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Bill would grant immediate sick leave to newly hired vets

Washington – Disabled veterans who have been newly hired to positions in the federal government could receive immediate access to sick leave as part of a proposed House bill.




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Report: DOD data systems hinder ability to monitor soldiers’ health risks

Washington – U.S. service members deployed to the Middle East may be facing occupational health risks due to a lack of health monitoring and flaws in the Department of Defense’s multiple data storage systems, according to a Government Accountability Office report released June 22.




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House committee OKs amendment to exempt defense contractors from disclosing worker safety violations

Washington – The House Armed Services Committee recently adopted a proposed amendment that would exempt many federal defense contractors from disclosing labor law violations.




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Study links poor sleep to less ‘resilience’ in military personnel

San Diego – Members of the military who have poor sleep habits are “less resilient” than service members with healthy sleep behaviors, according to a recent study from the Naval Health Research Center.




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FMCSA proposes pilot program to gauge safety of lowering truck driver age limits

Washington – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing a pilot program that would allow a limited number of military veterans between 18 and 21 years old to operate a commercial motor vehicle for interstate commerce, according to a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Aug. 22 Federal Register.




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Prolonged, intense sun exposure may raise military personnel’s risk of skin cancer: study

Rosemont, IL — Members of the military may face an increased risk of developing skin cancer, according to a recent study from the American Academy of Dermatology.




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Repetitive exposure to breaching-related blasts linked to brain damage in police, military: study

Charlottesville, VA — Frequent exposure to minor explosions may increase the risk of brain injury and inflammation among members of law enforcement and the military, results of a recent study led by researchers from the University of Virginia show.




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NIOSH seeks nominees for World Trade Center Health Program advisory committee

Washington — The NIOSH World Trade Center Health Program is accepting nominations for its Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee.




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Pentagon takes steps to protect warfighters from blast-related brain injury

Washington — A recent memo from the Department of Defense lists new requirements intended to protect military personnel from brain and cognitive trauma associated with blast overpressure.




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Congressman asks for Executive Order delaying ELD mandate for commercial motor vehicles

Washington – Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) is making another attempt to delay the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s mandate for electronic logging devices in commercial motor vehicles – set to go in effect Dec. 18 – by asking President Donald Trump to sign an Executive Order.




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FMCSA’s Martinez talks ELDs, driver shortages during House hearing

Washington — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Raymond Martinez affirmed his belief in electronic logging devices, but said “additional flexibility” is forthcoming for agricultural transporters, during a May 22 hearing before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Highways and Transit Subcommittee.




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FMCSA seeking input on proposed changes to trucker hours-of-service rules

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for comment on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on its hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA extends comment period for proposed changes to trucker hours-of-service rules

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending to Oct. 10 the comment period for an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on its hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA announces livestreamed listening sessions for proposed changes to trucker hours-of-service rules

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will conduct multiple public listening sessions regarding an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on its hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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ATA wants override of California’s meal and rest break requirements after PHMSA ruling on hazmat drivers

Washington — Three days after the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration determined that hazardous materials transporters do not have to comply with California’s rest and meal break requirements, the American Trucking Associations filed a petition asking the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to pre-empt the requirements for all commercial motor vehicle drivers.




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Survey finds driver shortage, HOS rules top list of trucking industry concerns; ATRI to create ELD data clearinghouse

Austin, TX — A perceived growing shortage of commercial motor vehicle drivers and potential changes to hours-of-service rules are the top issues affecting the trucking industry, according to an annual survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.




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Lawmakers urge DOT to deny pre-emption petition on California’s meal and rest break rules

Washington — A group of 19 congressional Democrats is urging, “in the strongest possible terms,” the Department of Transportation to deny a recent American Trucking Associations petition on California’s meal and rest break rules for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA grants trucking industry request for federal pre-emption of California meal and rest break laws

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Dec. 21 granted a petition to pre-empt California’s meal and rest break rules for commercial motor vehicle drivers, stating that the rules are incompatible with current federal hours-of-service regulations and cause “a disruption in interstate commerce.”




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FMCSA considering petition for HOS exemption for livestock, insect, aquatic animal haulers

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking comment on a petition that aims to amend hours-of-service requirements for haulers of livestock, insects and aquatic animals, allowing for a 16-hour on-duty period after 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time, the agency announced in the Feb. 6 Federal Register.




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Lawmakers reintroduce bill to reform HOS, ELD rules for livestock, insect and agricultural haulers

Washington — Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) have reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would require the secretary of transportation to create a working group to determine obstacles to safe operation for livestock, insect and agricultural haulers in an effort to reform federal hours-of-service and electronic logging device regulations.




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Bipartisan House bills seek ELD exemptions for livestock haulers, small carriers

Washington – Bipartisan bills introduced in the House on March 12 would exempt certain segments of the commercial motor vehicle industry from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s mandate on use of electronic logging devices to record truck driver hours of service.




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Chao confirms: Proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs sent to OMB for review

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 28 submitted for review to the White House Office of Management and Budget a notice of proposed rulemaking intended to add flexibility to FMCSA’s hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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Proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs slated for publication in June, DOT says

Washington — June 7 is the target date for publication of a proposed rule intended to add flexibility to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers, according to a Department of Transportation regulatory update released in May.




