The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed a safety rule aimed at problem truckers in Kentucky and nationally.  The FMCSA has recently proposed tougher sanctions for bus and truck companies that show a blatant disregard for safety rules.

Truck accidents are, comparatively, not in the news that much, but when one does occur it can be very devastating. The best way to avoid 18-wheeler accidents is to ensure that the drivers of these vehicles — along with bus drivers — are fully prepared for the work they undertake. Proper training and a clear understanding of safety rules is vital.

Additionally, those who drive trucks and buses for a living must commit to following best practices for safety. A loss of registration is the sanction the FMCSA is proposing, which would effectively put an offending company out of business.

In Kentucky and other states, truck and bus companies are paying close attention to what the FMCSA decides to do. Each year, according to the FMCSA, there are some carriers that attempt to get around the rules and safety regulations.

Those companies are sanctioned, but many simply start up under a new name. Suspending or revoking the authority of these carriers to operate, and targeting officers or employers who attempt to circumvent the rules, can cut down on the number of carriers operating their vehicles unsafely on public roadways.  Failure to comply with safety regulations such as fleet maintenance and safety, driving hour regulations and distracted driving is targeted, as is any attempt to hide or conceal that failure.  Accidental violations, or those that are very sporadic, would not lead to charges.

The goal of the proposed safety rule aimed at problem truckers in Kentucky and nationally and resulting sanctions is to focus on those carriers that are repeatedly and deliberately ignoring safety rules and creating a danger for other drivers.