In The News

NTSB wants truck recorders

The National Transportation Safety Board’s 2009 Federal Most Wanted List of safety improvements includes mandating electronic on-board data recorders.


On Oct. 28, the board released its 18th annual list, which is meant to raise public awareness and support for transportation safety.


For more than 30 years, the NTSB has advocated EOBR to increase hours-of-service compliance and collect more accurate data on accident collisions. It says the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recorder proposal is not applicable to all operators regulated by HOS rules, does not establish the proper incentives or create a level playing field for compliance.


Also high on the highway safety category list was improving motor carrier safety operations in the area of vehicle safety and qualified drivers, although the NTSB said the FMCSA was making slow but acceptable progress on this.

The agency should do more to stop medically unqualified drivers from operating commercial vehicles; this was also the subject of a heated U.S. House transportation committee meeting earlier this year. The board said the agency has made unacceptable progress on driver medical condition and requiring EOBR.


Specifically, on driver fitness, the FMCSA should:
•Establish a comprehensive medical oversight program for interstate commercial drivers
•Ensure medical examiners are qualified
•Track all medical certificate applications
•Enhance oversight and enforcement of invalid certificates
•Provide mechanisms for reporting medical conditions


Also, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should help prevent collisions by using enhanced vehicle safety technology for all new trucks and passenger vehicles. It considered the agency’s progress on this slow but acceptable.