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized a policy requiring air traffic controllers to have at least 10 hours of off-duty time between shifts.

Washington — The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a series of recommendations to several entities in a new report on the Feb. 3, 2023, train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

Tumwater, WA — Spurred by separate rollaway incidents in which truck mechanics were killed, Washington state has published a hazard alert.

Washington — A Federal Transit Administration final rule that updates the agency’s safety certification training program for rail transit workers eases recertification while maintaining a uniform curriculum, FTA says.

Harrisburg, PA — A new Pennsylvania law says state highway construction and maintenance vehicles can display flashing/revolving fluorescent green lights to help protect roadway workers and drivers during inclement weather.

Washington — Now open for trucking industry stakeholders: a survey on the most critical issues facing the industry.

San Jose, CA — Bolstering mindfulness and emotional intelligence in the transportation industry “will help foster a felt sense of psychological safety among employees, empowering them to perform their roles effectively, efficiently and safely,” a research institute says in a new report.

Orlando, FL — The National Safety Council, during the 2024 NSC Safety Congress & Expo, honored 14 professional drivers who have helped make roads and communities safer.

Washington — Truck drivers who spend time waiting for cargo to be loaded or unloaded at customer facilities – known as “detention time” – are more likely to travel at higher speeds than drivers who aren’t detained.

Sacramento, CA — For the second time, legislation that would prohibit autonomous trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more from operating on California roadways awaits the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

Greenbelt, MD — The results of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 37th annual International Roadcheck are in.

Washington — The Federal Transit Administration is requiring urban transit agencies “to conduct a safety risk assessment; identify safety risk mitigations or strategies; and provide information to FTA on how it is assessing, mitigating and monitoring the safety risk associated with assaults on transit workers.”

Sacramento, CA — California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has vetoed – for the second time in two years – legislation that would have prohibited driverless autonomous trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or more from operating on state roadways.

Washington — Musculoskeletal disorders are overwhelmingly the No. 1 cause of injuries among warehousing and “last-mile delivery” workers, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Oct. 8.

College Station, TX — Workers who drive at night, take note: Vehicle-wildlife collisions may be almost 50% more likely to occur during a full moon, results of a recent study suggest.

Washington — The Department of Transportation is accepting comment on a proposed rule that would allow the use of electronic forms and signatures for drug and alcohol testing.

Washington — Night or shift workers who don’t get sufficient rest may be unfit to reliably gauge their own fatigue level because of a diminished ability to detect “when their performance is declining.”

Washington — Photos, graphics and statistics are included in an illustrated digest recently released by the National Transportation Safety Board detailing the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, OH.

Greenbelt, MD — The results of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week are in.

Stronger helmet laws could have prevented more than 22,000 motorcycle deaths over the past 4.5 decades, a recent study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

Washington — Spurred by two separate fatal incidents this year, the Federal Railroad Administration is re-emphasizing the importance of rules and procedures to protect workers who operate or work near roadway maintenance machines.

Washington — A new Federal Transit Administration final rule establishes mandatory minimum safety standards for rail transit employees who work on or near tracks.

Nashville, TN — A lack of safe places for truck drivers to stop and rest continues to trouble the transportation industry, with the issue coming in near the top of the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual list of top trucking industry concerns.

London — A new guide from the Society of Occupational Medicine addresses the health of “at work driving populations” and reducing road traffic incidents.

Tumwater, WA — Washington state has begun the development process for a rule to address work-related musculoskeletal disorders among airline ground crews.

Washington — Although oral fluid drug testing is a federally approved alternative for truck drivers and other transportation workers in safety-sensitive positions, a key hurdle stands in the way.

Is OSHA coordinating with the National Labor Relations Board? House Republicans wants to know. Learn more about this story in this week’s OSHA Roundup.

What’s in President Obama’s final budget, and how is the philosophical fight over OSHA compliance assistance and enforcement faring? Find out in this week’s OSHA Roundup.