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April 11, 2006
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Headline
News
Eighth Annual Lee Crittenden Memorial Award Presented to Lana R. Batts
Longtime Industry Advocate Honored
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2006
Contact: E. Nancy O'Liddy, PTDI Director
703/838-1950 or noliddy@truckload.org
Orlando, Florida – The Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc. (PTDI) presented the eighth annual Lee J. Crittenden Memorial Award to Lana R. Batts, Managing Partner of Transport Capital Partners, during the March 14 General Session at the Truckload Carriers Association's (TCA's) Annual Convention in Orlando, Florida.
The award is given to the person who has done the most to advance the ideals and goals of the Professional Truck Driver Institute, Inc., of which Lee Crittenden was a staunch supporter until his death in April 1998.
Batts has almost three decades of experience in the trucking industry, most notably as president of the Truckload Carriers Association and senior vice president of government affairs for the American Trucking Associations. Batts is currently a managing partner at Transport Capital Partners where she provides capital sourcing, merger & acquisition, and financial advisory services to the transportation industry. She also serves on the board of directors of several companies including PeopleNet Communication Company, IdleAire Technologies Corporation, Transportation Costing Group, and SeaBridge International.
While leading TCA Batts was responsible for the revitalization of PTDI. She was ardent that PTDI was crucial to the industry and agreed to manage it under TCA. When TCA assumed management of the institute in 1996 there were 19 schools with certified courses. Batts immediately began working to strengthen the program and brought in new stakeholders including the schools, trucking companies, insurance companies, driver funding organizations and regulatory organizations. She believed that the importance of entry-level training and standards had to rise to a national level and held forums and public hearings to accomplish that goal. By the time Batts resigned her TCA post there were 71 schools with certified courses, marking a 274% increase during her four years of leadership.
Ray Haight, Executive Director of MacKinnon Transport, Inc., Chairman of PTDI, and presenter of the award, stated: “Lana Batts was committed to the mission of PTDI and more importantly she knew how to make things happen. Her passion breathed new life into the institute and we have her to thank for the continued growth of PTDI today.”
The presentation of this annual award will keep the memory of Lee Crittenden alive and serve as inspiration to others who get involved with truck driver issues. Mr. Crittenden helped many important industry activities get their start. He was passionate about promoting a positive image of the nation's professional truck drivers, and was largely responsible for the creation of America's Road Team. He also initiated a scholarship program for the drivers who participate in the National Truck Driving Championships. His greatest industry achievement is largely believed to be his part in founding the Professional Truck Driver Institute, where he served on the board of directors and also served as the finance chairman during the years of the Institute's infancy. Mr. Crittenden worked for CitiCapital and that company was instrumental in creating this award with TCA.
PTDI has certified entry-level training courses at 59 schools in 27 states and Canada, and one driver-finishing program.
PTDI is a national, nonprofit organization sponsored by the nation's trucking industry to advance truck driver training, proficiency, safety, and professionalism. PTDI is based in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Success Comes in Numbers - - Big Rig Ride for Drivers
Again this year at TCA's Annual Convention, Commercial Carrier Journal Magazine sponsored the Big Rig Ride on March 13 th , which benefits the Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI). Orlando was the home of the first Big Rig Ride convoy in 2003.
This year's ride had over 50 riders who all enjoyed traveling through the countryside of sunny central Florida before returning for a sunset-lit reception at the historic Harley factory dealership. TCA's Chairman and Vice President of Swift Transportation, Dave Berry stated, “at a time when entry-level driver training requirements are under review by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it's good to see that the industry continues to support the voluntary Standards they developed.”
Commercial Carrier Journal Magazine coordinates the Ride and gathered sponsorship from Bridgestone Firestone, Caterpillar Inc., CITGO Lubricants, DNV Certification, Peterbilt Motors Co., Pilot Travel Centers, Qualcomm, Roadranger and Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. Sponsors paid for the motorcycle and helmet rentals and other costs. Rider participants' $100 donations went to support to PTDI. Commercial Carrier Journal Magazine presented PTDI Chairman Ray Haight with a check for $5,500 at the Wednesday General Session. PTDI Chairman Ray Haight was again excited to receive this generous donation, Ray Haight went on to say that without this support, PTDI could not continue to maintain the standards and certification process, we applaud all those who understand its value and need in the industry.
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New Study Concludes Driver Behavior Causes Most Truck Crashes
According to a new study released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers of large trucks and other vehicles involved in truck crashes are ten times more likely to be the cause of the crash than other factors, such as weather, road conditions, and vehicle performance.
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study was commissioned by FMCSA to review the causes of, and contributing factors to, crashes involving commercial motor vehicles. While previous data focused on specific crashes and/or individual causes of crashes, this study was the first nation-wide examination of all pre-crash factors.
“This study makes it clear that we need to spend more time addressing driver behavior, as well as making sure trucks and buses are fit for the road,” FMCSA Administrator Annette M. Sandberg said. “The multitude of data now available will allow us to analyze specific areas of behavior and work with our industry and safety partners to develop an agenda on driver safety that will improve commercial motor vehicle driver performance.”
FMCSA will conduct analysis to further examine driver factors such as use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, speeding, fatigue, inattention, distractions, work environment, and unfamiliarity with the road.
The study, conducted with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, investigated a national sample of fatal and injury crashes between April 2001 and December 2003 at 24 sites in 17 states. Each crash involved at least one large truck and resulted in at least one fatality or injury. The total sample of 967 crashes included 1,127 large trucks, 959 non-truck motor vehicles, 251 fatalities, and 1,408 injuries. Action or inaction by the driver of either the truck or other vehicle was the critical reason for 88 percent of the crashes.
The data offers unprecedented detail about the events surrounding truck crashes that are not available anywhere else. The study database eventually will be available to the public to encourage further analysis and increase the knowledge about large truck crash factors.
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FMCSA Pledges to Address Domicile Rule for Student Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has withdrawn a proposal for CDL learner's permits, but promises to address the state of domicile requirement for student drivers. The agency announced it was withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking Feb. 23 in the Federal Register . FMCSA published the notice in 1990, but initiatives since then have rendered the proposed rule obsolete, the agency stated.
In 1994, FMCSA issued a final rule that restricted CDL issuance to the driver's state of domicile. In 2002, the agency issued a final rule incorporating new domicile requirements into the CDL regulations, including stricter rules for disqualifying CDL holders and better driver application procedures and state record check requirements. Finally, the federal Real ID Act of 2005 tightened the verification process for determining a person's identity and legal presence in the United States.
The agency noted in its announcement that in working with the Department of Homeland Security to implement the Real ID Act, it will examine the issue of student drivers who want to take their CDL skills tests outside their state of domicile. Driver training schools are not available in every state. TCA has asked the agency to replace the rule with one that merely requires proof of U.S. citizenship.
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