The Truckload Carriers Association recently named Lamar Buckwalter, a professional driver with Buckwalter Trucking LLC, a TCA Highway Angel, following the April 2 crash on Route 34 during high-wind conditions affecting commercial vehicles across the region.

Driver Saw Tanker Lose Control During Wind Advisory

Buckwalter was traveling eastbound around 2 a.m. when he saw a tanker truck several vehicle lengths ahead suddenly veer off course before overturning.

The crash sent sparks, debris, and dust into the roadway as the tanker rolled.

“I’ve always believed that God puts us in the right places at the right times. Tonight, he proved this once again,” said Buckwalter. “All I could hear was the driver screaming, ‘Get me out of here, I’m hauling hazmat!’”

After stopping safely, Buckwalter ran toward the overturned truck and made contact with the injured driver inside the cab.

According to TCA, the driver initially told Buckwalter he was trapped but not pinned before becoming unresponsive moments later.

Driver Pulled from Overturned Tanker

Buckwalter broke through the windshield and pulled the driver from the overturned truck while debris and leaking engine fluids surrounded the wreckage.

The driver regained consciousness after being removed from the cab. Because the tanker was carrying hazardous materials, both men moved farther away from the vehicle while another motorist contacted emergency responders.

Buckwalter remained with the injured driver, who suffered bruising and head injuries, until first responders arrived at the scene.

TCA said Buckwalter later accompanied the driver in the ambulance so he could contact family members and his employer, and then provided a statement to law enforcement investigators.

“The officer told me he was very impressed with how quickly everything happened,” said Buckwalter. “I just did what I hope anyone else would do in that situation.”

Highway Angel Recognition Highlights Actions At Crash Scene

The TCA Highway Angel program recognizes truck drivers for acts of courage, courtesy, and public service while working on the road.

The association said nearly 1,500 professional drivers have received Highway Angel recognition since the program launched in 1997.

The Truck Drivers USA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering industry topics, job trends, and real-world decisions that impact drivers at every stage of their careers. Each article is written to provide clear, accurate information that drivers can use.

Last updated: May 15, 2026

Source: Truckers News

Image Source: TCA, Truckers News, Lamar Buckwalter

The post TCA Honors Colorado Driver After HazMat Tanker Rescue Near Greeley appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The new law includes several key changes:

• It updates the locations where truck drivers must use chains and requires a study to explore expanding these locations.

• It establishes a special speed enforcement zone on highways in Glenwood Canyon.

• It makes it illegal for commercial vehicles to use the left lane in certain areas.

“Ensuring that our roads and highways are safe is important, especially here in Colorado’s high country, and these bills help accomplish that,” said Polis when signing the bill into law. “I appreciate the work of the sponsors on this legislation and look forward to making our roads safer by signing these bills.”

The legislation specifies seven areas on the western slope where commercial vehicles weighing over 16,001 pounds are required to use chains from September 1 to May 31 under certain conditions. These areas are:

• Interstate 70 west of milepost 259 (Morrison)

• Colorado state highway 9 from milepost 63 to milepost 97 (Frisco to Fairplay)

• U.S. Route 40 west of milepost 256 (Empire)

• U.S. Route 50 west of milepost 225 (Salida)

• U.S. Route 160 west of milepost 304 (Walsenburg)

• U.S. Route 285 west of milepost 250 (Morrison)

• U.S. Route 550 from milepost 0 to 130

Additionally, the Colorado Department of Transportation now has the authority to set special speed-limit zones through Glenwood Canyon on I-70, with double fines for truckers exceeding those limits.

The law also prohibits commercial vehicles from driving in the farthest left lane on certain sections of highways, except when passing a slower vehicle. These sections include:

• Milepost 115.5 to 131.0 in Glenwood Springs

• Milepost 169.5 to 173.0 in Dowd Junction

• Milepost 180.0 to 190.5 in Vail Pass

• Milepost 205.5 to 221.0 in the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnel

• Milepost 224.0 to 228.5 in Georgetown Hill

• Milepost 243.0 to 247.0 in Floyd Hill

Furthermore, the new law grants port of entry officers the same authority as peace officers to enforce highway closures and the state’s winter traction device regulations.

