The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established retirement and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans. In the context of workers’ compensation claims or civil litigation, the subject of ERISA is usually raised when an […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on 12/27/19 that it will increase the annual percentage rate of random drug testing from an average of 25% to 50% of the average driving positions. The FMCSA estimates 2.1 million tests and a $20 million increase in costs in 2020 under this revised rule. In 2018, […]
An evidence preservation letter is a written request that certain documents, electronically-stored information and data (“e-data”), and vehicles be preserved in anticipation of future litigation. One of the first questions we hear is, “What evidence is really necessary?” Although demands to preserve evidence may be onerous and burdensome, it is important to begin collecting this […]
On 8/23/19, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to alter hours of service (HOS) regulations. The comment period ended 10/21/19. The NPRM recommended the following changes. Provide drivers with greater flexibility for the 30-minute rest break by requiring a break after 8 hours of drive time, instead […]
For years, many employers have assumed that if an employee alleges that he or she was injured while working, recovery under the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act was the Employee’s only remedy. This belief is grounded in the language of § 97-10.1 of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, which states: If the employee and […]
On 7/31/19, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposed to make its crash preventability determination program permanent. This program was announced in July 2017 and is intended to gather data on commercial motor vehicle (CMV) accidents to assess commercial motor carriers that pose safety risks. Since the FMCSA began reviewing crashes in 2017, 94% […]
On 2/21/19, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the end of its exemption process for the medical certification of insulin-dependent drivers. Any diabetic driver who has a medical card will need to renew and those in the future must be determined fit to drive by a certified medical examiner. Since the exemption process […]
On 5/1/18, the Rules for the Utilization of Opioids, Related Prescriptions, and Pain Management Treatment in Workers’ Compensation Claims (hereafter “Opioid Utilization Rules” or “Rules”) went into effect in connection with North Carolina Workers’ Compensation claims. The purpose of the Rules is to ensure that employees receive proper care, adequately contain medical costs, and facilitate timely and effective […]
On 5/16/2018, the Fiscal Year 2019 transportation bill advanced through the House funding subcommittee and was debated by the full committee on 7/19/2018. The bill would de-fund Electronic Logging Device (ELD) enforcement for livestock haulers through 9/30/2019. The current exemption for livestock haulers expires on 9/30/2018. On 5/23/2018, Representatives Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) introduced H.R. 5959, the […]
On 4/1/18, the grace period ended for compliance with the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate. Drivers caught without ELDs are now subject to being placed out of service for 10 hours, receiving a civil fine, and having points added to their Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program scores. If drivers are placed out of service in […]
