U. S. DOT Bans Texting in Commercial Vehicles
On January 26, U. S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood announced new “regulatory guidance” banning truck and bus drivers from texting through the use of any handheld cellphone or other wireless electronic devices while driving. During a Washington, D.C. press conference, Secretary LaHood’s passion to proactively address distracted driving was evident when he said that DOT and FMCSA are sending a strong message: “We don’t merely EXPECT you to share the road responsibly with other travelers – we REQUIRE you to do so.” FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro stated that the action is the result of the Agency’s “interpretation of standing rules.” She further stated that, “We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit.”
Click here to view the notice posted in the Federal Register.
Regulatory Actions
The State of Arizona is currently under a regulatory moratorium. This action was implemented soon after Governor Jan Brewer took office at the request of a number of business associations, which felt that proposing or implementing new regulations during a recession would bring increased costs on already struggling industries.
Exceptions can be made for regulations that are deemed essential to public health and safety, but the Governor's Office has indicated it will set a high threshold for any exceptions. The regulatory moratorium was to expire June 30, but the Legislature extended it until July 1, 2010 as part of the budget. Currently, all agency actions affecting trucking or transportation are subject to the moratorium.
Use of EZ Pay for DPS Escorts
Specialized carriers utilizing DPS escorts for oversize loads: Click here to view a slide presentation about using EZ Pay to reimburse DPS for law enforcement excort services.