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Showing posts with label Truck driver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Truck driver. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The Trucking Industry Needs More Drivers. Maybe It Needs to Pay More.

Today's post was shared by Steven Greenhouse and comes from www.nytimes.com

Swift Transportation’s 20,000 workers haul goods in almost 14,000 big-rig trucks that travel the interstates and back roads of the United States every day. The company’s performance is closely tied to the nation’s economy, which has been looking increasingly sunny lately.
So it was surprising last month when Swift’s stock plummeted nearly 18 percent in a single day. The tumble came for an odd reason. It wasn’t because there was too little business — but rather, too much.
“We were constrained by the challenging driver market,” the company said in its quarterly earnings announcement. “Our driver turnover and unseated truck count were higher than anticipated.”
In other words, Swift had plenty of customers wanting to ship goods. But in a time of elevated unemployment, it somehow couldn’t find enough drivers to take those goods from Point A to Point B. How is that possible? The reasons for that conundrum tell us a great deal about what has been ailing American workers and why a full-throated economic recovery has been so slow in coming.
Consider this: The American Trucking Associations has estimated that there was a shortage of 30,000 qualified drivers earlier this year, a number on track to rise to 200,000 over the next decade. Trucking companies are turning down business for want of workers.
Yet the idea that there is a huge shortage of truck drivers flies in the face of a jobless rate of more than 6 percent, not to...
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Monday, June 30, 2014

Obesity Prevalence by Occupation in Washington State

Today's post comes from guest author Kit Case, from Causey Law Firm.

Truckers, movers, and police and firefighters are likeliest to be obese. Doctors, scientists and teachers are the healthiest.
Those are the results of a first-of-its-type study the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries sponsored connecting what you do for work with obesity. The study also examined the percentage of workers in specific occupations who smoke, have adequate fruit and vegetable servings, participate in leisure time exercise and report high physical demands of their job.
“This is the first state-level study using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to estimate occupation-specific obesity." 
“The objective of the research was to identify occupations in need of workplace obesity prevention programs,” said Dr. David K. Bonauto, associate medical director for L&I’s research division. “Employers, policy makers and health practitioners can use our results to target and prioritize prevention and health behavior promotions.”
The study, “Obesity Prevalence by Occupation in Washington State, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System,” was published earlier this year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study was based on more than 88,000 participants the CDC contacted in the state in odd years from 2003-2009. It found that nearly 1-in-4 workers statewide were obese.
“We know obesity poses a threat to public health,” Dr. Bonauto said. “This is the first state-level study using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to estimate occupation-specific obesity. All states within the U.S. could have this data if questions about occupation and industry were added to many state and national health surveys.”
Truck drivers were the most obese, nearly 39 percent. The proportion of current smokers was highest also for truck drivers, who – with computer scientists and mechanics – had the lowest proportion of adequate servings of fruits and vegetables. “Truckers are likely influenced by the availability of food choices, such as fast food and convenience stores,” Dr. Bonauto noted.
The study has its limitations. Because researchers used self-reported height and weight, there might be an underestimate of obesity. Also, the body mass index results don’t distinguish between fat and muscle mass. Police and firefighters, for instance, had a high prevalence of obesity but also had the highest proportion of vigorous leisure time physical activity.
Those with less education and an income less than $35,000 had a significantly higher likelihood of being obese, according to the study. Workers who had regular servings of fruits and vegetables and adequate physical exercise were less likely to be obese.
 Photo credit: kennethkonica / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Bill to overturn hours-of-service rule introduced in Senate, referred to committee

Today's post was shared by NIOSH Transportation and comes from www.overdriveonline.com

hours truck evening
A bill was introduced Dec. 20 in the Senate last week that, if enacted, would halt the most recent hours-of-service rule change and allow truck drivers to operate under the pre-July 1 rules again, until Congress can review the rule further.
The bill — a the Senate counterpart to a House bill introduced in late October — was introduced by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) and is being sponsored by her and Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), according to the Library of Congress. It was referred to the Senate’s Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, LOC also notes.
The bill, dubbed the TRUE Safety Act, would require the Government Accountability Office to perform an assessment of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s methodology in creating the rule, specifically the research that went into developing the 34-hour restart provisions of the rule.
The July 1 hours-of-service changes could not go back into effect until six months after the GAO submitted its findings to Congress, unless the GAO study recommends otherwise.
Click here to see the House version’s bill. The Senate version will be posted when it becomes available.
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

