Driver Safety Tracking not just Carriers

They already inspect your truck, are you prepared to be inspected as well?

A system similar to safestat, which rates the safety performance of trucking carriers, is being proposed for truckers themselves. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) wants to develop such a system to track the safety record and performance of each driver.

They point to research showing a motor vehicle driver who previously violated safety regulations is more likely to be a repeat offender as one of the reasons for issuing these inspections. FMCSA will publish its initiative in the Federal Register, allowing inspection of commercial drivers. The driver inspection system would be tagged ISS-D, similar to the ISS Carrier Inspection System now in place. Any driver flagged in the new ISS-D system would undergo a review of his or her documentation and carrier credentials.

Companies and law enforcement officials could also track a driver’s history, whether the driver changes employers or drives for several carriers at the same time.

Even more alarming, enforcement agencies would have the authority to check not only the driver’s logbook but other documents including medical records.

Who’s going to have access to this information?

What is the acceptable level of information the government can accrue with out violating ones personal rights of privacy?

Will the gathering of this information eventually lead to some type of profiling of truckers?
Where do you draw the line on personal rights versus safety?

Is this just a knee jerk reaction to appease the safety lobby, or is it a sound solution to the problem?

Something to think about …