FMCSA closes investigation into autonomous truck crash
Trucking information and briefs for Wednesday, March 8, 2023:
FMCSA’s investigation into TuSimple autonomous truck crash closed
Autonomous truck maker TuSimple introduced final week that the Federal Motor Provider Security Administration has shut its investigation into a crash that happened April 6, 2022, in which a TuSimple truck made contact with a concrete median divider in Tucson, Arizona. The incident resulted in no injuries.
Soon after reporting of the April 6 incident, TuSimple said it responded to various requests from FMCSA, and the investigation concluded devoid of any penalties introduced from the firm.
In addition, TuSimple cooperated with the National Freeway Site visitors Basic safety Administration on the make any difference and verified that NHTSA did not open up an investigation into the incident.
“We prioritize security at TuSimple,” reported Cheng Lu, President and CEO at the corporation. “After the incident, we halted autonomous functions, released an interior overview, and collaborated with regulators. Our assessment resulted in supplemental enhancements in our units and testing functions. We are committed to continuing our mission of creating a professional-all set, totally autonomous (SAE Degree 4) driving remedy for very long-haul weighty-responsibility vehicles.”
TuSimple experienced a tumultuous 2022, starting with the April crash. In September, the organization turned the subject matter of a course-action lawsuit from traders. In December, TuSimple and Navistar referred to as off their autonomous partnership. The enterprise also underwent a management change after then-CEO Xiaodi Hou was fired in Oct just after allegations the corporation was remaining investigated by the FBI, the Securities and Exchange Fee and the Fee on Overseas Expenditure about its ties with Hydron, an autonomous startup founded by TuSimple co-founder Mo Chen very last yr. Cheng Lu, who led the enterprise as CEO from September 2020 by way of March 2022, returned to the role in November.
[Related: California reconsidering its unfriendly autonomous trucking regs?]
CFI driver named Freeway Angel of the Year
Zach Yeakley, a truck driver with Joplin, Missouri-centered CFI, has been named the 2022 Highway Angel of the Calendar year by the Truckload Carriers Association and its presenting sponsor, EpicVue.
Yeakley, from Batesville, Arkansas, was formally recognized during TCA’s Once-a-year Convention, Truckload 2023: Orlando, held at the Gaylord Palms Vacation resort, immediately after being selected through a general public vote.
On March 17, 2022, about 8:15 a.m., Yeakley was hauling to West Memphis, Arkansas, and had just crossed the condition border into Charleston, Missouri. He listened to on his CB that there was an accident up in advance, and then he noticed smoke and a guy wearing a protection vest flagging down motorists to notify them to the accident.
The scene was a hearth-crammed, chain-reaction crash in dense fog that included extra than 45 vehicles. Yeakley promptly pulled above and jumped into action.
“I went up there they presently experienced a pair persons out,” he said. “Some individuals experienced some damaged arms, a single experienced a collapsed lung, a handful of broken ribs from the effects.”
Yeakley, a 15-calendar year member of the Army National Guard, is educated as a overcome lifesaver and could immediately evaluate the severity of the scene. He surveyed the circumstance so he could explain to the paramedics when they arrived. Fire was spreading in the crashed cars, and tires have been exploding all about them, due to the fireplace.
“There was one dude trapped in his truck,” he explained. “So me, a sheriff, a point out trooper, and a FedEx driver, we did what we could to get him out.”
Yeakley and the team were able to pry the dashboard off of a different trapped crash victim and rescue him from his auto. The flames, he said, had been bordering them. Once the crash sufferer was rescued from his truck, Yeakley and a sheriff ran back to the scene to check out to rescue the driver of a car trapped concerning a truck and a trailer, also surrounded by flames.
In total that working day, Yeakley helped rescue six crash victims from a number of vehicles. Law enforcement claimed at the very least 6 fatalities from the fiery crash. Yeakley, who has been driving a truck for 4 yrs, claimed he would not be reluctant to soar back into the fire once more to rescue drivers, crediting his army schooling for preparing him for the working experience.
“Thank you for your selfless act of bravery that morning,” explained EpicVue CEO Lance Platt after presenting Zach with a individualized crystal truck.
Yeakley will obtain a complimentary EpicVue satellite Television bundle that incorporates a 24-inch flatscreen Television, a DVR, and a a single-calendar year subscription to over 100 channels of DirecTV programming, such as quality channels this sort of as HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, and far more.
TCA drivers of the yr declared
The Truckload Carriers Association named 5 winners in its 2023 TCA Professional Motorists of the Yr application. The winners were decided on from nominees of TCA-member fleets that included firm motorists, unbiased contractors and driver trainers.
This year’s winners are:
- Richard Boehrer, Knight Refrigerated
- Daniel Clark, Classic Carriers
- Emily Plummer, Prime Inc.
- Rose Rojo, John Christner Trucking
- Thomas Sholar, Maverick Transportation
Winners ended up awarded $20,000 each individual. They had been chosen based on determination to protection, contributions to their very own businesses and management on and off the highway.
The TCA Motorists of the Calendar year application is sponsored by Cummins and Love’s Journey Stops. For much more information on just about every winner and their personal stories, click here.
[Related: Enter Overdrive‘s 2023 Trucker of the Year competition]