Fmcsa Putting More Emphasis on Truck Driver Qualifications

The Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), outlined a new effort on the part of the agency to concentrate more on truck driver-related issues.
As part of this shift of emphasis, FMCSA plans to start work on the following in 2006:
Development of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) learner’s permit with a single federal standard.
Inclusion of the driver medical certificate with the CDL.
Tougher medical examiner standards in order to screen out drivers involved in accidents who should never have been put behind the wheel.
Increase research on driver fatigue factors and especially focus on the physical problems associated with sleep apnea and problems exacerbated by a poor diet and lack of exercise.
Wireless roadside inspection technology that would allow federal safety inspectors to “plug into” trucks so they can get a quick read on vehicle issues.
Expansion of FMCSA’s TACT [Targeting Aggressive Cars and Trucks] program that puts state troopers in commercial trucks to write citations for aggressive behavior they see on the part of both cars and truckers.
See Fleetowner article.

The Shigley Law Firm represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice rules in each state. Ken Shigley was designated as a “SuperLawyer” in Atlanta Magazine and one of the “Legal Elite” in Georgia Trend Magazine. He is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Chair of the Southeastern Motor Carrier Liability Institute and former chair of the Georgia Insurance Law Institute. He particularly focuses on cases arising from truck wrecks and accidents (tractor trailers truck wrecks, semi truck wrecks,18 wheeler truck wrecks, big rig truck wrecks, log truck wrecks, dump truck wrecks).