ATA, Minnesota Trucking Association Request Sleeper Berth Pilot Project

Today's post was shared by NIOSH Transportation and comes from www.truckinginfo.com


The American Trucking Associations and Minnesota Trucking Association have jointly petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to conduct a pilot program to study the effect of increased flexibility in the use of sleeper berth breaks by truck drivers.
“The trucking industry wants FMCSA to take its positive, laboratory-based findings on the value of split sleep and try to repeat them in a real-world field study,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “Doing a pilot test using professional drivers in actual trucking operations could give the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration even more scientific data on which to base future improvements to the sleeper berth rules.”
The hours-of-service rules for truck drivers require that they take 10 consecutive hours off after their 14-hour on-duty period. However, increasingly sleep research highlights the benefits of shorter and more frequent rest periods, according to both groups.
“In the case of many truck drivers, particularly those working in teams, allowing them to break up their 10-hour off-duty period into two shorter periods would be beneficial,” said John Hausladen, president of the Minnesota Trucking Association.
In addition to examining any potential benefits of sleeper berth flexibility, the pilot project proposed by the trucking groups would look at the role of technological improvements in promoting driver alertness and safety.
For several years many trucking groups,...
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Monday, November 25, 2013

Red Bird Express sued for allegedly refusing to rehire injured worker

Today's post was shared by votersinjuredatwork and comes from www.naidw.org

A Worden trucking company is accused of refusing to allow an employee to come back to work after he was hurt on the job.
madison county courthouseChristopher Chancey filed a lawsuit Oct. 24 in Madison County Circuit Court against Red Bird Express.
Chancey says he began working for Red Bird Express in December 2010. In August 2011, according to the complaint, Chancey was injured while working and filed a workers’ compensation claim which allowed him to take time off and receive benefits.
Chancey claims his doctor said he was ready to return to work full-time onApril 15. However, when he went back to Red Bird and asked to be reinstated in his position Chancey says he was told by the company that his job had been filled and there was no other work available. Chancey also alleges Red Bird did not fill his vacant position until after his doctor released him to work again.
The trucking company is accused of  violating IllinoisWorkers’ Compensation Act after failing to recall Chancey to work which Chancey contends was in retaliation for filing an on-the-job injury claim. Chancey asks for more than $100,000 in punitive and compensatory damages for lost wages, lost benefits and costs of the lawsuit.
Attorneys Thomas C. Rich, Kristina D. Cooksey and Michelle M. Rich of Fairview Heights represent Chancey.
Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-1788
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Friday, November 22, 2013

Truckers say new HOS rule has increased their fatigue: survey

Today's post was shared by NIOSH Transportation and comes from www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com


 New federal rules on commercial truck driver hours of service have actually increased driver fatigue, according to two-thirds of drivers recently surveyed by the American Transportation Research Institute.
ATRI, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, surveyed more than 2,300 commercial truck drivers and 400 carriers about how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s HOS rule has affected their operations. Among reasons for the change in drivers’ fatigue, respondents noted that the new HOS requirement to take a 30-minute break after eight hours of on-duty time causes their workdays to be longer because of the break itself and the time it takes to drive to a safe location.
More than half of the drivers also reported that the rule’s changes to the 34-hour “restart” provision to reset their weekly driving hours has decreased their safety by forcing them onto the roads during hours of congested traffic, which also endangers other motorists. The rule, which fully went into effect July 1, requires drivers to sleep between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. for two periods during the 34 hours.
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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Port truck drivers from 3 firms on strike

