Truckers back anti-texting law; teaching four-wheelers about trucks

ARLINGTON, Va. — Their agendas aren’t always in line, but America’s largest carrier group and its most influential owner-op organization both agree that texting while operating a truck should be illegal.

The American Trucking Associations officially supports a bill to ban texting by all drivers. 

The rule would mandate that states enforce the texting ban within the next two years or lose 25 percent of their federal highway funds per year. However, if states comply after the two-year deadline, they can collect highway funds retroactively. The law would exempt texting while driving in emergency situations.

"A year ago, trucking industry leaders called the nation’s attention to the dangers of texting and cell phone use by drivers of all motor vehicles," said Bill Graves, ATA president and CEO. "ATA is continuing this leadership this year by supporting Sen. Schumer’s effort to eliminate this dangerous threat to safety on our highways."

Meanwhile, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association says it would back both a ban for both truckers and four-wheel drivers.

"Professional truckers are the safest drivers on the road per vehicle miles traveled," said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president. "They have a vested interest in highway safety as their lives and livelihoods quite literally depend on it." 

ATA wants incentives to propel natural
gas trucks into the market

ATA’s Board of Directors voted on three policy statements, including supporting the use of on-board safety systems — some of which, along with all other in-cab telematics devices, also seem to be coming under scrutiny in the U.S. 

"ATA supports the use of onboard safety systems for all motor vehicles in an effort to enhance the safety of all roadway users (to include, but not limited to, lane departure warning systems, brake stroke monitoring systems, automated transmissions, vehicle stability control and collision avoidance systems) and believes incentives should be provided to encourage their adoption."

The trucking association also voted on lobbying efforts to promote market implementation of natural gas powered trucks as well as making driving around trucks part of passenger vehicle education.

"Natural gas should remain a voluntary alternative fuel. The trucking industry supports financial incentives to encourage trucking companies to use natural gas, provided that those financial incentives do not reduce money allocated to the highway trust fund. The trucking industry opposes government actions that artificially increase the cost of diesel fuel compared to other transportation fuels."

On educating new four-wheelers of truck safety, the ATA suggested it should require classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel training "that includes, but is not limited to, truck stopping distances, proper distances for following trucks, identification of truck blind spots, and avoidance of driving in those blind spots."