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 […]
In the practice of workers’ compensation law, some of the most difficult claims to evaluate are those dealing with injuries sustained as a result of idiopathic conditions or conditions that arise spontaneously for which the specific cause is unknown. In the context of trucking, this situation usually arises when a driver suffers a heart attack, […]
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 […]
Over the years, driving trucks has consistently been rated one the most deadly occupations in the country. While employers are taking steps to reduce the risk faced by their drivers, the nature of the business inevitably leads to circumstances in which drivers lose their lives. In this article, we will take a look at how […]
On 1/18/18, the comment period ended for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) proposed regulatory guidance regarding driving commercial motor vehicles (CMV) for personal use while off-duty. The guidance affects those drivers who are required to record their hours of service (HOS) while operating a CMV. A driver may record time operating a […]
In the Summer, 2016 Edition of this Publication, we addressed certain recent developments with regard to the “Parsons presumption.” Since that time, a decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court and subsequent action taken by the General Assembly of North Carolina has further clarified the extent to which the “Parsons presumption” will be applied. By […]
The long-awaited Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rule takes effect 12/18/17. In August, a bill presented by Brian Babin (R-TX) to delay the ELD mandate quietly gained traction in Congress with 43 cosponsors, including high-ranking Kevin Brady (R-TX), and from outside Capitol Hill with the support of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). Babin ultimately withdrew the bill but offered […]
Recently I was making the trip from Raleigh to Charlotte for work when I noticed a passenger vehicle quickly merge in front of a tractor trailer then quickly change lanes yet again. I am a protective person. It is a trait that serves me, and more importantly, my clients well in my work as a […]
“In-Cab” or “dash-cam” cameras are becoming a more and more popular way for trucking companies to use technology to lower their costs and improve the safety of their drivers. The relatively low cost of a dash-cam system compared to the high price of insurance, fuel costs, and possible litigation make them an economically feasible risk […]