Latest News Updates From Eric Miller

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Eric Miller

Senior Reporter

Eric Miller has been a reporter and writer at publications nationwide for 40 years. He’s been at Transport Topics the past 11 years, currently on the paper’s government team; worked as a reporter at the Dallas Morning News; reporter, editor and member of the investigative team at The Arizona Republic; reporter at the Tampa Tribune; city editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican; and senior writer for D Magazine in Dallas.


Government

Seat Belts Required for Passengers in Large Trucks Starting Aug. 8

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published a final rule in the Federal Register on June 7 requiring that all passengers traveling in property-carrying commercial motor vehicles wear seat belts.

June 6, 2016
Government, Business, Safety, Autonomous

Delays in Approving Hair Testing Aid Drug Abusers, Officials Warn

Delays in adopting federally mandated pre-employment hair drug-testing standards potentially have allowed hundreds of truck drivers who failed hair drug tests to drive for another carrier, according to fleet and medical executives.

June 6, 2016
Business, Safety, Government, Autonomous

Trucking May Become Collateral Damage in New Container Rule

Truckers servicing U.S. seaports already experience delays entering the ports and making pickups or dropping off loads at terminals, but they’ll soon face yet another potential disruption.

June 6, 2016
Business, Government, Safety, Autonomous

House Bill Allows TWICs to Access Military Bases

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a measure that would pressure the Department of Defense to let truck drivers use Transportation Worker Identification Credential cards to validate their identity for unescorted access at all of the nation’s 700 military installations.

June 6, 2016
Government, Safety

DOT Drug Testing Shows Marijuana Most Common, But Amphetamine Use Rising Fastest

While more commercial motor vehicle drivers tested positive for marijuana in 2015 than any other drug screened in mandated pre-employment and random tests given by motor carriers, the rate of positive tests for amphetamines continues to climb at a rapid rate.

June 2, 2016
Government

FMCSA Sends Drug/Alcohol Clearinghouse Final Rule to OMB

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on May 20 forwarded to the White House Office of Management and Budget its final rule that would establish a national database of truck drivers who have failed or refused to take drug and alcohol tests, marking the final step in the approval process.

May 23, 2016
Government, Business

Sen. John Thune Seeks FMC Examination of SOLAS Amendments

The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee has asked the Federal Maritime Commission to examine a controversial requirement that shippers weigh and certify the precise weight of every container loaded onto an ocean vessel.

May 23, 2016
Government, Business

Infrastructure Permitting Project Delays Driving Up Costs, Experts Say

WASHINGTON — Infrastructure projects in the United States are taking up to 10 years to gain regulatory approval, a problem that is too often sending investors to other countries and driving up the costs of projects, several transportation experts said.

May 19, 2016
Government, Business, Equipment, Safety

FedEx Freight CEO Calls on Congress to Allow Twin 33-Foot Trailers

WASHINGTON — Speaking at an Infrastructure Week kickoff event, FedEx Freight CEO Michael Ducker called on Congress to authorize the use of twin 33-foot trailers as a “creative solution” to help the nation’s declining condition of roads and bridges.

May 16, 2016
Government, Business, Safety, Equipment, Autonomous

‘Fittest Trucker’ Crusades for Health

SAN ANTONIO — A former world-class swimmer who earned accolades as the “fittest truck driver in America” is on a campaign to improve the poor state of truck dri-ver health.

May 16, 2016