Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/661456
Logbook 16 | Overdrive | April 2016 The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last month published a proposed rule that would implement a required core classroom curriculum for new entrant truck drivers receiving their commercial driver's license. It also would require them to receive 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training before being issued a Class A CDL. The agency's 60-day public comment period on the rule ends May 7. To review the rule and file a comment, go to Regulations.gov and search for Docket No. FMCSA- 2007–27748. Following the comments and any resulting changes, the rule would have to be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House's Office of Manage- ment and Budget before a final rule is published in the Federal Register. The three-year countdown to its imple- mentation would then begin. The Notice of Proposed Rulemak- ing also seeks to establish a registry of training providers. The rule outlines minimum qualifications related to in- structors, training vehicles and more. – James Jaillet Entry-level training rule proposed Daimler last month debuted its Highway Pilot Connect, the next step in its quest for autonomous truck operation. In an on-highway demonstra- tion on the Autobahn in Dusseldorf, Germany, the company showcased its new capabilities with a platoon of three Highway Pilot Connect-equipped Mercedes Actros trucks. Highway Pilot Con- nect builds on Daimler's Highway Pilot autono- mous truck platform it introduced last year. It adds Wi-Fi vehicle-to-ve- hicle communications, allowing all three vehicles to automatically adapt to changing traffic and road conditions. In the demonstration, the following distance is reduced from 50 meters to 15 meters when the three trucks link into a single platoon, which Daimler says can decrease emissions and improve the combined fuel efficiency of the three vehicles by as much as 7 percent (2 percent improve- ment for the lead truck, 11 percent for the second and 9 percent for the third). When a Mercedes pas- senger car entered the gap between the second and third truck, the Highway Pilot Connect automatical- ly increased the following distance of the third truck to 50 meters until the car exited the lane, after which the system automatically closed the gap between the second and third trucks to 15 meters. – Jeff Crissey The new development introduces vehicle-to-vehicle communications, allowing the trucks to adapt to changing conditions. Platooning feature added to autonomous system The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alli- ance announced its annual Roadcheck inspection blitz will be held June 7-9. Nearly 75,000 inspections take place each year during the inspection spree, a joint effort of CVSA, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and others. CVSA has yet to announce the points of emphasis inspectors will be looking for in 2016. During the blitz, inspectors will primarily conduct full 37-step Level I inspections, the most thorough. – Overdrive Staff Roadcheck blitz coming in June