Source: Truckers News

The post Colorado Enacts Law Restricting Trucks from Left Lane and Mandating Additional Chain Use appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

In a 22-12 vote, the Senate passed a bill allowing local governments to establish idling resolutions or ordinances matching or surpassing the state standard. The House previously endorsed the bill with a 45-18 vote.

Proponents argue that the legislation provides local authorities with additional tools to address idling issues tailored to their communities’ needs, specifically targeting vehicles weighing at least 14,000 pounds. Senator Lisa Cutter emphasized the bill’s importance in addressing environmental inequality, citing its alignment with measures taken in regions combating ground-level ozone pollution.

However, Senator Byron Pelton expressed reservations regarding the bill’s emphasis on local control.

“If you are going to talk about local control, it needs to be local control at the local level all the way down. Not just what the state tells you,” Pelton said.

Senator Perry Will raised concerns about potential challenges for truck drivers under the proposed idling revisions.

“There are places in Colorado you turn the truck off and take your sleep, it’s not going to start in the morning,” Will said. “This bill just doesn’t work for commercial truckers.”

The bill now awaits Governor Jared Polis’s decision, who may choose to sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal

The post Colorado Legislature Assesses States’ Idling Rules appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) voices concerns over the potential repercussions of such legislation, emphasizing the adverse impact on truckers and the safety of road users.

“When I read this bill, one thing comes to my mind, and that’s arbitrary and capricious,” said Doug Morris, OOIDA director of state government affairs.

The OOIDA argues that while the intentions behind these measures may be well-meaning, they present significant challenges for truck drivers and could compromise overall safety.

Colorado is currently considering SB100, spearheaded by Sen. Dylan Roberts, which seeks to prohibit large commercial vehicles from utilizing the left lane on Interstate 70, except for passing slower vehicles. Advocates contend that these measures, including enforcement of truck speed limits, are vital for enhancing safety. However, Doug Morris of OOIDA disputes the necessity of such legislation, citing a lack of evidence linking truck presence in the left lane to increased accidents.

In Kentucky, SB107 aims to restrict trucks from the far-left lane on highways with three or more lanes, with exceptions for specific situations like entering or exiting the highway. Despite unanimous Senate support, concerns persist among professional drivers regarding enforcement challenges and potential safety implications.

Michigan’s HB5304 addresses left lane usage on freeways, clarifying that large trucks are prohibited from the far-left lane, aligning with existing statutes. While proponents argue for improved safety and traffic flow, the Michigan Department of Transportation acknowledges flaws in current laws but refrains from taking a stance on the bill.

Rep. William Bruck, R-Erie, said that the Michigan DOT can only make recommendations, emphasizing that this is the case with road signs that direct drivers to stay right unless to pass.

“This (bill) would clarify this so MDOT could actually restrict the heavy traffic to remain in the right two lanes,” Bruck said. “It’s a commonsense issue. There’s less safety when people are passing on the right. For the ease of travel, we would like to open up the left-most lane for that faster traffic and make it safer in the process.”

Meanwhile, similar initiatives are underway in other states like Florida, Iowa, and Oklahoma, where lawmakers are considering broader left lane regulations affecting all vehicles. These efforts aim to optimize traffic flow and enhance safety on highways, though concerns regarding enforcement and practical implementation remain prevalent.

Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, spoke on the real point of the bill.

“It simply provides that the left lane is for passing only, with some commonsense exceptions,” she said.

Rep. Mike Klimesh, R-Winneshiek, called attention to the work this bill would do to improve traffic flow.

“Basically, this bill is an effort to prevent left-lane camping on multi-lane highways and improve traffic flow,” he said.

Overall, the ongoing legislative efforts reflect a broader push to address left lane usage, with implications for both truckers and general motorists, as states seek to balance safety concerns with efficient traffic management.

Source: Land Line

The post Six States Reassess Left Lane Use in New Bill appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

On April 21, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission approved a plan to convert most medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in the state to clean energy sources such as electric or hydrogen fuel cells. This ambitious undertaking aims for 40% of semitrailers to be emissions free by 2035.

