The FMCSA recently issued new rules that will require drivers to register with a federal database before they can change jobs in the industry. Beginning on January 6, 2020, drivers will be required to register with FMCSA’s “Commercial Driver’s License Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse” as part of all future employment-related background checks. Drivers can begin […]

It is common for claimants to request workers’ compensation benefits after being involved in motor vehicle accidents. As in all claims, the motor vehicle accident must “arise out of” the employment to be found compensable. Motor vehicle accidents that happen on public roadways may be found to arise out of the employment subject to the […]

With qualified drivers getting tougher to find, more and more carriers are turning to independent contractors to haul their loads.  Contractors, using their own equipment, “lease on” to the carrier and run under its authority. While this arrangement is common practice, it is chock full of risks if done improperly.  Among other things, Federal Motor […]

The Virginia Trucking Association presented its 2019 Safety Awards on April 3rd during its Annual VTA Safety and Human Resources Conference, held at the UVA Inn at Darden in Charlottesville, VA. The safety awards are generously sponsored by Nansemond Insurance Agency of Suffolk, VA. J.D. Newman, Inc. of Elkwood, VA was presented the 2019 Grand […]

By December 16, 2019, motor carriers who were granted a 2-year extension on the electronic logging devices (ELDs) mandate because they were using an Automatic On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRD) will be required to transition their AOBRDs to ELDs. With the deadline quickly approaching, it is important for carriers to assess their current situations to determine […]

Jason Mackey has been with Setliff Law for 6 years and in that time has consistently demonstrated an ability substantially “beyond his years,” according to firm owner Steve Setliff. “His work on a day to day basis is outstanding, our clients love him and he works as hard as any lawyer I have seen in my […]

On February 26, 2019, Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Jon Tester (D-MT) reintroduced the DRIVE-Safe Act in both houses of the United States Congress. A nearly identical version of the Act was introduced as recently as August 2018, but it stalled out before ever becoming law. Generally, the DRIVE-Safe Act will change federal law that […]

In recent months we have seen a lot of situations where clients have dug themselves a hole by signing a contract.  In some cases the client didn’t read the contract.  In others the contract didn’t reflect the agreement.  In others, the contract was just a bad deal for them.  In all of them, we didn’t […]