FMCSA medical board wants tighter standards for drivers with vision loss

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From Freight Waves. A review board that advises federal regulators on medical standards for truck drivers recommends stricter standards for drivers with vision loss than originally proposed. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Medical Review Board (MRB), a five-member panel of physicians that provides expert advice to the agency, recommends that the current field-of-vision requirement…

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The exception to the exemption

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Legal Alert from MG+M The Law Firm. In most circumstances the Motor Carrier Act (MCA) exempts drivers from overtime wages as mandated by the Fair Labor and Standards Act (FLSA).  The MCA provides that employees whose qualifications and hours of service are dictated by the Secretary of Transportation are exempt from the overtime rates set…

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$3.5 Trillion budget blueprint passes first step in House

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From Transport Topics. Striking a deal with moderates, House Democratic leaders muscled President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar budget blueprint over a key hurdle Aug. 24, ending a risky standoff and putting the party’s domestic infrastructure agenda back on track. The 220-212 vote was a first step toward drafting Biden’s $3.5 billion rebuilding plan this fall, and…

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[Now Lifted]Lamont issues Connecticut truck travel restrictions

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Update: The restrictions have been lifted as of 5 p.m. on August 22. Original release… Governor Ned Lamont has issued a ban on some truck travel as Tropical Storm Henri approaches. Per Lamont, “An emergency situation exists because of the hurricane approaching the State of Connecticut, and therefore, pursuant to Sections 3-1, 3-6a, and 28-9…

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Advisory panel urges federal action on driver shortage

From Transport Topics. A Department of Commerce advisory group is urging federal officials to lead a widespread effort to address the nationwide shortage of truck drivers, which the panel said has “likely reached an all-time high.” “The vital common link for domestic operations and distribution among our air, sea, and land ports is effective truck…

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Freight volume to stay high as fleets face unprecedented supply chain, labor challenges

From Commercial Carrier Journal. The trucking industry in mid-2021 faces unprecedented demand from consumers and shippers, a driver shortage that looks like it could get worse, and the persistent challenges of a mutating COVID pandemic that continues to create problems across the supply chain. But, despite the tremendous headwinds and unpredictable challenges, the trucking sector…

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Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act: Promoting safety on our roads

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Legal Alert from MG+M The Law Firm. In May, Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) introduced the Motor Carrier Safety Selection Standard Act. The proposed bipartisan legislation would require the Department of Transportation to create a Safety Fitness Determination Test that can be applied to motor carriers. Additionally, the bill would mandate that…

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Global chip shortage may last until 2023

From Transport Topics. The global chip shortage that’s hampering companies from carmakers to computer manufacturers may linger for years, according to Germany’s biggest semiconductor company, Infineon Technologies AG. The scarcity “may stretch into 2023” in areas where capacity expansion is slow to catch up with consumer demand, Reinhard Ploss, chief executive officer of Infineon, said…

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FMCSA to streamline household goods moving regulations

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From Transport Topics. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced plans to update regulations for transportation of household goods to reduce costs for movers and mitigate the growing problem of fraud in consumer moves. If finalized, the proposed rule would incorporate some of the recommendations by a Department of Transportation Household Goods Consumer Protection…

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MTAC to host Inspector Certification Class Sept. 21

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Under federal law, commercial motor vehicle inspectors are required to be certified to conduct federal annual inspections. Inspectors must be capable of performing inspections with a minimum practical work experience of at least one year to have a full understanding of the tools and methods of inspection and have a complete understanding of the federal…

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