Overdrive

20 | Overdrive July 2017 Logbook The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last month officially withdrew a rulemaking intended to explore the pros and cons of increas- ing liability insurance minimums for motor carriers. The agency said a lack of data from key stakeholders led to the rule's withdrawal. FMCSA's original Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, published November 2014, sought input from carriers, brokers, shippers, insurers and others about how in- creasing the current $750,000 minimum would impact insurance premiums for carriers, their ability to obtain insurance and more. The agency said it received too little feedback, particularly from insurance companies, to proceed with a rulemaking. FMCSA was tasked by Congress in the 2012 MAP- 21 highway bill to study whether an increase was needed. Current limits were set in the mid-1980s, and groups have argued in recent years that the minimum is too low to cover the costs of today's crashes and medical expenses. An FMCSA study concluded that current cov- erage minimums hadn't kept up with inflation or rising liability costs. The American Trucking As- sociations and the Owner-Op- erator Independent Drivers Association both opposed the rulemaking, calling it unnec- essary since only 1 percent of crashes exceed $750,000 in liability claims and that most carriers carry liability insur- ance of $1 million or more. They also argued that an increase could drive premiums up and push smaller carriers out of business. – James Jaillet Up to $15,000 on your commercial vehicle for truck repairs, income taxes, insurance, IRP, tires, & more. 1 844 624 4744 9a – 6p EST M-F BigRigLending.com Hablamos Español You have no time for downtime. Big Rig Lending can secure you a fast loan approval – regardless of your credit history and with no vehicle inspection required – and you'll have funding in as little as 24 – 48 hours. We'll get you back on the road in no time. 17-BRL-0012 Overdrive Ad April May 2017.indd 1 3/30/17 5:00 PM Untitled-9 1 6/7/17 9:41 AM FMCSA nixes rule on liability insurance increase FMCSA contended prior to the rulemaking that current liability cover- age levels couldn't cover the costs of today's crashes.

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• COVER STORY: Jump start The electrified truck concept has taken on a real life, with players large and small vying for future shares of the Class 8 market. It’s not only large fleets that are placing orders.
• Presenting logs at roadside Running with an e-logs device is one thing. Communicating e-log data to an inspector is quite another. With five months to go, states’ data transfer plans vary widely, and an ambitious federal program remains untested.
• Broker ratings Not only have the internet and mobile technology made finding loads quicker and easier than ever, those same resources also can provide more in-depth, current information on broker performance.
• Drive Test: Best of both worlds Volvo’s regional workhorse tractor, the VNM, having been on the market for more than two decades, was overdue for a refresh. But Volvo designers did much more than modernize its body lines in producing th
• Options few after ELD challenge stalls.
• Pulse: “The real problem” with ELDs.
• Another reason shippers should deal direct.
• Reader majority opposes hair-sample testing.
• Obama-era contractor status memo rescinded.
• Trucker Talent Search finalists headed for Dallas.
• FMCSA study to assess split sleeper options.
• GATS to showcase free music and famous trucks.
• “Service and sacrifice” ’88 Freightliner COE.
• Owner-operator’s self-built “RisslerBilt” 379.
• “88 Mike” Morgan earns first Bandit Series win.
• Reader Rigs: ’13 T800 a stainless dream; ’90 K100 a farming COE; salute “The General” ’17 W900L Icon; ’96 W900L pretty in pink; respect “Big Tex” ’15 122SD; ’02 W900L goes by “Black Betty.”
• BUSINESS Log data might not cover IFTA, IRP.
• Gear Guide All-position tire, mudflap, locks, more.
• FLEET NEWS Decker’s Driver of the Year gets Harley.
• 5 APPS FOR THAT Podcast players for on-the-road listening.
• TWO-BUCK TRUCKERS Wendy Parker backs a driver’s plan to highlight trucking issues and show the general public how much the industry contributes to the economy.