Truck drivers usually have challenging times with workers' compensation claims. Being off-premises most of the time and at high risk for transportation accidents on the road create complex factual situations. Worker's Compensation insurance carriers notoriously challenge truck driver claims. .'sToday's post was shared by Steven Greenhouse and comes from www.latimes.com

Port truck drivers from three Carson-based firms went on strike Monday, alleging unfair labor practices by their employers, union organizers said.
Truck drivers from Green Fleet Systems allege their employer has in recent months retaliated against them for their efforts in seeking to unionize, organizers said.
This is their second strike in less than three months. In late August, truck drivers went on a 24-hour strike that ended with a rally with clergy before returning to work.
The other trucking firms being picketed are Pac 9 Transportation and American Logistics International, both based in Carson.
Alex Cherin, a spokesman for Green Fleet and Pac 9, characterized the strikes as "the desperate acts of a group trying to force their agenda on an industry that time and time again has simply rejected them."
Cherin said the majority of employees and drivers at Green Fleet do not want a union. In a statement, he said the company offers its employees competitive wages and benefits. "Because of this, and because of our demonstrated safety record, the overwhelming majority of our drivers vehemently and passionately have voiced their opposition to the current strike and organization effort."
Union organizers said they plan to picket the three firms for 36 hours.
The dispute between organizers and the firm centers over charges of unfair labor practices. Organizers said truck drivers have been harassed and intimidated by Green Fleet management as...
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Truck Driver Safety and Health

Transportation accidents are a significant cause of injuries for workers. Today's post was shared by NIOSH Transportation and comes from blogs.cdc.gov


semi truck

Truck drivers face a disproportionately high risk for fatal crash-related injuries and for serious health disorders. The 2004 fatality rate for U.S. heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was 48.2 per 100,000 workers, approximately 11 times the rate for the general worker population. The Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses estimated 63,570 non-fatal injuries among heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in 2004—the second highest number among all occupations.
We know this industry faces a high risk of illness and injury but the prevalence of specific health problems, and the relative contributions of occupation and health behaviors to the increased risk of injury and illness, is largely unknown. Some research associates the risk of crash-related deaths with job-related fatigue. Other studies suggest that the risks of cancer, heart attacks, and other disorders may be associated with aspects of long-haul driving such as loading and unloading cargo, irregular schedules, long hours of driving, a sedentary lifestyle, and the nature of drivers’ food choices on the road.
To help address these research gaps and better understand the risks faced by truck drivers, NIOSH is undertaking a national survey of truck driver safety and health. The survey, which grew out of stakeholder identified needs, will focus specifically on gathering baseline safety and health information among a large, representative national sample of truck drivers. We are seeking...
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Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Woman was texting and driving when she caused fatal crash with trucker

Texting while driving creates an enhanced risk to millions of workers who carefully drive on the roads. While the Federal government has strictly enforced the no texting while driving rule, the states maintain a patchwork of confusing regulations and statutory prohibitions. Today's post is shared from nj.com.


A Rahway woman who crashed into a pick-up on Routes 1&9 two weeks ago, killing the truck’s driver, has became the first person in Essex County to be charged with vehicular homicide allegedly caused by texting, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray said.

Jennifer Sahoye, 35, was initially charged with causing the Oct. 10 death of Carlos Carvalho, 58, while driving on a suspended license. But prosecutors say witnesses saw Sahoye texting when her Volvo sedan veered from the southbound express lanes of Routes 1&9, near the Route 78 interchange, into the southbound local lanes, striking Carvalho’s Ford pickup

Carvalho, a welder, was on his way home from work. He was ejected from the truck after it flipped over and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prosecutors say their investigation, aided by witnesses who stopped after the crash, confirmed Sahoye was texting at the time of the crash.

"A vehicle is a dangerous thing and driving requires the full attention of the driver," said Thomas Fennelly, the chief assistant prosecutor for Essex County. "Texting can take one's eyes off the road."
Carvalho's family did not find out Sahoye was alleged to be...
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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

2nd worker dies at 49ers stadium construction site

Today's post was shared by CAAA and comes from www.sacbee.com


 Construction is slated to restart Tuesday at the new $1.2 billion San Francisco 49ers showcase stadium after police and fire investigators determined a truck driver's death was a workplace accident and not a crime.

