Articles by Brooks Rugemer

In this webinar, experts from our trucking operations practice discuss processes and procedures for identifying problem drivers, including pre-hire screening and on-going processes relevant to both CDL and non-CDL drivers.

The trucking industry often uses the vernacular “DOT Regulations,” when in fact they are referring to the FMCSA regulations. The 39 sections of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and Interpretations, if printed, would comprise over 1000 pages. Some of the sections only address a narrow segment of the industry (i.e. household goods, hazardous materials) while other sections address administrative issues like insurance requirements and cargo claims.

In this article, Commercial Trucking Expert, Brooks Rugemer provides an overview of the core FMSCA regulations that are referenced most frequently in forensic trucking investigations.

Parking or stopping a tractor trailer on the shoulder of a roadway creates a hazard for the motoring public, and is generally prohibited by trucking company safety policies. In this article, trucking operations expert, Brooks Rugemer discusses the dangers of shoulder parking, and issues that should be considered when investigating these incidents.

The flatbed segment of the trucking industry has a unique set of challenges and hazards that, if not properly managed, can lead to worker injuries or deaths. In this article, commercial trucking expert Brooks Rugemer discusses the hazards that exist in hauling and loading/unloading cargo from a flatbed truck, and provides examples of what can go wrong.

Commercial transportation expert, Brooks Rugemer was interviewed on NPR’s Houston Matters to discuss the fatal bus crash involving Houston high school students. Brooks discusses the early stages of investigating such incidents, the safety of charter bus operations, and relevant regulations.

Studies suggest that fatigue and/or sleep deprivation may be a contributing factor in at least 30 to 40 percent of all heavy truck crashes. This article explores the effects of sleep deprivation and how the trucking industry works to improve safety on the roadways.

Commercial trucking expert, Brooks Rugemer, was retained on behalf of the plaintiff in a case where a federal jury awarded nearly $3.5 million related to a fatal tractor-trailer accident. The victim in this case, a mechanic, was killed instantly when the tractor-trailer he was repairing lurched forward because the driver allegedly pressed the ignition button while it was still in gear