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FMCSA delays publication of proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has delayed until further notice the publication of a proposed rule intended to add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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Proposed changes to trucker hours-of-service regs expected ‘in short order,’ FMCSA administrator tells Senate

Washington — The publication of a proposed rule intended to add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers is expected soon, on the heels of a recent delay, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration head Raymond Martinez said during a June 19 hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.




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July 31 new target for proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs, DOT says

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is now eyeing July 31 as the publication date for a proposed rule the agency says would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers, according to a Department of Transportation regulatory update released in June.




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FMCSA requests CMV stakeholder input on driver ‘detention time’

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for stakeholder input on how detention – the time a commercial motor vehicle driver spends during loading and unloading – affects roadway safety.




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FMCSA seeks comment on definition of ‘agricultural commodities’

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking input on whether it should clarify or revise the definitions of “agricultural commodity” or “livestock” in its hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA announces long-awaited proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs

Washington — After numerous delays, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has unveiled a highly anticipated proposed rule the agency claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA to host public listening sessions on proposed amendments to trucker HOS regs

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will conduct two public listening sessions about a recently announced proposed rule the agency claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA extends comment period for proposed rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended by 14 days the comment period for a proposed rule the agency claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers, according to a notice published in the Sept. 19 Federal Register.




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Survey finds driver shortage, HOS rules again top list of trucking industry concerns

San Diego — For the second straight year, a driver shortage and hours-of-service rules are the top two issues affecting the trucking industry, according to the results of an annual survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.




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Washington state latest object of petition to preempt trucker meal, rest break rules

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment as it considers a trucking industry petition to preempt Washington state’s meal and rest break rules for commercial motor vehicle drivers, less than a year after granting a similar request in California.




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CVSA reminds truckers: No ‘soft enforcement’ for ELD transition

Washington — Commercial motor vehicle inspectors will not observe a “soft enforcement” grace period for drivers still using automatic onboard recording devices to track their hours of service after Dec. 16, and such drivers will be placed out of service for violating Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance warns in a Dec. 2 press release.




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Final rule to amend trucker hours-of-service regs sent to OMB for review

Washington — A final rule the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration claims would add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers has been sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.




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FMCSA final rule amends trucker hours-of-service regulations

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has unveiled a highly anticipated final rule the agency claims will add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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Group petitions FMCSA to delay final rule amending trucker hours-of-service regulations

Washington — A coalition of safety advocacy groups, in conjunction with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, is petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to reconsider a controversial final rule the agency claims will add flexibility to hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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FMCSA pilot program would allow CMV drivers to pause hours of service for rest break

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a proposed pilot program that would allow commercial motor vehicle operators one rest break of up to three consecutive hours but no less than 30 minutes during every 14-hour on-duty period.




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FMCSA preempts Washington state’s meal and rest break rules for truck drivers

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a petition to preempt Washington state’s rules on meals and rest breaks for commercial truck drivers, determining that federal hours-of-service regulations supersede the state’s rules.




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FMCSA seeks comment on clarification of ‘agricultural commodities’

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for input on an interim final rule that clarifies the definitions of the terms “any agricultural commodity” and “livestock” in the agency’s hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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Annual ‘Roadcheck’ sets sights on CMV lighting, HOS

Greenbelt, MD — Inspectors across North America will examine braking systems, lights, tires and other components on commercial trucks and buses May 4-6 during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 34th annual International Roadcheck.




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FMCSA grants regulatory relief to drivers taking emergency supplies to storm-hit states

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced temporary relief from hours-of-service requirements for commercial motor vehicle drivers delivering “direct assistance” to emergency efforts in states affected by severe winter weather.




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FMCSA issues emergency HOS exemption after cyberattack on pipeline

Washington — Prompted by a reported cyberattack that has resulted in a disruption of service along a major petroleum pipeline, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on May 9 issued a temporary hours-of-service exemption to commercial motor vehicle operators transporting gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined petroleum products to 17 states and the District of Columbia, as part of emergency relief efforts.




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Annual ‘Roadcheck’ uncovers out-of-service vehicle, driver violations

Greenbelt, MD — From May 4 to 6, inspectors across North America checked braking systems, lights, tires and other commercial motor vehicle equipment during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 34th annual International Roadcheck.




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New law grants livestock, insect haulers an added hours-of-service exemption

Washington — Stakeholders in the commercial trucking and livestock industries are applauding a provision to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that gives livestock and insect haulers an additional exemption from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service regulations.




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Study questions whether FMCSA’s ELD mandate for truckers ‘has improved safety’

East Lansing, MI — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s mandate on the use of electronic logging devices to record commercial motor vehicle driver hours of service “did not immediately achieve its goal of reducing accidents,” and may be linked to increases in unsafe driving behaviors and crashes, results of a recent study suggest.




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Safe parking and speed limiters are some of trucking industry’s top concerns, survey finds

San Diego — Several safety-related issues earned a spot on the American Transportation Research Institute’s recently released list of top trucking industry concerns.




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Trucking safety advocates push for action on automatic braking and speed limiters

Washington — The Truck Safety Coalition is calling on the Department of Transportation to make automatic emergency braking and speed-limiting devices a requirement on commercial trucks and buses.




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New survey asks: What are the trucking industry’s top concerns?

Arlington, VA — Wanted: input from trucking industry stakeholders on the most critical issues facing the industry.




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FMCSA final rule scales back scope of regulatory relief during emergencies

Washington — Temporary hours-of-service exemptions and other regulatory relief for truckers during regional emergency declarations will be limited under a recently published Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration final rule.