The American Trucking Association is attempting to change the recently amended definition of a tank vehicle set for by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in order to protect truck driver jobs.

The organization recently changed its standards for commercial driver’s license testing and made them stricter.

It defined a tank vehicle as one designed to transport any liquid or gaseous material in tanks that are either permanently or temporarily attached to the chassis and are rated at more than 119 gallons and aggregated to 1,000 gallons or more. A flatbed carrying empty tanks rated at 1,000 gallons or more is not considered a tank carrier.

According to TruckingInfo, the problem is that under the new definition these types of shipments cause the need for a tank endorsement on the driver’s commercial license. This affects many private fleets but large less-than-truckload carriers are especially hard hit, ATA said in a letter to the FMCSA.

The letter said, “These motor carriers do not know in advance what types of containers will be moving on shipments between their terminals. Obtaining this endorsement is burdensome, requiring additional training, time off work and substantial costs and fees.”

States have until July 2014 to adopt the new definition, unless the definition is once again changed.

The Department of Transportation has proposed a set of rules that could eventually affect truck driver jobs.

They have announced the first-ever federally proposed guidelines to encourage automobile manufacturers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic devices.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is concerned about the effects of distraction due to drivers’ use of electronic devices on motor vehicle safety. Consequently, NHTSA is issuing nonbinding, voluntary NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines (NHTSA Guidelines) to promote safety by discouraging the introduction of excessively distracting devices in vehicles.

This notice details the contents of the first phase of the NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines. These NHTSA Guidelines cover original equipment in-vehicle device secondary tasks (communications, entertainment, information gathering, and navigation tasks not required to drive are considered secondary tasks) performed by the driver through visual-manual means (meaning the driver looking at a device, manipulating a device-related control with the driver’s hand, and watching for visual feedback).

The proposed NHTSA Guidelines list certain secondary, non-driving related tasks that, based on NHTSA’s research, are believed by the agency to interfere inherently with a driver’s ability to safely control the vehicle. The Guidelines recommend that those in-vehicle devices be designed so that they cannot be used by the driver to perform such tasks while the driver is driving.

For all other secondary, non-driving-related visual-manual tasks, the NHTSA Guidelines specify a test method for measuring the impact of task performance on driving safety while driving and time-based acceptance criteria for assessing whether a task interferes too much with driver attention to be suitable to perform while driving. If a task does not meet the acceptance criteria, the NHTSA Guidelines recommend that in-vehicle devices be designed so that the task cannot be performed by the driver while driving.

Great Lakes Truck Driving School, a CDL & Heavy Equipment Training Facility in Northeastern Ohio, announced it has added a new Oil Field Safety Certification Course, which will enhance truck driver jobs and enrich those who achieve certification.

The school is one of a few training facilities in the nation to offer professional driving, heavy equipment operation, and oil & gas industry training all in one location.

The school received full accreditation from the International Association of Drilling Contractors to provide graduates with a Health, Safety, and Environmental RIG PASS Card and SafeLandUSA Endorsement. The school’s new Oil Field Safety Course also includes certifications in OSHA, First Aid, and Rigging. (more…)

CarMax’s recent announcement that it will hire many people for jobs across the country could also increase the number of truck driver jobs, as more people mean higher revenues and additional needs for new cars to be transported to dealerships around the country.

The company said it is recruiting for more than 965 positions in locations across the country in order to satisfy the company’s seasonal staffing needs. The majority of positions are in sales and service operations (detailers, experienced technicians), with additional positions in purchasing and the business office. These are full and part-time permanent positions, with day and evening shifts available.

“Our associates are the heart of our success,” said Tom Folliard, president and CEO of CarMax. “We’re proud to offer quality careers that provide training, development and excellent benefits at a great company to work for.” For the eighth year in a row, CarMax has been selected as one of FORTUNE magazine’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For.’

CarMax offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes health coverage, paid time off, insurance and disability, and retirement options for full-time associates. The company promotes a work-life balance and a diverse work environment. Stores are equipped with well-lit, state of the art service bays with quality tools and equipment. Employees receive discounts on car purchases and other services.

“CarMax is looking for candidates who are dependable, team oriented, possess strong customer service skills and have high integrity,” said Pam Hill, director of selection and recruiting for CarMax. “We also look for individuals who have a willingness to work the varied hours of a retail work environment.”