Senator Schumer wants tighter trucking regulations

Albany, N.Y. (AP)

Sunday, June 15 2014, 02:12 PM EDT

Albany, N.Y. (AP) — In the wake of an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike that injured actor and comedian Tracy Morgan, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is launching a plan to keep tired truck drivers off the road.

The New York Democrat on Sunday is asking the Department of Transportation to speed up a requirement that companies and drivers use electronic logging devices to accurately log hours driven. He says most truck drivers currently log their hours manually.

Schumer is also asking for the DOT to issue a study and increase insurance coverage by trucking companies in the case of a massive accident.

The announcement comes on the heels of a crash involving a tractor-trailer and a limo bus in which Morgan was riding. Morgan, the former star of “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock,” and two others were critically injured, and comedian James McNair was killed in the accident on June 7.