ATA looks to remedy snow-removal concerns

HARTFORD, Conn. — In response to a proposed law that would penalize truckers who fail to remove snow and ice off of their vehicles, the American Trucking Associations says it will help find ways for drivers to clear their vehicles without risking injury.

According to Associated Press, ATA sent a letter to Gov. M. Jodi Rell indicating that carrier companies are also concerned over the safety risk that flying snow and ice poses to other drivers.

The trucking group says it will ask the American Transportation Research Institute to study the issue, and to suggest new technology or equipment that helps truckers clear their roofs without the dangers of slipping off. Rell calls sheets of ice and snow that fall off of trailers’ roofs “ice missiles.”

Connecticut legislature’s Transportation Committee last week approved a measure that would prompt fines of up to $1,000 for drivers who leave snow and ice on their vehicles, causing a crash or injury when it dislodges and flies off.

Connecticut wants to crack down on truckers
who don’t reduce risk of ‘ice missiles.’

The fines would apply to all drivers, but commercial tractor-trailers and box trucks will likely be targeted.

However, climbing up on the roof of a trailer is dangerous business. Many drivers have slipped and fallen off of their equipment when trying to remove snow and ice.

Fleet owners who push drivers to climb trailers also risk breaking safety and workers’ rights laws, ATA noted.

Some carriers, including UPS and FedEx, have installing special equipment at their terminals. One device, called a scraper, consists of two vertical beams connected in the middle by a rubber-bottom blade, which pulls snow and ice off of roofs.

— with files from Associate Press