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Deborah Whistler

Articles by Deborah Whistler

Texting truckers focus of West Virginia ‘Phone Down, Just Drive’ campaign

New Kent County West Virginia deputies — teaming up with Drive SMART Virginia — have launched a new national pilot initiative called “Phone Down, Just Drive” focusing on enforcing the federal regulation that bans truck drivers from using handheld devices behind the wheel.

Charleston, WV, intersection a ‘nightmare’ for truckers

Construction on an unfinished portion of U.S. 35 in Putnam County, WV, has created a dangerous intersection that truckers in the area say is causing a nightmare for big rigs trying to negotiate the highway.

On May 10, officials had to close the Buffalo Bridge, officially known as W.Va. 869, and a four-mile section of U.S. 35 after a tractor-trailer overturned at the intersection. Within the space of a quarter-mile, drivers come off a hill into a sharp turn at the bridge and just after the span must negotiate an intersection with W.Va. 817.

California truckers, troopers and insurance reps focus on truck/car safety

The Insurance Information Network of California, the California Highway Patrol and the Washington state troopers to team with truckers to ticket aggressive four-wheelers

Washington State Patrol troopers will team up with the trucking industry May 20-24 to nab four-wheelers driving aggressively around big rigs as part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Ticketing Aggressive Cars and Trucks Project.

Troopers will ride along with truckers to look for motorists who are driving unsafely around big trucks. When a trooper spots a car speeding, cutting others off or driving aggressively around a truck, the trooper will radio ahead to fellow officers to stop the motorist.

Fifth trucking company sues Pilot Flying J in wake of rebate investigation

A fifth trucking company has filed suit against Pilot Flying J in the wake of a federal investigation into charges that the truck stop chain swindled truckers out of fuel rebates due them.

In a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Alabama, lawyers for Osborn Transportation of Gadsen accused Pilot Flying J of breach of contract, unjust enrichment fraud and violations of consumer protection statutes, according to a report in The Tennessean.

Big G Express driver honored as Tennessee Driver of the Year

Students recognized for art promoting trucker seat-belt use

Trucking firm fined $83,500 for gasoline spill

TIMTC and DOT to hold webinar on truck nav systems

Bill to limit heavier trucks introduced

U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) re-introduced legislation designed to keep bigger, heavier trucks off the road. The bill would apply existing federal truck size and weight limits to the entire National Highway System (NHS) and will also ban the use of triple trailer rigs on the entire NHS.

Pilot CEO to address trucking executives about fuel rebate investigation

Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam has agreed to address a transportation seminar in Indianapolis next week where he will answer questions put to him in advance by trucking company executives regarding the federal investigation into claims that some of its top sales managers cheated trucking companies out of rebates they were owed on diesel fuel purchases.

Truck crash victims support legislation to freeze truck size and weight limits 1

Families and survivors of truck crash fatalities and injuries joined with the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC) last weekend for the group’s annual Sorrow to Strength conference in Washington D.C. The event included four days of workshops and meetings with members of Congress and U.S. Dept. of Transportation officials to advance the group’s truck safety agenda.

Highway shooter gets sentenced to 120 years

A man convicted of attempted murder for opening fire on vehicles traveling along U.S. 20 in northeastern Indiana was sentenced to 120 years in prison on April 29.

Donald William Myers III, 35, was convicted April 19 on four counts of attempted murder for shooting at motorists and at an Indiana State trooper’s patrol car, according to a Herald Republican report. Myers, who has maintained his innocence since his arrest, told Steuben Circuit Court Judge Allen Wheat he didn’t shoot at anyone and that he’d “kind of like to go home.”

Virginia judge rules against plan to impose tolls on tunnels

A Circuit Court Judge in Virginia ruled that the state General Assembly exceeded its power when it allowed the highway department to impose tolls at two existing tunnels to help pay for a new tunnel connecting Norfolk and Portsmouth, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Roadrunner Transportation Systems announces acquisition of Wando Trucking

Roadrunner Transportation Systems, Inc. announced that it has acquired all of the outstanding stock and the Charleston, SC, property of Wando Trucking (“Wando”), a provider of intermodal transportation and related services in the Southeast.