Trucking & Warehousing Articles

In today’s economy there are many companies that provide transportation vehicles to their employees, or utilize an employee’s personal vehicle to provide various services to the public, such as plumbing and electrical services, passenger or public transportation services, and food delivery. Non-CDL drivers use vehicles for commercial purposes on a daily basis, sharing streets and roadways with other motorists and pedestrians.

In this article, commercial trucking expert Tim Bussard describes the responsibility that companies have to properly vet, train, supervise, and monitor their drivers as well as the vehicles they will be using to ensure safety to the public.

A large segment of the truck driving population is composed of drivers who work locally and are home most nights. In this article, commercial trucking expert Jeff Boesger explores the unique challenges that LTL delivery drivers regularly face.

LTL truck companies often employ drivers with diverse experiences and abilities, including over-the-road drivers, regional drivers, shuttle drivers, and local drivers. LTL, (Less than Truckload) drivers make multiple small deliveries and freight pickups within a local area. Because of the multi-stop nature of their deliveries, these drivers (especially if untrained or inexperienced) are at risk for vehicle accidents: injuries from unloading/loading and moving product from truck to truck; slips, trips, or falls in the ordinary course of work; and being struck by equipment while working in various shipping and receiving locations.

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.

Many of the systems and components that record incident and crash data on heavy trucks are different than those found on conventional passenger vehicles. In this article, vehicle engineer Marcus Mazza, P.E. provides an overview of Heavy Truck Event Data Recorders (Black Boxes), including how they are different from automotive systems, what information is typically available, and other useful information for anyone investigating a heavy truck crash incident.


The experts at Robson Forensic investigate the full range of issues related to heavy truck incidents. We offer experts specializing in trucking operations, crash reconstruction, repair and inspection, vehicle and component design, and the download and analysis of HTEDR data. Please contact us for help determining which of our experts is best suited to address the technical issues in your case.

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. In this article, human factors expert, Dr. Nancy Grugle, and commercial trucking expert, Brooks Rugemer, explore the effects of sleep deprivation and how the trucking industry works to improve safety on the roadways.

In this article, mechanical expert, Matt Lykins, provides an introduction to industrial truck inspection and repair, including some of the relevant standards.

In this investigation, heavy vehicle engineer, Erin Shipp, P.E., constructed a cardboard analog to prove her theory of how and why a semi-trailer collapsed under the weight of a forklift.

In this article, automotive engineer, Erin Shipp, P.E., discusses some of the engineering solutions that are used to improve safety for those entering and exiting large trucks. She also discusses the three point rule and other safety procedures that should be followed to prevent potentially serious injuries.

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