Cultivating Humanitarian Relationships and Environmental Change in Transportation. The trucking industry is a cornerstone of modern commerce, ensuring that goods reach their destinations safely and on time. However, to maintain safety on the road, it is crucial that truck drivers operate within legal limits and are not pressured to violate regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established laws, including 49 CFR 390.5, to protect drivers from being coerced into unsafe practices. This article focuses on the protection against coercion, emphasizing how drivers can recognize coercive behavior, steps for reporting violations, and why this matters to the average consumer. What Is Coercion in the Trucking Industry? Coercion occurs when a trucking company, dispatcher, or other entity pressures a driver to act in a way that violates federal safety regulations. This may include threats of job loss, reduced p...

Cultivating Humanitarian Relationships and Environmental Change in Transportation. The New FMCSA Clearinghouse guidelines does NOT separate Class A Truck rivers and other classifications of Professional Drivers The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a centralized online database established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to monitor commercial drivers’ compliance with drug and alcohol regulations. Since its launch in 2020, the Clearinghouse has tracked violations such as failed drug or alcohol tests and ensured that only eligible drivers can operate commercial vehicles. Employers, law enforcement, and state licensing agencies have used the system to identify high-risk drivers and prevent them from slipping through regulatory cracks. However, under the current system, states do not automatically revoke commercial driving privileges for drivers listed in the Clearinghouse, leaving gaps in enforcement. Starting November 18, 2024 , a new regulation requires stat...