We hope you are finding our new web page design easy to navigate and we would love to hear about any comments or suggestions which you may have.  As part of CAB’s commitment to help you adapt to changes in the industry, we are considering modifications to our financial request form that we send to the motor carriers such as whether we should request additional information on operations, including security and protection devices used by the motor carrier.  While we undertake this project we look for your comments on what you would find relevant to assist your underwriting process.  Please send any of those comments to me by clicking here or to Shuie by clicking here.

Just a reminder – the IMUA has released the registration package for the upcoming annual meeting.  You can view the registration package at www.imua.org.  There will be transportation related sessions which should be of great interest to underwriters and claims alike.  I look forward to seeing you there.

I don’t know about you, but I am done with winter.  Here in New York we are digging out from yet another snow storm.  Spring cannot come soon enough.  Hopefully you can read this report and not be out shoveling like we are.  This month we report.

SLEEP APNEA – There was an interesting report this month on the impact of sleep apnea on trucking.  According to one study by the FMCSA, 26% of drivers suffer from some form of sleep apnea.  The disorder can cause reduction in reflex response and cognitive and motor skills while operating a vehicle.  Drivers who are diagnosed with this disorder are required to be disqualified until the diagnosis is ruled out or treated successfully.

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Hopefully you are all busy reading the full year report which was sent to you a few days ago. That is the most up to date information so we will keep this one very short and address only the little news and cases which have come up in the last few weeks.

TRUCK FATALITIES – The FHWA has reported that truck involved fatality rates declined 12.3 percent to 1.86 per 100 million miles in 2008. It is the largest year to year drop and the fifth consecutive year showing a reduction in numbers.  There was an 11 percent reduction in folks injured in large truck crashes, down to 39.6 per 100 million. The FHWA also reports that total vehicles traveled by truck increased in 2008 to 227.45 billion miles

DRIVER TEXTING – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s announced this month that text messaging behind the wheel is prohibited for commercial drivers effective immediately. Although the safety regulations do not specifically address texting,  LaHood has stated that since the safety regulations do prohibit the use of equipment or accessories that decrease safety during the operation of a commercial vehicle, it can apply to texting. Section 390.17 of the safety regulations does apply to electronic devices that send and receive text messages. Read More