Oil & Gas Producers Join Truckers for Improved Road Safety

HOUSTON, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Oil and gas companies have joined forces with the trucking industry to promote improved road safety and traffic management in heavily traveled producing areas like the Eagle Ford in south central Texas, the Marcellus region in the Northeast and the Bakken in the upper Midwest.

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The American Petroleum Institute, the American Trucking Associations and the National Tank Truck Carriers have collected nearly two dozen recommendations for roadway safety and more considerate driving practices.  The recommendations will be used as important reminders for member companies and 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.

The Houston-based Consumer Energy Alliance –  a broad-based association comprised of transportation, agriculture, businesses, consumers and energy organizations – 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 and to not hire those with unsatisfactory safety ratings. 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."

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."

"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."

"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."

Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) brings together consumers, producers and manufacturers to engage in a meaningful dialogue about America's energy future. Our mission is to help ensure stable prices for consumers and energy security. We believe energy development is something that touches everyone in our nation, and thus it is necessary for all consumers to actively engage in the conversation about how we develop and diversify our energy resources and energy's importance to the economy. CEA promotes a thoughtful dialogue to help produce our abundant energy supply, and balance our energy needs with our nation's environmental and conservation goals.

National Tank Truck Carriers is a national trade association that represents the interest's t of tank truck carriers dedicated to safe and efficient transportation.  Based in Arlington, Virginia, NTTC has 210 carrier members and 300 associate members. 

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

SOURCE American Trucking Associations