Fleet Management Expert Witnesses: 4

Denny Coughlin is a nationally recognized School Bus Expert. For over 25 years, upon request from the State Department of Education, Mr. Coughlin has successfully instructed over 14,000 Firefighters, Law Enforcement, and EMTs on the characteristics and Safety of School Buses. He has overseen the destruction of almost 200 school buses in drills and demonstrations. Mr. Coughlin entered the school bus industry almost 40 years ago. He has toured every major school bus manufacturing plant in the country, and some in Canada. He stays current with the industry and understands the construction and design of the school bus from all the manufacturers. Mr. Coughlin has worked with Minnesota legislation concerning school buses for many years, served on two governor’s task forces, 1994 and 2006. He has served five National Congress on School Transportation conferences, as a delegate from Minnesota, served on the Body Committee, the Chassis Committee, and Chaired the Chassis Committee. He also Vice-Chaired the Special Education Committee and the Safety and Security Committee. Litigation Support - Mr. Coughlin provides expert witness services in cases involving school bus incidences. His services are available to counsel for both Plaintiff and Defense. His areas of specialization include:

School Bus Construction and Design Accident Impact Features and Designs Accident Severity Evaluation Passenger Impact Designs

Lap Belt / Lap Shoulder Belt Design and Usage Types of School Buses Maintenance Standards for School Buses Evaluation of School Bus Maintenance Programs, Practices and Procedures

View Denny Coughlin's Consulting Profile.

Joel Beal is an expert in Truck Technology with a focus on electronic logging devices (ELDs), telematics, regulatory compliance, and accident analysis. He is a nationally recognized expert with over 35 years of experience.

Mr. Beal's clients have included Alphabet, Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Chevron Corporation, ExxonMobil Corporation, FedEx Corporation, Matheson, Inc., Meta Platforms, Inc., Microsoft Corporation, Petco, Inc., Sysco Corporation, and many others.

Litigation Support: Mr. Beal provides expert testimony for legal proceedings, grievance hearings, depositions, and trials. He also assists in patent and intellectual property cases. Mr. Beal provides services to attorneys representing trucking companies, private fleets, and commercial drivers, as well as for-hire trucking companies, private fleets, and transportation trade associations.

Mr. Beal delivers clear, data-driven insights to support causation and liability arguments. He has provided expert testimony in both state and federal courts.

Areas of Expertise:

Fleet Technologies FMCSA Hours-of-Service Rules Accident / Crash Reconstruction GPS  Engine Control Module (ECM)

Vehicle Camera System Data Telematics Design Regulatory Compliance Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandates Transportation Management Systems

Background Experience: Mr. Beal experience includes leadership in system design, regulatory advisory roles, and extensive involvement with commercial fleet operations. His education includes US, Canadian, State, and Provincial Commercial Motor Vehicles, legislation, regulations, and requirements.

From 2016-2020, Mr. Beal worked with North American Dispatch Systems, LLC, dba LoadTrek Software. LoadTrek, which provided TMS and telematics to specialized fleets in the postal and parcel sectors. In his role as General Manager and VP/Sales he was responsible for sales, training, and support of the LoadTrek TMS, which included dispatch software and ELD.

From 1994-2007, Mr. Beal served as Senior VP for Tripmaster Corporation, which invented Onboard Computers for trucks in 1978. Tripmaster provided systems for most of the US Fortune 500 companies who had private fleets.

View Rockwell Technology's Consulting Profile.

Michael C. Buck, President of MCB Consulting, is a Transportation Expert with over 30 years of experience. He has provided world class Fleet Maintenance Management by developing methodical policies and procedures monitored by performance metrics ensuring regulatory compliance while simultaneously providing leadership with the tools and authority to effectively assist their customers.

Subject Matter Expert / Litigation Support - MCB Consulting consistently decreases deposition and trial preparation time and increases the probability of successful judgments. He has assisted attorneys for both plaintiffs and defendants in gaining a greater settlement or mitigating a client’s losses.

Litigation Procedure – Once we have exchanged a signed NDA (Non-Disclosure) Agreement, I will make an initial review case and determine if and how the case can be supported. An initial report will be tendered defining these key points. An interrogatory (report) will be developed outlining in explicit detail how the case will be supported for the client (Plaintiff or Defendant).   

 Billing Rate and Expenses – 

• Initial review of the case is considered the retainer. 
• Billing rate for consulting, trial, and depositions is $350.00 per hour.
• Travel time is billed at $350.00 per hour for only the initial leg of the trip, not for the return.
• Travel and hotel expenses are billed at cost.
• Meals are not charged to the client.
• Mileage will be billed at the current IRS rate per mile.
• Invoices are due upon receipt and will be subjected to a late fee after 15 days. 

To assist in litigation, MCB Consulting is prepared to accomplish the following:

• Evaluate processes in respect to DOT, EPA, OSHA, State, and local regulations including proper documentation
• Analyze maintenance processes and pertinent subsequent records for adherence to generally accepted industry practices.
• Evaluate and respond to validity of given depositions, trial testimony and exhibits.
• Appear in court as a subject matter expert to support your trial proceedings or be deposed on your behalf.
• Determine if the incident/accident was caused by improper maintenance practices, part failure, operator error, or failure to adhere to regulatory compliance. Evaluate the competence of the Fleet maintenance and Fleet Safety programs.
• Evaluate maintenance processes in respect to manufacturer recommendations.

MCB Consulting would like to assist you in your Commercial Transportation Litigation.

View MCB Consulting's Business Consultant Profile.

Peter J. Sullivan is a World Class Certified ASE Technician and ASE Certified Master Technician in Heavy Duty Truck, Passenger Car / Light Truck, Collision Repair, and Machinist, (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence). He has over 35 years of technical, academic, operational, and managerial experience in the private and commercial transportation, heavy equipment, marine, and recreational vehicle industries.

Mr. Sullivan has extensive experience performing vehicle inspections and downloads of event data recorders and electronically stored information (ESI), including analysis, validation, testing, and preservation on almost all makes and models of vehicles and equipment.

Litigation Support - Mr. Sullivan utilizes his comprehensive legal, technical, and FMCSA / DOT knowledge to specialize in:

Product Defect Cases Driver or Motor Carrier Compliance Electronic Engine Control (ECM) Electronic Throttle Control Electronic Power Steering

Anti-Lock Brake Supplemental Restraint Computerized Systems Closed-loop Systems Hydraulics

He and his team perform accident site and vehicle inspections, perform data downloads, including analysis, on most all makes and models of vehicles and equipment, reconstruct accidents, perform exemplar and product testing, metallurgical testing, fluid analysis, and CMV driver and motor carrier compliance analysis. His primary areas of expertise include medium duty / heavy duty truck, hy-rail, light duty car / truck, motorcycle, ATV, marine, heavy equipment, machinery, tire, bicycle, commercial motor carrier safety and DOT compliance, and commercial motor vehicle driver / operator qualification and compliance, and job site safety.

Mr. Sullivan's services are available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defense. His litigation support services also include expert reports, depositions, and testimony for trial, OSHA, and governmental hearings.

View Peter Sullivan's Consulting Profile.