Cargo that shifts during transit presents a potentially serious struck-by hazard when the trailer doors are opened. The danger of falling freight is well recognized in the commercial trucking industry…
Mark Respass Commercial Trucking Expert
Mark Respass is a Commercial Trucking Expert with nearly 40 years of diverse experience as a driver, fleet safety director, and transportation risk manager for a major insurance provider. He applies his knowledge and experience to the investigation of commercial and personal injury litigation involving all aspects of commercial trucking, warehousing/distribution operations, and FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA regulatory compliance.
Mark has held a Class A CDL since its inception in 1992, and through his career has held nearly all CDL endorsements including Doubles/Triples, Tankers, and HazMat. He began his driving career after 7 years in law enforcement with the Eden, North Carolina police department. In the 9 years he spent driving, Mark covered approximately 1 million accident and citation-free miles, where he gained experience in the transport and loading/unloading a variety of different commodities. Mark later went on to work as Fleet Safety Manager for a food distribution company, and then to Zurich NA, where he was a risk engineer. Mark's experience in the insurance industry affords him a unique perspective on the relationship between trucking and insurance companies, and the policies and procedures of many regional and national trucking outfits. The risk improvement services he provided for customers and business partners included identifying exposures with major loss and liability potential, and presenting guidelines for improving their policies on fleet safety, maintenance, and hiring, among others.
Mark's time in the insurance industry led him to a long career as a Director of Safety for several large carriers. He was responsible for all aspects of fleet safety and regulatory compliance including FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA, oversight of hours-of-service, electronic logs, DOT drug/alcohol testing programs, accident investigations, CDL driver hiring, qualification, selection, and training. Mark has served on multiple Safety Management Councils with the American Trucking Association (ATA), Colorado Motor Carrier Association (CMCA), and The North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI).
Core Expertise
- DOT, FMCSR, OSHA, EPA Compliance
- CDL Driver hiring and qualification standards
- CDL Driver Training, Defensive Driving Programs
- Liquid Tanker Operation
- Warehouse and Distribution Center Safety
- Forklift Safety / Cargo Handling
- Risk Management, Accident/Injury Investigation
Professional Experience
Robson Forensic, Inc.
Associate
2019 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving all aspects of commercial trucking, warehousing / distribution operations, and FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA regulatory compliance.
Pacific Shipping and Trucking
Director of Safety
2016 to 2019Responsible for all aspects of fleet safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Responsibilities included FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA compliance, oversight of hours-of-service, electronic logs, DOT drug / alcohol testing programs, accident investigations, CDL driver hiring, qualification, selection, and training.
JBS Carriers
Director of Safety
2014 to 2016Responsible for all aspects of fleet safety and regulatory compliance and risk management for a 600 truck fleet. Responsibilities included FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA compliance, oversight of hours-of-service, electronic logs, DOT drug / alcohol testing programs, accident investigations, CDL driver hiring, qualification, selection, and training.
Western Distributing Transportation Corp.
Director of Safety
2010 to 2014Senior-level responsibility for all aspects of fleet safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management with direct reporting to the vice-president. Responsibilities included FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA compliance, oversight of hours-of-service, electronic logs, DOT drug / alcohol testing programs, accident investigations, CDL driver hiring, qualification, selection, and training. Represented the company at the state and national levels with three safety management councils and various committees.
YRC Glen Moore
Senior Director of Safety & Compliance
2006 to 2010Senior management responsibility for all aspects of fleet safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management for a 700 truck fleet. Responsibilities included FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA compliance, oversight of hours-of-service, electronic logs, DOT drug / alcohol testing programs, accident investigations, CDL driver hiring, qualification, selection, and training.
Managed the fleet to a 1st Place Safety Award in 2009 from the American Trucking Associations.
Zurich North America
Transportation Risk Engineer
2003 to 2006Provided fleet risk assessments for underwriters and risk improvement services for customers and business partners. Presented training for customers, loss investigations. Provided fleet risk improvement services including identifying FMCSR, OSHA and EPA exposures with major loss and liability potential.
Food Lion, LLC
Corporate Fleet Safety Manager
2000 to 2003Responsible for all aspects of fleet safety, regulatory compliance, and risk management for an 850 truck fleet and six distribution centers. Responsibilities included FMCSR, OSHA, and EPA compliance, oversight of hours-of-service, electronic logs, DOT drug / alcohol testing programs, accident investigations, CDL driver hiring, qualification, selection, and training. Oversight of commercial vehicle maintenance, repair, and inspection program.
Commercial Tractor-Trailer Driving
Professional tractor-trailer driver with nine-years and approximately one-million miles of accident & citation free driving.
Professional Credentials
- Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) since inception in 1992
- Doubles/Triples Endorsement, 1992
- Hazmat Endorsement
Past Credentials:
- North American Transportation Management Institute, Director of Safety, expired 2016
Education and Training
- Walking-Working Surfaces, North American Transportation Management Institute, 2020
- Vehicle Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance Regulations, North American Transportation Management Institute, 2020
- Forklift Safety, North American Transportation Management Institute, 2020
- Fall Protection, North American Transportation Management Institute, 2020
- Accident Prevention and Countermeasures, North American Transportation Management Institute, 2020
- Trimble Transportation/PeopleNet Mobility ELD Performance Workshop, 2018
- ATA Safety Management Council, Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference, Little Rock, Arkansas, 2015
- ATA Safety Management Council, Safety & Human Resources National Conference, Orlando, Florida, 2014
- ATA Safety Management Council, Safety & Human Resources National Conference, Sparks, Nevada, 2013
- University of Central Florida, North American Transportation Management Institute, Managing Motor Fleet Safety Programs, 2009
- University of Central Florida, North American Transportation Management Institute, Motor Fleet Safety Programs, 2009
- Davidson Co. Community College, Advanced Motor Vehicle Accident Investigation, 1983
- Department of Justice, Basic Law Enforcement, 1977
Professional Membership
- American Trucking Associations (ATA) Safety Management Council Member
- Colorado Motor Carrier Association (CMCA) Safety Management Council
- North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI)
v. 02/27/22
Related Resources
See All of Mark's Published ContentIdentifying Problem Drivers: Motor Carrier Operations
Thursday, May 14, 2020
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Featuring Brooks Rugemer, Mark Respass, Timothy M. Bussard
Video Webinar
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…