HERNDON, VA -- A new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rule went into effect Jan. 3 that prohibits an estimated 4 million interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving. To help commercial fleet operators conform to the new regulation, software provider ZoomSafer has released “FMCSA Cell Phone Use Regulations: A Guide to Compliance for Truck and Bus Fleets.”

Under the new rule, individual drivers face civil penalties up to $2,750, while employers can be held liable and fined up to $11,000 per infraction committed while drivers are carrying out company business or otherwise acting on the employer's behalf.

"FMCSA has made it abundantly clear that employers are responsible if their employees violate the rule," said ZoomSafer CEO Matt Howard. "This new white paper offers commercial fleet operators a detailed explanation of the handheld phone ban and guidance on how to measure and manage employee compliance."

To download a free copy of ZoomSafer's guide, click here.