Driver in 2009 Oklahoma Wreck Likely to Plea Bargain
This photo and article comes from the Tulsa World. Donald Creed, the 76 year old man who crashed into a line of stopped traffic on June 26, 2009 near Tulsa, OK, killing 10, is expected to take a plea bargain in his negligent homicide case. The driver has not said what happened. His only comment has been he doesn’t remember what happened.
Investigators have determined he was on-duty since 3am. The accident happened approximately 1pm. Creed’s cruise control was set at 71 MPH. The speed limit was 75 MPH. Also, Creed concluded a 22 minute cellphone call 8 minutes prior to the crash.
It is unknown exactly what happened, but witnesses have stated there were no brake lights, and the truck changed lanes without signaling right before impact. Did the driver fall asleep? Maybe, but if he did, he hasn’t admitted it yet.
Advocacy Groups Want an 8 hour rule
In the ongoing war over the number of hours truck drivers can legally drive, the “safety advocacy” groups have filed their idea of what the rules should be. This article comes from the June 28 written issue of Transport Topics (which is written by the American Trucking Association). If you want to read the whole article, seek out the written June 28 Transport Topics.
Public Citizen, which apparently includes the Teamsters, wants to limit driving to 8 hours a day, no more than a 12 hour on-duty day, and then a mandatory 12 hour off-duty period in between on-duty shifts. Hey, why stop there? Let’s not let them driver at all. That will stop the accidents.
ATA criticized the proposal, stating it’s just a bargaining position, throwing out a ridiculous starting point, and then hoping for a compromise. They also stated an 8 hour rule will create MORE accidents and deaths, as in order to move the same amount of freight, the trucking companies will have to use more and more trucks, which will lead to more congestion and accidents.
I agree 100% with ATA on that one. I would think exposure causes more accidents than anything else. Why do most accidents happen with 15 miles of your home? Because that’s where you do most of your driving, of course. If we have to put on 50% more trucks, to move the same amount of freight, that’s going to jam the already crowded highways even more, and cause even more traffic jams and crashes.
The current rules, which have been in place for about 4-5 years, have been successful. There has not been a surge in truck deaths. In fact, crashes have declined. The “safety” groups tell me that’s because of the poor economy, and reduced truck miles. You want to see a poor economy? Put this idiocy in place.
FMCSA Allows Scanned Logs
I think FMCSA is somewhat behind the curve on this one, but it is now officially issued guidance allowing a carrier to accept scanned logs, rather than the original paper copies. Here is a link to a Truckinginfo.com story. I know many carriers already do this, but I guess this makes it official. You never know when that DOT agent who prides himself on playing “gotcha” says, “where’s the original? Section 395.whatever says you have to have the original.” Good, one less thing to worry about.
Big 12 Bites the Dust
If you live for college football like I do, something momentous happened this week. Just like that, the Big 12 conference bit the dust, as Colorado jumped to the Pac-10, and Nebraska went to the Big 10. This will no doubt start a domino effect which will result in the Pac-16, and leave Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Missouri out in the rain.
What it really does is open up the possibility of a playoff, as you would think the BCS is now dead. After all, that was designed to accept the winner of the Big 12 as an automatic qualifier, and now there is no Big 12. Don’t quote me on this, but I think the BCS contract expires right around the time when all this will go into effect, maybe 2013 or 2014. A playoff would be EASY to set up, and the money the NCAA would make is way more than they’re making now. You have to wonder who’s getting paid off to make sure it doesn’t happen.
