Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Pennsylvania Bill Would Restrict Truckers' Cell Phone Use

A Pennsylvania state representative wants to limit truck drivers and some other kinds of drivers to hands-free mobile phones

by Staff
December 15, 2000
2 min to read


A Pennsylvania state representative wants to limit truck drivers and some other kinds of drivers to hands-free mobile phones.

Dave Mayernik, a Democrat from Allegheny County, is also proposing a ban on all cell phones used by teenagers with junior licenses and learner's permits and drivers of school and public buses, according to the Associated Press.
The bill calls for a $100 fine, with no points against a driver's record, unless an accident resulted from use of a mobile phone while driving.
This is not the first time Mayernik has attacked cell phone use in vehicles. In the last legislative session, he introduced a bill that would restrict all drivers in Pennsylvania from using mobile phones unless they were "hands free" models. That bill failed.
The bill is one of nearly 80 similar bills introduced in 27 states this year, reports the AP. Since 1997, cell phone restrictions have been proposed in 37 states. However, no state has yet banned cell phones in cars.
Jeffrey Nelson, a spokesman for mobile phone service provider Verizon Wireless of Pennsylvania, told the AP that while the company would like to see hands-free phones used in vehicles, "We don't support the approach of selecting and restricting particular drivers." He said there is no research to support the notion that regular mobile phone users have more accidents than hands-free phone users.
Pennsylvania State Police this year started tracking how many people were using cell phones when they were involved in accidents. Out of 32,000 reportable accidents between February and September, only 139 involved drivers using cellular phones at the time. Only five other states are collecting this type of information.

More Drivers

Truck driver behind the wheel with illustration overlaid of someone handing out cash
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 28, 2026

Competition Heating Up for Truck Drivers

New report reveals rising driver hiring costs, the return of sign-on bonuses, growing AI advantages, and the operational factors shaping driver retention.

Read More →
Line of gray semi trucks with Fraley & Schilling logo
Safety & ComplianceJuly 15, 2026

How Fraley & Schilling Improved Logbook Compliance by Over 50%

Fraley & Schilling needed a way to close a compliance workflow gap in its ELD system without adding more work from driver training, reminders, and back-office follow-ups. It found the answer in a custom driver app.

Read More →
Volvo American Truck Simulator.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseJuly 8, 2026

Volvo Goes Gaming

Volvo has roared into American Truck Simulator with two new flagship trucks.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two black men in safety vests walking together laughing in a truck fleet yard
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJuly 6, 2026

What the Best Fleets to Drive For Teach About Driver Retention

Survey fatigue, AI-powered routing, owner-operator expectations, and the decline of social media all emerged as themes from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program.

Read More →
Podcast thumbnail showing Jane Jazrawy, the words "When Drivers Tune Out," and a line drawing of a truck.
DriversJuly 2, 2026

Driver Retention Lessons From the Best Fleets to Drive For

What separates trucking's best workplaces from the rest? Jane Jazrawy shares the biggest lessons from this year's Best Fleets to Drive For program on driver retention, communication, AI, and workforce trends on the HDT Talks Trucking podcast.

Read More →
Man standing beside tractor-trailer in sepia tone with the words "Farewell CDL" superimposed on top
Driversby Jack RobertsJuly 1, 2026

Farewell, CDL: Why I'm Giving Up My Commercial Driver's License

After more than 20 years as a CDL holder, HDT Executive Editor Jack Roberts is letting his commercial license expire. Not because he wants to — but because trucking's nuclear verdict crisis has made the risks of public-road test drives too great for editors, manufacturers, and everyone involved.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
HDT Talks Trucking thumbnail with photo of Jane Jazrawy and the text,, "When Drivers Tune Out"
Driversby Deborah LockridgeJune 24, 2026

How Top Trucking Fleets Improve Driver Retention [Video]

What do healthy snacks, optimized routing, and just picking up the phone have in common? They're all strategies the Best Fleets to Drive For are using to retain truck drivers.

Read More →
Trucker Path Cargo Net theft overlay.
Driversby News/Media ReleaseJune 23, 2026

Trucker Path Adds Verisk CargoNet Theft Data to Navigation Platform

Trucker Path’s new cargo theft risk overlays give drivers and fleets visibility into high-risk areas, stolen commodity trends, and theft hotspots.

Read More →
Man seated in front of computer with inset of insights generated for a truck driver

Netradyne Intelligence Uses New AI Agents to Automate Response to In-Cab Camera Data

The company called the next-generation in-cab camera safety platform "a fundamental shift from systems that report on what happened to systems that actively drive what should happen next."

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of hourglass and trucks backed up to a dock
DriversJune 15, 2026

Why Truck Detention Keeps Costing Fleets Time and Money

A 2024 ATRI study found detention affects nearly 40% of truckload stops and costs the industry more than $15 billion annually. Despite the toll on drivers, fleets, and supply chains, the problem remains stubbornly persistent.

Read More →