It is unfortunate that many who make their living off the hard work of truck drivers refuse to be honest and objective. And then they attempt to defend and explain the recognized and long-existing safety flaws inherent in that industry. It is entirely obvious to me that their motivation is economic and not the safety […]

In response to Bruce Gray’s letter (Dec. 17), the truck crash that killed my son, his three friends and injured a fourth, was not “rare.” According to information contained in “Traffic Safety Facts,” in 2012, 3,921 people were killed in truck crashes and 104,000 were injured. Truck crashes happen frequently, and fatigue is a major […]

Brian Parke’s claim (letter, Dec. 26) that the safety improvements in the hours of service rule force more trucks onto the road during rush hours is an unfounded scare tactic. The rule doesn’t require drivers to “hit the road” at 5 a.m. Only a portion of drivers, those on the most aggressive schedules, are affected […]

I disagree with Brian Parke’s portrayal of the commercial trucking industry’s promotion of road safety and its ability to self-regulate (letter, Dec. 16). Tractor-trailer drivers have increasingly been seeking and using the narrow, two-lane, often shoulderless residential roads of Lewiston-Auburn, bypassing the commercial routes specifically built for commercial traffic. Is their motivation the safety of […]

No one, especially Maine’s trucking industry, wants to do anything to decrease safety on our nation’s roads. That’s why we fully support Sen. Susan Collins’ efforts to temporarily suspend a small portion of a new rule that went into effect last year. Unfortunately, that rule — which took effect without a proper study of the […]