The delivery truck driver was crushed early Monday by a bundle of rebar being unloaded from his truck, officials at the scene said. It's the second worker death at the construction project.

An ambulance rushed the severely injured worker to a local hospital, where he died, according to a spokesman for Turner/Devcon, the construction company building Levi's Stadium.

"We are deeply saddened to confirm that the driver has passed away as a result of his injuries," spokesman Jonathan Harvey said.

Harvey said state workplace safety officials told them Monday that while their investigation is ongoing and could take months, "the jobsite has been deemed safe and is permitted to reopen."

The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office identified the man as Edward Erving Lake II, 60, of Vacaville. He was an employee of Gerdau Ameristeel's Napa Reinforcing Steel facility, a subcontractor working on the stadium, Gerdau's spokeswoman Kimberly M. Selph said.

In a statement, the 49ers said their "sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers affected by this tragedy." The team also said there were plans to have support on-site Tuesday to help workers with their emotions...
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Thursday, October 10, 2013

Truck driver alleges firing based on work comp claim

Today's post was shared by votersinjuredatwork and comes from madisonrecord.com


scales of justice2

A woman claims she was fired from her former job after she filed for workers’ compensation benefits.
Sandra Terry filed a lawsuit Sept. 17 in Madison County Circuit Court against TMCI, Peoplease Corporation and Thomas J. Manville.
In her complaint, Terry alleges she was working as a truck driver for TMCI on Aug. 9, 2008, when she suffered an injury.
Because she was injured while working, Terry filed for workers’ compensation benefits including medical treatment and time off work, according to the complaint.
On Sept. 20, 2008, TMCI fired Terry, the suit states. Manville authorized her termination, knowing that it happened because of her workers’ compensation claim, the complaint says.
In her complaint, Terry seeks general damages of more than $100,000, plus lost wages and benefits, pre-judgment interest, punitive and exemplary damages, costs and other relief the court deems just.
D. Jeffrey Ezra of Ezra and Associates in Collinsville will be representing her.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 13-L-1563.
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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Christie Vetoes Bill That Would Have Prevented Some Truck Drivers From Being Treated As Independent Contractors

Today's post was shared by WCBlog and comes from njtoday.net


Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have protected some truck drivers from being inappropriately classified as “independent contractors,” drawing criticism from one of the bill’s sponsors.

“Because of the Governor’s veto, unethical companies will continue to skirt the law by gaming the system to avoid paying their fair share of taxes,” said Assembly Deputy Speaker John S. Wisniewski.  “In doing so, they will also continue to deprive their drivers of Social Security, Medicare, Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment benefits.”

This “is just the latest example of the Governor siding against hard working New Jerseyans. His veto keeps in place a system that is unfair to workers and unfair to those companies that play by the rules,” Wisniewski said.

The bill passed by a 43-30-5 vote in the Assembly and a 21-17 vote in the state Senate, so lawmakers are unlikely to override the governor’s veto.

Under the bill, “drayage,” or short-distance truckers, and parcel delivery drivers could not be classified as “independent contractors” unless the employers can show that the workers are truly independent. The businesses would have to demonstrate to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development that the workers are free from their day-to-day control, that the service is outside the usual course or place of business and that the employee is customarily...
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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Federal Cell Phone Rules Compliance Guide Published

Distracted Driving remains a serious problem in the workplace and now the Federal government is taking enforcement actions to a new level. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced Rules that it is prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones by interstate truck and bus drivers.

As the Rules take effect is is anticipated that many states will adapt these changes.  For those who use prohibited devices in the course of their employment and are involved in accidents may ultimately be denied workers' compensation benefits and employer liability will result. ZoomSafer has now published a compliance guide.

See:  FMCSA Cell Phone Rules: A Compliance Guide for Truck and Bus Fleets