Trucks / Trucking Transportation Expert Witnesses: 11

Donald L. Hess, President of DLH Associates, Inc., has been providing expert witness services to attorneys and other clients, including Analysis of Vehicle Crashes since 1996. His specialty is crashes involving Commercial Motor Vehicles, including trucks, tractor-trailers, and buses.

With well over two million miles of safe cross-country trucking experience, followed by over 20 years as a driver trainer and creator / administrator of commercial driving programs, Mr. Hess is well-qualified to provide analysis of what drivers are trained to do in specific situations and circumstances, what federal and state regulations call for and require, and all aspects of the safe and proper operation of commercial motor vehicles. As a motorcyclist with over 45 years of riding and training experience, he is also qualified to comment on accidents involving motorcycles.

Mr. Hess has been nationally-recognized as a leader in safety and training issues, is a winner of the American Trucking Associations Million Mile Driving award, and was a winner of the Truckload Carriers Association Lee Crittenden award. Over his long and successful career in trucking and education, he has held numerous national board and officer positions in trucking and education.

Litigation Support - Mr. Hess is uniquely qualified to analyze and comment on driver behavior in virtually any situation, and has established a solid reputation as an expert witness in crashes involving trucks and commercial vehicles for both Plaintiff and Defense in over 500 hundred cases across the country since 1996. His experience includes significant deposition and trial testimony.

He possesses a unique combination of training, hands-on experience, and education that combine to position him as a leading expert in all facets of trucking. Mr. Hess still maintains a valid, current Commercial Driver License fully endorsed for Combination Vehicles, Doubles-Triples, Tankers, Hazardous Materials, Motorcycles, and Buses. He also holds a USDOT Medical Exam Certificate. His CDL and medical certificate have been maintained without interruption or fault since 1971.

Areas of Expertise:

Commercial Driver Training Truck Driver Training Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Commercial Driver Theory Commercial Driver Backing City Driving Federal Hours of Service Requirements

Highway Driving Extreme Weather Operations Live Skid Pad / Skid Prevention and Recovery Emergency Driving Skills Warehouse Issues Loading Dock Issues Forklifts

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.

Ricky Thigpen has over 30 years of experience in the area of Law Enforcement and Transportation Safety. Mr. Thigpen has training throughout the years in Law Enforcement and as an Investigator performing Compliance Reviews on behalf of the Texas DPS and FMCSA. He is also an Associate Instructor for the FMCSA National Training Center. 

Litigation Support - Since 2013, Mr. Thigpen has been providing expert witness services for transportation-related incidents. He has been a US DOT consultant since 2008. He has assisted over 400 companies with Transportation related issues. Services include site inspection, thorough reporting, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

FMCSA Regulations FMCSA Compliance and Audits Texas Trucking Regulations Texas Transportation Code Texas Administrative Code

Commercial Vehicle Crash Investigation  Transportation Safety / Transportation Compliance DOT Compliance Drug Testing Proper Load Securement

Background Experience - Prior to the formation of Axiom First Group, LLC, Mr. Thigpen worked with Axis Transport, LLC as their Senior Safety Officer responsible for DOT and FMCSA compliance. The 3 years before that, he served as the DOT Consultant with Disa Global Solutions where he consulted with DISA client motor carriers regarding FMCSA compliance and audits.

From 2008-2019, Mr. Thigpen was the Principal at Compliance Management, LLC, where he conducted audits for federally-regulated motor carriers and served as expert in litigation matters.

Brian H. Aanestad has over 30 years of Construction and Fleet experience, including Heavy Equipment, Truck, and Trailer Transport. He currently serves as President and Construction Consultant at Inland Valley Engineering, Inc. and as an Expert Witness for Discover Experts.

Mr. Aanestad is a Consultant and Expert witness for matters including Underground Construction and Placement of Underground Utilities. He has decades of experience overseeing the placement of underground utilities, pipelines, and conduit. In addition, he has almost 20 years of experience in the Full-Service Truck Leasing industry, overseeing transportation, logistics, leasing, rental, and maintenance activities. His company was honored for its work on the Scripps Seawater Return Lines at the University of California, San Diego. The complex, $2.5 million project included nearly 4,500 feet of piping.

Litigation Support - Mr. Aanestad provides expert services to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant which include on-site review, written reports, depositions, mediation, and trial testimony as needed. Most cases end in mediation or negotiated settlement.

Clients have included such firms as Heffernan & Boortz LLP, Wood Smith Henning & Berman LLP, Rutan & Tucker LLP, and Dowling/ Aaron, Chancio Brown LLC., Southern California Edison, Vast Networks (CVIN), City of Kansas City Missouri, and the City of Oceanside.  

Areas of Expertise:

Underground Trenchless Public Utilities Fiber Optics Installation   Engineering Contractor Negligence Feasibility Studies Underground Utility Easements Construction Standard of Care Construction Defects, Delays, Change Orders Construction Dispute Resolution Construction Damages / Cost Analysis Construction Equipment / Pipelines Heavy Trucks and Trailers

Forklifts Cranes Skip Loaders Backhoes Excavators Drilling & Boring Machines Horizontal Directional Drills Hydraulic Moles Truck Leasing, Rental, Maintenance Transportation Logistics DOT / BIT Review

Albert Ferrari, PE, CSP. is a Mechanical Engineer and Safety Professional experienced in both the micro and in the macro focus. Mr. Ferrari is particularly sensitive to reliability, safety, and function. His Forensic Engineering experience includes 30+ years in Accident Reconstruction, Causal Analysis, Failure Analysis, Codes, Standards and Regulations, Consulting and Testimony.

Mr. Ferrari provides Expert Witness Consulting and Testimony services to Defense attorneys, Plaintiff attorneys, Claims adjusters and Insurance companies. 

