New Study Confirms Improved Trucking Safety

After a recent analysis from the Department of Transportation, data indicates that in both the long-term and short-term, trucking-involved fatalities are declining significantly. This is welcome news for CDL students and truck drivers.

According to the American Trucking Association’s analysis of miles traveled data from the Federal Highway Administration and highway fatality data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the truck-involved fatality rate fell for the second straight year to 1.40 per 100 million miles traveled. This is great news for anyone interested in a career in trucking, but are concerned over safety.

There’s been a significant decrease in the fatality rate, which dipped 2.78 percent from 2013 and has fallen 4.76 percent over the past two years. More importantly, it has fallen an impressive 40.6 percent over the past decade.

According to ATA President and SEO Bill Graves ,“The short-term decline is welcome news, but the important figure is the long-term trend. Short-term changes, whether they’re increases or declines, can be blips – and just like you shouldn’t track your 401k on a daily basis, they shouldn’t be the primary lens truck safety is viewed through. The long-term trend – in this case, a more than 40 percent improvement – is of paramount importance.”

Great news for our CDL students and future drivers! Complete this form to apply to Progressive Truck School!

Video: Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience Concept Truck

Check out this video of the new Walmart Advanced Vehicle Experience Concept Truck!

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Kids Truck Videos

We found this cool YouTube channel for kids who are interested in trucking! Future CDL students of Progressive Truck School we hope!

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Semi Truck Long Jump

How cool is this?

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A Letter From a Progressive Graduate to His Instructor

Alberto Ledesma CDL Student

Accuracy Is a Significant Issue With Hair Testing

The “Drug Free Commercial Truck Driver Act of 2015” is a bill that would allow the Department of Transportation to authorize hair testing instead of urinalysis.

Critics of hair testing claim that science doesn’t support hair testing, and that it’s simply not as accurate as urinalysis for detecting controlled substances by an operator.

The bill currently is receiving support from bi-partisan co-sponsors, along with support from the American Trucking Association along with some fleets.

According to Dr. Kent Peterson, president of Charlottesville, Virginia Occupational Health Strategies and Former Exec. Vice President of American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM):

“Hair testing has a window of testing for the previous months or weeks. If you take one and a half inches closest to the scalp it will give an indication of drug use for the past 90 days,” he says. “Hair testing may be used for pre-employment screening to show long-term use but it gives no indication of current use or recent impairment.”

Some critics argues that hair testing unfairly biases some drivers. According to Peterson,

“Curly haired and persons of color are more likely to test positive [because they have more melanin in their hair which binds more strongly with markers]. It’s believed that if hair testing were to be used and brought to court, it would be thrown out on that basis alone.”

It will be interesting in the coming months to see if the bill will garner additional support and pass into law, as it seems that the science justifying the bill isn’t concrete.

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Video: Double Trailer Semi Reversing

Now this is an impressive maneuver.

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Drivers: Interested in making $2,000? Participate in this FMCSA Survey.

The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is participating in a Congressionally-required study on the 2013 implemented hours-of-service changes.

By participating in the study, drivers can receive up to $2,000 in compensation. As of last month, the FMCSA needs an additional 250 drivers to participate in the 5 month study.

Drivers who decide to participate in the study will be involved for at least five months, and researchers will compare their schedules, crashes, near-crashes, crash-relevant events, operator fatigue and alertness and short-term health.

Click here to learn more about the study or to register to participate.

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Video: Cool Big Rigs

Check out this amazing collection of custom Big Rigs!

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Video: Shortage of Truck Drivers

There’s a current shortage of truck drivers – skilled drivers are in extremely high-demand. Watch the video below to learn more:

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