Posted on / by lane

Safety Measures Included in House Infrastructure Bill

Washington, D.C. – Safety reforms supported by The Trucking Alliance were adopted in the INVEST in America Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives late Thursday.

Among these reforms are the following (in alphabetical order):

1. Automatic Emergency Braking: New heavy-duty commercial trucks will be required to install automatic emergency braking, as standard equipment.
2. CSA: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will be required to adopt methodology to evaluate the safety ratings of trucking companies under its “CSA” rating system and make the individual carrier ratings available to the public.
3. Driver Detention: FMCSA must collect data on delays experienced by drivers, before they can load or unload the shipper’s cargo. Once collected, FMCSA must establish limits on the time that a driver may be detained, before being compensated by the shipper.
4. Driver Fatigue from Exemptions: Carriers that operate under a congressional exemption from hours of service rules and electronic logging devices must participate in a recognized fatigue management plan.
5. Entry-level Driver Training: FMCSA must fully implement an entry level driver training rule, within one year.
6. Hours-of-Service Exemptions: FMCSA will review the safety impacts of drivers who operate under an hours of service exemption.
7. Minimum Financial Responsibility: All trucking companies must Increase the minimum amount of insurance required, from $750,000 to $2 million.
8. Personal Conveyance: FMCSA must establish specific mileage or time limits on the use of a driver’s personal conveyance.
9. Sleep Apnea: Commercial vehicle drivers must be screened for obstructive sleep apnea.
10. Universal Electronic Identifier: Newly manufactured commercial motor vehicles will be equipped with a universal electronic identifier that can more easily enable law enforcement to identify the vehicle and whether the  company is in compliance with tax and safety rules.

The legislation must be merged with the US Senate’s bill, which has not yet been adopted.