Think like a lawyer, Part 1: What to do before you get pulled over
When you’re behind the wheel of a commercial truck, you’re part driver, part logistics wizard, part weather forecaster, part mobile mechanic, part safety guru and
Brad Klepper
- About Brad Klepper
- Brad Klepper is a regular contributor to The Trucker, providing valuable information for drivers and motor carriers. He is also president of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm entirely dedicated to legal defense of the nation’s commercial drivers. Brad is also president of Driver’s Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his firm’s services at discounted rates.
Posts by Brad Klepper
CSA: The score that doesn’t care you were having a bad day
What is CSA? Let’s start with the basics The Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program is how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) monitors safety
Suspended and confused: Legal hazards that can put you out of service
Let’s be honest — most truck drivers I talk to don’t spend their spare time brushing up on federal regulations. And who could blame them?
Are you ready for FMCSA’s SMS overhaul? Here’s what we’ve learned
If you caught my last column on the FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) overhaul back in December 2024, you already know big changes are coming.
Navigating the FLSA in trucking, Part 2: Legal Paycheck Deductions & State Laws
While the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides clear guidelines on minimum wage and overtime, it also allows for certain deductions from employee wages—provided they
Navigating the Fair Labor Standards Act in trucking, Part 1: Minimum wage and overtime
The trucking industry, known for its complexity, finds itself entwined with various federal and state labor laws that dictate how drivers are compensated and treated.
FMCSA’s SMS overhaul: Will it fix problems or just shift the gears?
All right, drivers, buckle up! There are some big changes coming to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Safety Measurement System (SMS) in 2025.
Are you ready for changes to FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse?
Let’s get this out of the way up front: I am a staunch advocate for road safety. I believe that no policy or regulation aimed
Institute a comprehensive safety plan to help ensure fleet safety — Part 5
After taking a hiatus last month to explore the ramifications of the proposed rescheduling of marijuana, we’re back with the fifth — and final —
The cannabis question: Shifting policies could require industry to reimagine impaired driving prevention
Let’s cut to the chase. I make my living out of defending truck drivers — and while speeding tickets can negatively affect a driver’s career,
Institute a comprehensive safety plan to help ensure fleet safety — Part 4
In Part 4 of this series, I am finally getting to the team no one thinks of when it comes to building a comprehensive safety
Institute a comprehensive safety plan to help ensure fleet safety — Part 3
In the third installation of this series, we’re going to talk about bad habits. Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us
Institute a comprehensive safety plan to help ensure fleet safety – Part 2
I’m sure my riveting column about strategically interviewing candidates as part of your comprehensive safety plan is what’s drawn you back for the highly anticipated
Institute a comprehensive safety plan to help ensure fleet safety – Part 1
We all know how much people love to hate lawyers. Even I can jump right on that bandwagon. When you pay a lawyer for his/her
Surprise! More news on the Corporate Transparency Act’s impact on trucking
As I mentioned last month, I am, and always have been, a big fan of surprises. But only the good surprises. Well, I kinda/sorta got
Surprise! The Corporate Transparency Act could impact your trucking business
I am, and always have been, a big fan of surprises. The good surprises, I mean — things liking finding an extra $20 in your
Why do attorneys get away with filing frivolous lawsuits?
Let’s get this out of the way up front: Nobody likes lawyers. I get that. I really do. I ‘m a lawyer myself, and I
One toke over the line? Testing for marijuana impairment not ready to hit the road
For this month’s column, I want to discuss something that I’m sure nobody in the industry has ever addressed (place tongue firmly in cheek here).
There’s no remedy for a stolen fingerprint or retinal, voice or facial scan
In this month’s column, I’d like to revisit a topic I’ve covered a few times: Biometric privacy. Just in case you’ve forgotten, here is a
Rising cost of traffic tickets hits where it hurts — your wallet
Columnist and trucking attorney Brad Klepper is busy helping drivers this month. We hope you enjoy this “rerun,” which originally appeared in the March 1,