The West Virginia Parkways Authority unanimously voted to move forward with a proposal that will double the current WV Turnpike fees.   The vote was taken during a board meeting on April 5, 2018.   If the proposal passes, a single-fee discount E-ZPass will be available exclusively to Class 1 passenger vehicles for a $24 fee. The pass is good for three years and allows unlimited access. Starting January 1,…

The semitrailer driver had his eyes on his cell phone for the eight seconds preceding the crash Tuesday in Lake Elmo, according to charges filed Wednesday in Washington County. Investigators say 28-year-old Samuel Wayne Hicks of Independence, Wisconsin, made no effort to brake before striking the vehicle – which was at a complete stop at the intersection of Highway 36 and Lake Elmo Avenue – at a speed of 63…

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) finally has a new leader. Raymond Martinez was confirmed Tuesday by the U.S. Senate by a voice vote, almost five months after being nominated by President Trump.   Martinez most recently served as head of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. He also ran the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles in the past. Martinez was Deputy U.S. Chief of Protocol and…

ROSEMONT, Illinois -- Authorities have identified the driver killed in a four-vehicle crash on I-294 near O'Hare Airport that left two others injured.   Illinois State Police said a 2009 International truck with semi-trailer failed to reduce speed and rear-ended a 2004 Peterbuilt tractor with a semi-trailer, causing a chain reaction crash, causing the Peterbuilt tractor to crash into a 2004 Chevrolet Venture van, which crashes into a 2016 Freightliner…

On January 5 the federal government declared reduced annual fees for commercial carriers required by law to participate in the UCR (Unified Carrier Registration) Plan. In addition to it, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which has supervision of UCR published the final rulemaking in its official webpage. The new fees go into effect instantly.   What is UCR? Being established in 2005, the UCR Act, requires motor carriers…

On Thursday morning Congressman Brian had a speech urging Trump to cancel the fast-approaching ELD mandate. Bubin presented his speech today, on December 14 just 4 days before ELD mandate (December 18). The ELD Extension Act, or H.R. 3282, was introduced in the summer of 2017 and has since gained 68 additional sponsors. Still, despite the support, the bill has never been brought to the floor for a vote according…

A 27-year-old man Aaron G. Hynes, was arrested for illegally obtaining 2,100 DOT numbers. He planned to sell this numbers. According to police, he is going to spend 18 months.   Aaron G. Hynes was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Nov. 8 to 18 months in jail and two years of supervised release for making untrue statements to the FMCSA. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment…

FMCSA (the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) today announced on Nov. 20 that in advance of the Dec. 18, 2017 execution of the Congressionally-mandated electronic logging device (ELD) rule, and to further facilitate a transition to the rule by motor carriers, the Agency will be providing guidance related to implementation procedures during the ELD transition.   These will embrace a 90-day temporary refusal from the ELD…

Attention truckers! Since the first of next year, truckers will be tested for the use of four commonly prescribed and sometimes abused pain medications.   The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is amending its drug testing panel in order to meet new Health and Human Services drug testing rules. A final rule was published in the Federal Register Monday, Nov. 13. Testing standards go into effect on Jan. 1 for: ♦ Hydrocodone    …

FMCSA (the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has declared Earnest Paul Biddwell, Tennessee-licensed trucker to be an imminent hazard to public safety. In addition, FMCSA suspended his operation of any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.  Paul Bidwell was served the federal order since Cotomer, 2017.   On August 3, CDL holder Didwell was operating a large commercial truck along Tennessee State Route 305 in McMinn…