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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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OMB begins review of FMCSA proposal on hours-of-service rules for agricultural commodities

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on May 17 submitted for review to the White House Office of Management and Budget an advance notice of proposed rulemaking intended to help the agency assess whether to clarify the definitions of “agricultural commodity” or “livestock” in FMCSA’s hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers.




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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 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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New final rule from FMCSA officially removes suspended HOS restart provisions from Code of Federal Regulations

Washington — Commercial motor vehicle drivers are no longer officially required to take a weekly break of at least 34 consecutive hours, including two breaks between 1 and 5 a.m., to comply with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service regulations, under a new final rule.




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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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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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COVID-19 pandemic: Expanded FMCSA emergency declaration includes hours-of-service exemptions

Washington — Commercial motor vehicle drivers transporting items intended to assist in COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts are temporarily exempt from federal hours-of-service regulations, under an expanded national emergency declaration issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on March 18.




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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 proposes amending guidance on CMV ‘yard moves,’ hours of service

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is seeking public comment on a proposal to revise the agency’s guidance on “yard moves” and commercial motor vehicle drivers’ hours of service.




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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 extends pandemic-related hours-of-service exemptions

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says temporary hours-of-service exemptions and other “regulatory relief” will continue for commercial motor vehicle drivers transporting items intended to assist in COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts.




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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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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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Universities partner on toolkit to improve health, safety and wellness

Lowell, MA – A new online toolkit aims to help employers integrate their health, safety and wellness programs.




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Drive Safely Work Week is Oct. 6-10

Vienna, VA – The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety is encouraging employers to bolster their safety culture as part of Drive Safely Work Week (Oct. 6-10).




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Toolkit offers strategies for improving flu shot rates among nursing home workers

A new online toolkit offers guidance on increasing flu vaccination coverage among workers in long-term health care facilities.




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OSHA offers construction fall prevention campaign materials

OSHA provides resources including posters, videos and fact sheets to support local implementation of its May 4-15 national safety stand-down to prevent falls in construction.




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Nova Scotia, industry group release safety toolkit for small businesses

Liverpool, Nova Scotia – Small to medium-sized employers have a new online resource to help them create a safer workplace.




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Drive Safely Work Week is Oct. 5-9

Vienna, VA – The annual Drive Safely Work Week, presented by the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety, is scheduled for Oct. 5-9.




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New safety resources available to Spanish-speaking workers

Washington – Two agencies have released materials to help educate Spanish-speaking workers about occupational safety.




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Annual campaign urges workers to ‘Drive Focused, Drive Smart’

McLean, VA – The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety is offering a free online toolkit to help employers keep workers and their families safe on the road as part of NETS’ Drive Safely Work Week Oct. 5-9.




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MIOSHA offers kit, video to help medical and dental offices comply with regs

Lansing, MI – The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released a toolkit and video to help medical and dental offices comply with state health standards.




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NORA Manufacturing Council unveils website to help with lockout, other energy control programs

Washington — The National Occupational Research Agenda Manufacturing Sector Council has created an online resource guide intended to assist organizations in beginning, maintaining or enhancing their hazardous energy control programs.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Canadian government publishes tip sheets for essential and high-risk workers

Hamilton, Ontario — A series of free guidance documents from the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety is intended to help workers and employers in essential or high-risk occupations and industries reduce their exposure to COVID-19 and curb the spread of infection.




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COVID-19 pandemic: Online tool estimates indoor exposure to infectious aerosols

Gaithersburg, MD — A new online tool from the National Institute of Standards and Technology is intended to help curb airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.




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Preventing falls in construction: NIOSH issues fact sheet

Washington — NIOSH has published a new fact sheet intended to help construction employers and workers prevent falls from roofs, ladders and scaffolds.




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‘Safety at Heights’: ISEA launches campaign on fall protection, dropped objects prevention

Arlington, VA — The International Safety Equipment Association has introduced an initiative to help raise awareness of the dangers of working at height and dropped objects or equipment.




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Still a State Plan: Arizona, OSHA end conflict over fall protection standard in construction

Washington — Arizona’s dispute with OSHA – which at one point appeared to threaten its status as an approved State Plan – has officially ended, OSHA announced in a notice published in the July 26 Federal Register.




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OSHA moves National Safety Stand-Down to September

Washington — OSHA has rescheduled the seventh annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction for Sept. 14-18.




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Falls in construction: CPWR survey seeks worker observations

Silver Spring, MD — How can employer interventions be improved to help prevent fatal falls to a lower level among construction workers? CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute Z359 Committee, has developed a survey to collect observations from workers who have witnessed or experienced a fall.




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National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction set for May

Washington — OSHA, NIOSH, the National Occupational Research Agenda, and CPWR – The Center for Construction Training and Research are providing free online resources to help employers prepare for the eighth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, set to take place May 3-7.




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National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction to kick off with webinar

Washington — The eighth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is set to kick off on May 3 with a webinar hosted by OSHA, NIOSH, and CPWR – the Center for Construction Research and Training.




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Falls to lower level top list of costliest construction injuries: 2021 Liberty Mutual index

Boston — The top five costliest injuries in the construction industry in 2018 had a combined price tag of nearly $9 billion, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index – an annual ranking of serious, nonfatal workplace injuries based on direct workers’ compensation costs involving more than five days away from work.




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‘Fall Protection for Construction’: Oregon OSHA launches Spanish version of online training course

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a Spanish-language version of its free online video training course on fall protection for the construction industry.