Brooks Rugemer Commercial Trucking Expert

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

 

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