CEA organized an industry task force to make nearly two dozen recommendations designed to promote improved road safety and traffic management in heavily travelled oil and gas-producing areas like the Eagle Ford in south central Texas, the Marcellus region in the Northeast, and the Bakken in the upper Midwest.
The recommendations collected by the American Petroleum Institute, American Trucking Associations, and the National Tank Truck Carriers will be used as important reminders for member companies and as tools to help develop informational materials on the need to provide safe and responsible trucking operations for the mutual benefit of producers, transporters, and the communities in which they operate. CEA launched the initiative in 2012 to seek improved communications about road safety among its membership and the broader public. The recommendations were formally adopted at a recent meeting in Houston.
CEA launched the initiative in 2012 to seek improved communications about road safety among its membership and the broader public. The recommendations were formally adopted by the parties at a recent meeting in Houston.
The recommendations are available online and include recommendations to hold frequent meetings with motor carriers to evaluate safety issues, methods for encouraging a culture of safety, techniques to promote access to safety education resources, and practices to properly inform all drivers on the delivery and removal of equipment and materials used during oil and natural gas production.
For their part, producers are encouraged to monitor and enforce requirements for proof of regulatory compliance by motor carriers. It is recommended for both transporters and producers to be sensitive to local impacts and, to the extent possible, “schedule deliveries and movements to minimize the traffic impact on local communities.”
“Consumer Energy Alliance believes that North America has a tremendous opportunity to become energy self-sufficient, spur job creation and growth across the entire US economy and that developing these resources is dependent, in part, on responsible and safe trucking operations,” said David Holt, CEA President. “Member companies of these producing and trucking organizations should be applauded for their voluntary and forward-looking action.”
“The industry is committed to protecting our employees, the environment, and the communities where we operate, all while increasing energy security by safely and responsibly developing the energy America needs to fuel its economy,” said Holly Hopkins, API upstream senior policy advisor. “API and its members participate in many safety outreach programs and educational outreach on safe driving is an extension of API’s 94-year history of promoting and enhancing safety operations.”
Glen Kedzie, American Trucking Associations Vice President, Energy & Environmental Counsel said, “Safety remains ‘Priority 1′ for the trucking industry. Through this collaborative effort of the transportation and energy sectors, along with continued community involvement and education, ATA is confident that these recommendations will go far in improving safety in oil and gas production and exploration transportation activities.”
“Trucks are the essential workhorses of our country’s ability to take advantage of our shale gas and oil resources to become energy independent. It is the trucking industry’s responsibility to provide safe, efficient, and to the extent possible, considerate truck support of this important energy opportunity,” said John Conley, past President of the National Tank Truck Carriers, and Trucking Safety Taskforce co-chair. “We are delighted to partner with the energy industry and the law enforcement community to provide that safe and reliable truck transportation.”