Modeled after the rule created in 2020 in California, it would not require companies to buy these trucks, but rather orders truck manufacturers to sell the vehicles.

“The manufacturers are required to make sure they meet a certain percentage of sales targets so it will encourage them to bring their vehicles to Colorado and provide attractive pricing for those vehicles,” said Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office.

Companies that operate diesel or natural gas-powered trucks will have to take steps towards reducing ozone pollution levels, which requires the lowering of nitrogen oxide emissions. This new regulation is part of an effort backed by local authorities across the state.

After nearly three days of hearings, the plan was unanimously approved with support from elected officials as well environmental organizations and community groups that want improved air quality.

Despite widespread support for the new electric semitrailer mandate, some have voiced concern over its implementation. Worries include whether the utility grid can handle thousands of daily charges and if technology will develop quickly enough. Independent drivers’ ability to purchase electric vehicles has also been called into question.

Weld County officials have expressed discontent over the omission of natural gas as part of the plan.

Colorado officials are rushing to reduce air pollution after the Environmental Protection Agency reclassified the state’s air quality as being in “severe non-attainment” of federal ozone standards. This designation carries hefty financial consequences for industries and citizens, including costly permits and inflated gas prices during summer months.

Garry Kaufman, director of the state’s Department of Public Health and Environment’s regulatory affairs program shared that cars are only second behind medium- and heavy-duty trucks as the largest source polluting the air in Colorado – stating that this stringent regulation is necessary for protecting public health.

Colorado residents have been dealing with smog from high ozone days, leading to respiratory issues for those outdoors and obscuring the stunning mountain views. These conditions are a stark reminder of how essential it is that we protect our environment.

Residents living in both the Front Range and mountain communities of Colorado have come together to reduce ozone pollution, citing a noticeable haze that has been lingering for years. With EPA mandates now in place, people are hopeful this collaboration will lead to cleaner air altogether.

“It’s not just about heavy powder days or big raft days,” Glenwood Springs Mayor Jonathan Godes testified during a public hearing. “It’s about the health of our entire city.”

The new plan would require auto manufacturers to produce an increasing number of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks each year. Electric batteries, fuel cells and hybrids will all count as part of these strategies with federal and state tax credits helping companies offset any additional costs associated. There’s still some uncertainty about whether or not there’ll be enough inventory for dealerships across the state but when asked about this, Kaufman told the Air Quality Control Commission – it looks like car makers are headed in that direction.

“It’s not science fiction technology,” Kaufman said. “It’s happening now.”

Amidst Colorado’s ambitions to transition towards zero-emission vehicles, the Colorado Motor Carriers Association has voiced opposition and presented a rebuttal. According to the organization’s statement last week during an official hearing, they argue that there have not been enough resources invested into making this change happen nor is their current infrastructure ready for electric semitrailers – it could take up to 1 megawatt of power (equivalent of 350 homes) and eight hours of charging time just for one truck travelling 350 miles. It remains yet unknown how Denver will tackle these challenges in light of increasing sustainability goals throughout the state.

“As more electric trucks hit the road, the projected power needs for a big truck stop by 2035 will equal that of a small town,” the group said in its document, which cited a study by the utility company National Grid Plc. “In that study, they further identified that a connection to the grid that can handle more than 5 megawatts may take up to eight years to build, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. Without some tremendous power upgrades to the grid, the transition to electric trucks will be constrained by a grid unprepared for the demand.”

According to Toor the threat of power grid failure due to increased use of EVs has been exaggerated – there’s enough capacity in place already as state utility companies have anticipated this shift for some time.

Jacob Smith, executive director at Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CCCA), presented data showing that reducing emissions from trucking and van transportation would yield positive health benefits.

“It’s a big deal from an equity perspective,” Smith said. “A lot of vulnerable communities also happen to be in close proximity to highways, manufacturing and distribution centers.”

Source: Transport Topics

The post Colorado Revs up Zero-Emission Trucking appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.