Brooks Rugemer Commercial Trucking Expert

Brooks Rugemer, Commercial Trucking Expert

Brooks is an experienced Transportation Manager specializing in trucking, warehousing, intermodal, and logistics related claims. After 13 years and 1.4 million miles as a CDL tractor trailer driver, Brooks spent the next 17 years in Transportation Management, holding the positions of Safety Instructor, Driver Recruiter, Safety & Risk Manager, Terminal Manager, and Regional Manager.

Brooks is also the former owner of Maryland Safety Services, a firm that provided CDL driver recruitment services as well as driver and warehouse training and compliance assistance.

Throughout his career, Brooks has participated in several hundred hours of training in OSHA and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Brooks has investigated hundreds of trucking, warehousing, and freight related accidents, injuries and claims for some of the nation's largest Motor Carriers.

Areas of Expertise

Transportation Safety: Commercial Vehicle Accident / Incident Investigations, CDL Driver Actions, Commercial Vehicle Operations, CDL Driver Recruiting / Hiring / Training Programs, Logbook / HOS Analysis, Regulatory Compliance (DOT, FMCSR, OSHA, EPA)

Motor Carrier Management: Safety, Operations, Claims, Personnel, Risk Management, Dispatching, Scheduling, Maintenance Programs, Transportation Security

Warehouse Operations: Distribution Centers, Loading Docks, Freight Handling, PIT Operation / Training, Supply Chain Analysis, Logistics, Vendor Management / Multi-Employer Facilities, Trailer Yard Management, Truck / Trailer Loading / Unloading, Material Handling

Intermodal: Railyard Safety, Port Safety, Container / Chassis Handling

Experience Summary

  • Twelve years as a Professional Tractor Trailer Driver – Approximately 1.4 million accident free miles in local, regional, and O-T-R operations
  • Thirteen years of experience in all aspects of Motor Carrier Management
  • Thirteen years of experience in CDL Driver hiring – approximately 5000 drivers hired
  • Twenty-three years of experience in Transportation related accident / incident investigations
  • Seventeen years of experience in CDL Driver Training
  • Twenty-three years of ongoing Transportation related Safety, Risk Management, and Regulatory Compliance Training

Professional Experience

Robson Forensic, Inc.

Associate

2005 to present

Provide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony towards the resolution of commercial and personal injury litigation involving truck driver training, driver actions, trucking operations and terminal operations and failure analysis.

Performance Food Group

Safety & Claims Manager

2007 to 2009

Responsible for trucking & warehouse related accident and injury investigations; claims management including settlement authority; DOT, OSHA, FDA, HACCP compliance and inspections; and employee training & certifications.

Independent Consultant

2005

Retained by several regional trucking firms to restructure their recruiting and HR departments enabling them to meet their increased staffing needs, to establish new operations and to update and revise their safety training programs.

Gainey Transportation Services

Regional Manager

2002 to 2005

General Manager for northeastern US and Canada. Managed a staff of 30 and a fleet of 170 OTR drivers at one full service truck terminal and an off-site location.

Hahn Transportation

Safety / HR Manager

2001 to 2002

Duties included incident and injury investigations and incident injury reduction programs. Also responsible for CDL driver recruiting, DOT compliance and safety training.

Consolidated Freightways

Director of Safety

1999 to 2001

Responsible for safety at 33 terminals consisting of 3800 employees. Performed incident/injury investigations and managed Workers Comp cases. Oversaw DOT, EPA and OSHA compliance measures. Researched and analyzed insurance losses and initiated measures to reduce losses.

Maryland Safety Services

Owner

1998 to 1999

In charge of company providing safety training, CDL driver recruiting, HOS auditing and consultation services to regional trucking firms.

JB Hunt Transport

Regional Safety Instructor

1996 to 1998

Responsible for training and compliance for all dedicated fleets and rail operations in the northeast. Start-up Manager for distribution centers for several major retail chains, and various other smaller dedicated fleet locations.

Eagle Carriers

Terminal Manager

1994 to 1996

Managed 27 company drivers and 11 owner operators. In charge of all hiring and contract functions, payroll and settlement, scheduling, and dispatching.

Professional Tractor-trailer Driver

1982 to 1994

 

Credentials

  • Professional CDL-A Driver, 1.5 million safe miles (1982-1994)
  • OSHA 501 General Industry Instructor, West Virginia University, OSHA Training
  • OSHA ‘VPP’ Program Implementer, West Virginia University, OSHA Training
  • Certified Instructor, Defensive Driving Course, National Safety Council
  • Certified Instructor, Smith System Defensive Driving Program
  • Certified Instructor, 3-D Defensive Driver Training, Hartford Insurance
  • Certified Instructor, National Transportation Safety Institute

Professional Training

  • Federal Motor Carrier Regulations, On-campus, 60-Hour Certification, Department of Transportation - Transportation Safety Institute (TSI), 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002; On-line Recertification: 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008
  • 30-Hour OSHA General Industry Certification: 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008
  • 10-Hour Recertification Course: 2003, 2005, 2007
  • U.S. Army, Munitions Transportation, Field Logistics, 1980 to 1982
  • Certified OSHA 501 General Industry Instructor, West Virginia University
  • Certified OSHA Voluntary Protection Program Implementor, West Virginia University
  • Certified Defensive Driving Instructor:
    • National Safety Council
    • The Smith System
    • Hartford Insurance
    • National Transportation Safety Institute

v. 05/12/17

Related Resources

See All of Brooks's Published Content

Charter Bus Safety - Expert Interviewed Following Crash Incident

By Brooks Rugemer
Expert Article

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…

Sleep Deprivation and Fatigue in Commercial Trucking

By Brooks Rugemer
Expert Article

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…

Fatal Tractor-Trailer Accident Results in $3.5M Verdict

By Brooks Rugemer
Expert Article

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…

Identifying 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…