David Cullen

[Former] Business/Washington Contributing Editor

David Cullen has been covering trucking for top-tier media platforms continuously since 1981. He served as executive editor of Heavy Duty Trucking from 2015 to 2020. Prior to that was executive editor of a fleet-focused magazine, where he was on staff from 1989 to 2015. He launched his career in 1981 with DES (Diesel Equipment Superintendent), where he served as managing editor from 1985 to 1989.

Cullen is known for his coverage of legislative and regulatory issues affecting the trucking industry, as well as fleet business related topics.

Cullen is a recipient of several Jesse H. Neal Awards for Outstanding Journalism and numerous ASPBE AZBEE Awards for Excellence in business-to-business journalism, as well as ASPBE's Annual Stephen Barr Award for Individual Feature Writing.

News•by David Cullen•November 11, 2015

Senate Motion Urges No Twin 33s in Highway Bill

The Senate has approved a bipartisan motion that instructs Senate conferees to the highway bill to oppose the inclusion of a provision that would allow 33-foot long double trailers to operate on highways regardless of state laws.

News•by David Cullen•November 10, 2015

Crashing Against Common Sense

ATRI's latest CSA Research Piece found that excluding “non-preventable crashes” from data decreased the Crash Indicator BASIC by nearly 15% among over a dozen carriers studied.

News•by David Cullen•November 5, 2015

Effort Continues to Remove Hiring Threat to Smaller Carriers

Although Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN) pulled an amendment he crafted to fix language regarded as detrimental to smaller carriers before the House passed its highway bill, the lawmaker told HDT that he will “continue to work” to correct the wording during the conferencing process.

News•by David Cullen•November 4, 2015

Truck Weight-Limit Hike Rejected by House

An amendment that would have liberalized truck-weight limits was rejected on Nov. 3 by a vote of 187-236 during floor consideration of the highway bill by the House of Representatives.

News•by David Cullen•November 3, 2015

Amendment Aims to Thwart Threat to Smaller Carriers

An amendment would allow motor carriers that have not been rated by FMCSA to meet safety-eligibility requirements spelled out by the “Interim Hiring Standard” within the proposed long-term highway bill.

Articles•by David Cullen•November 1, 2015

The Pounding of All the Rules

The compounding effect of several new safety regulations in the next few years could have more of a negative impact on industry capacity than the individual regulations themselves.

News•by David Cullen•October 26, 2015

Could House Highway Bill Hurt Smaller Fleets?

A letter signed by eight businesses and associations that together represent over 9,500 motor carriers, brokers and shippers has been sent to the House opposing a section of the long-term highway bill because it “could cripple small-business truckers.”

News•by David Cullen•October 21, 2015

Trucking Scores High with Americans, Poll Shows

A new nationwide poll indicates Americans look favorably on how truckers drive and how trucking supports the economy.

News•by David Cullen•October 21, 2015

Graves to Step Down from ATA Post in 2016

The American Trucking Associations has confirmed a published report that Bill Graves has advised the truck lobby that he will leave his post as president of ATA when his contract expires at the end of next year.

News•by David Cullen•October 21, 2015

ATA: Automatic Braking Should be Standard on Trucks and Cars

The American Trucking Associations has decided to “urge” both truck and car manufacturers to equip all new vehicles with automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems and that ATA has “offered its support for a potential regulation” addressing this type of collision-mitigation safety technology.

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