[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11720]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            TRUCK SAFETY ACT

  Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, trucking is critical to the movement of 
goods to consumers across the country. The trucking industry is a vital 
part of our economy. But we must also strive to ensure that goods are 
moved as safely as possible.
  Each year, nearly 4,000 lives are lost due to truck crashes on our 
Nation's highways. Research by the National Transportation Safety Board 
has shown that many of these crashes could have been prevented. We owe 
it to the individuals and families affected by these tragedies to take 
every step possible to reduce the risks and prevent needless crashes.
  That is why I have introduced the Truck Safety Act of 2015, 
legislation that will modernize our truck safety standards and embrace 
new technologies that can help reduce crashes across the country.
  This legislation includes a provision to require collision-avoidance 
technologies in commercial vehicles involved in interstate commerce. 
Many of the fatalities that occur today are the result of rear-end 
collisions that could have been prevented with current technology. The 
technology can detect an impending collision or unsafe lane departure 
and automatically apply corrective action if a human operator is unable 
to do so. The U.S. Department of Transportation has been working on 
this issue for several years and many companies have adopted these 
technologies. It is far past time that these lifesaving devices were 
required in all new trucks.
  This legislation also updates the minimum liability insurance for 
trucking companies in order to ensure victims of crashes are able to 
fully recover the cost of their damages. In a report to Congress, the 
Department of Transportation found compelling evidence to reevaluate 
the current minimums. In some crashes, the costs to the victims far 
exceed the current minimum of $750,000. This can leave the victim 
uncompensated for damages. Minimum insurance levels have not been 
raised since the 1980s, so my legislation requires an immediate 
increase to the trucking minimum insurance level, requires annual 
adjustment for inflation, and requires the Department of Transportation 
to evaluate whether minimum insurance levels need to be increased 
further.
  Another provision in this legislation would allow the Secretary to 
require trucking employers to compensate drivers for time spent on duty 
but not driving. Currently, drivers are compensated for miles driven, 
not hours worked. This sets up an unsafe incentive structure in which 
drivers are penalized for taking the rest they need in order to drive 
safely. Drivers in this country play a critical role in ensuring 
Americans get the products they rely on for everyday life. They should 
not be forced to choose between resting to ensure their safety and 
feeding their families at home.
  The Truck Safety Act is an important step to protect our truck 
drivers, individuals, and families traveling on our Nation's highways. 
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that will improve the 
lives of New Jerseyans and individuals across the country.

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