Last year New York Senator Charles Schumer begain an effort to prevent commercial vehicles from crashing into overpasses in his state after too many accidents and costly repairs. (APB coverage, Directions Magazine podcast) Now, he has the poewr of the U.S. Dept of Transporation behind him. In particular it's the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) who took action with recommendation about selecting GPS devices and required GPS training for new drivers.
The FMCSA will begin distributing GPS training recommendations, including how to select professional-grade navigation systems, instructions on how to input truck sizes and axle weights, and tips on avoiding distracted driving, Schumer said.
In addition, the agency will require GPS training for new operators seeking commercial-driver certification, Schumer said. That will be included later this year in a regulation Congress required in last year’s surface transportation law.
