Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, January 15:
Nevada-based trucker effectively shut down after violating FMCSA order to cease operations
Mamadou Diaby, a Nevada-licensed owner-operator, has been effectively shut down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for multiple violations, including failing a field sobriety test and continuing to operate after an order to cease operations.
Diaby was president and sole owner of the trucking company 4 U Logistics. FMCSA says that on Dec. 12, 2019, while en route from Missouri to Colorado, Diaby was observed driving erratically and was stopped by the Kansas Highway Patrol. He failed a field sobriety test, recording “a significantly elevated blood alcohol level,” FMCSA says. Officers also found opened alcoholic beverage containers in the cab. He was previously convicted of having opened alcoholic containers in his truck in spring 2018.
During the Dec. 12 traffic stop, KHP officers found that his company had been ordered by FMCSA 11 days earlier to cease all operations after receiving an “unsatisfactory” safety rating following a safety investigation. Additionally, on Dec. 6, Diaby was stopped in Ohio for a roadside inspection, where officers found records-of-duty status violations.
FMCSA looks to conduct new study on truck crash causes
In an effort to revise a nearly 20-year-old study on the causes of large truck crashes, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting information about how to most effectively collect crash data for the study.
The agency says it conducted a comprehensive large truck crash causation study (LTCCS) in 2001-2003 that gave insight into the factors that contribute to crashes involving at least one commercial vehicle. The results of that study found that driver-related action or inaction was the critical reason for crashes assigned to large trucks.
With changes in technology, vehicle safety, driver behavior and roadway design since the original study was conducted, FMCSA is looking to revise its methods for gathering data on crash causation. The agency says the new study will help it identify factors that are contributing to the recent growth in fatal large truck crashes, and in both injury and property damage only crashes.
FMCSA adds that the results from the study will help inform technology developers with autonomous vehicles of the kinds of driver behaviors that need to be addressed. The study will develop a baseline of large truck crash factors, FMCSA says, to help guide mitigating crash avoidance strategies to prevent future crashes.
In order to conduct the study, FMCSA is looking for answers to the following questions:
- Should FMCSA pursue a nationally representative sampling approach, or can convenience sampling serve the needs?
- What type of study are you recommending (e.g. nationally representative vs. convenience sampling), and what are the pros and cons of this approach?
- How important is it for the new study results to be comparable with findings of the original LTCCS?
- What other sources of data can enrich the new study? How can they be identified and included?
TA-Petro opens TA Express in Kilgore, Texas
TravelCenters of America announced Wednesday it has opened a new TA Express in Kilgore, Texas. The site is the home of the former Gateway Travel Plaza. During the conversion to a TA Express, 50 parking spaces were added to give the location a total of 85 truck parking spaces.
The location also features six diesel lanes with DEF on four lanes; 10 private showers; a laundry room; and Denny’s, Wendy’s, Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins restaurants.
PFJ is testing the kiosks at seven stores each in North Carolina and Georgia; six in South Carolina; four each in Tennessee, Illinois and Indiana locations; three in Ohio; two in Texas, New Mexico and Missouri; and one each in Nevada, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Nebraska and West Virginia.
Pilot Flying J and CVS Health are partnering to offer wellness products at 50 PFJ locations.Pilot Flying J partnering with CVS to offer wellness products
Pilot Flying J is partnering with CVS Health to offer low-cost wellness products in kiosks at 50 travel center locations across the U.S.
The kiosks will offer CVS Health over-the-counter medications, vitamins, personal care products, hand and ankle braces, muscle relief cream, sleep aids, smoking cessation, blood pressure monitoring and diabetic supplies.
