Bill > S2342

This bill establishes comprehensive regulations for railroad crew transportation vehicles in Massachusetts, creating new rules to ensure safety and oversight. The legislation defines two types of vehicles: "contract crew transportation vehicles" (motor vehicles with up to 15 passengers used primarily to transport railroad crews) and "passenger-carrying vehicles" (railroad-owned transportation for employees). The Rail and Transit Division of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is granted extensive authority to regulate these vehicles, including developing safety standards, insurance requirements, driver qualifications, and training protocols. Key provisions include mandating $5 million in liability insurance and $1 million in uninsured motorist coverage, requiring at least 4 hours of safety training for drivers, and establishing a three-year disqualification period for drivers with multiple serious traffic violations or specific types of driving offenses. The bill also requires drivers to report certain traffic convictions within 10 days and empowers the Rail and Transit Division to investigate safety complaints, assess penalties, and potentially suspend or revoke a company's ability to provide crew transportation. Additionally, the division must compile and make available data on safety incidents while protecting the confidentiality of individual employee complaint information, with the option to conduct vehicle inspections and potentially request assistance from state police.