Engineering Work Includes:

• Automotive Engineering
• Pedestrian Facilities
• Machine Design
• Thermal and Mechanical Energy Analysis
• Structural Load and Stress Analysis
• Piping and Tanks
• System Safety and Human Factors Analysis for Design of Hazardous Equipment

Evaluations Include

• Cause of Injury, Loss and Damage
• Adequacy of Products, Systems, Materials, Practices
• Standard of Care of Design, Manufacturing, Use, Maintenance

Services Include:

• Investigation and Consultation
• Diagnostics, Testing and Analysis
• Technical Photography and Video
• Literature and Standards Studies
• Codes and Regulations Analysis
• Reports and Testimony
• Evaluations

JP Transportation Safety Consulting, LLC (JPTSC) has more than one hundred years of combined experience serving the Shipping and Transportation industry relative to Workplace Safety and Regulatory Compliance. JPTSC helps companies of all types and sizes that operate commercial motor vehicles, as well as shippers and carriers of hazardous materials, with respect to compliance with Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations.

Litigation Support - JPTSC provides expert services to attorneys representing Plaintiff and Defense. They consult on cases involving:

Decision Driving DOT Compliance Hazardous Materials Compliance Cargo Securement

Vehicle Maintenance Practices and Standards Workplace Safety Hours of Service Drug & Alcohol Compliance

	Jon (Paul) Dillard, President and Co-Founder, has fulfilled all of the educational requirements, acquired the professional experience and knowledge of the field, and attained the level of expertise and professionalism in Motor Fleet Supervision as a Certified Director of Safety from the North American Transportation Management Training Institute. He has been employed in the motor carrier industry for over 30 years and has successfully managed the safety, compliance, and claims for two major motor carriers as a Vice President and/or Director of Safety resulting in satisfactory compliance audits and significant reductions in accident frequency. Mr. Dillard is experienced and trained in: Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety and Compliance - Quality Management - Defensive Driving - Accident Investigation - Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations - Inspection / Maintenance - OSHA - Cargo Loading and Securement - Hazardous Materials Transportation.
	Jon O. Cook, COO, Co-Founder, is a former Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver and Owner Operator with over 1,000,000 over-the-road miles to his credit. He is a certified commercial driver examiner, having trained and road-tested hundreds of commercial drivers. Mr. Cook has been employed in various capacities in the trucking industry over the last 36 years. He served as Director of Safety for a large food-store chain in Birmingham, Alabama covering seven states. Mr. Cook also remains active in the Alabama Trucking Association. He has served on the Board of Directors and was previously Chairman of the Board and as President and Chairman of the Board for the North Alabama Chapter of the National Safety Council. Mr. Cook is experienced and trained in: DOT Compliance / Safety - Driver Recruiting - Qualification - Training and Maintenance Programs - Road Testing - Accident Avoidance - Defensive Driving - Fuel Economy - Cargo Securement - Proper Equipment Usage.
	Kenneth M. Price, a recent addition to JPTSC, has spent the last 5 years As a Motor Carrier Safety Specialist with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. His duties included planning, scheduling, and conducting compliance reviews on motor carriers throughout the State of Alabama to assure compliance with regulations, policies, and /or guidelines, including those concerned with the transportation and handling of hazardous materials. Mr. Price also assisted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Trial Attorney documenting evidence for a case that was going before an Administrative Law Judge. He has also worked with the Trial Attorney documenting evidence for the Field Administrators Reply to Preliminary Order on Petition for Review of Safety Ratings. Mr. Price is experienced and trained in: Compliance Reviews - Hazardous Materials - Safety Instructor - Motor Coach Bus Driver Qualifications.

View JP Transportation Safety's Consulting Profile.

Lewis Grill is a Trucking Expert with over 45 years and millions of miles of experience as a truck driver, owner operator, truck driver training instructor, truck driver training program director, safety director. Mr. Grill is currently licensed and certified as a commercial driver for tractor-trailer with endorsements for hazardous materials, tank truck, double and triple trailers, passenger carriage, and school buses. He is certified for air brake inspection and repair, operations of Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs), and as a Pilot / Escort Driver.

Lew Grill has testified as a trucking expert witness in litigation matters for law firms, trucking fleets, trucking insurance companies, and truck driving schools in Federal and State courts across the nation. His litigation support services involve the Safe Operation of Commercial Motor Vehicles and the Standard of Care of truck drivers and motor carriers.

Areas of Expertise:

• Truck Accident Investigation
• Advanced Accident Reconstruction
• Human Factors Analysis
• Heavy Truck Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Pedestrian Motor Vehicle Accident Reconstruction
• Vehicle Dynamics

View Lewis Grill'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.

Jo-Anne Daniels has been a International Trade and Transportation Industry consultant for over 25 years. She is the principal and founder of Trade Resources & Associates, a consulting firm that specializes in cross-border transactions, trade compliance, and transportation management.

Ms. Daniels has been a Licensed Customs Broker since 1987 and has experience leading global trade compliance and transportation for multinational corporations, such as, Micron Technology, Aviza, Inc., Flextronics (formerly Solectron), and Applied Materials. She is a frequent invited speaker for trade associations and logistics organizations. Ms. Daniels authored several industry publications and is the past President of the Professional Association of Exporters and Importers.

Litigation Support - Ms. Daniels is an experienced expert witness and has provided expert witness litigation services to both corporations and individuals. She is qualified to provide independent expert opinions, expert reports and declarations, and expert witness testimony at deposition in the matters of International Trade, U.S. Customs laws, U.S. Export Administration, and International Traffic in Arms Regulation and practice.

Areas of Expertise:

Customs and Export Compliance Transportation Management Cargo and Shipping Freight Forwarding Ocean Cargo Logistics

Reverse Logistics and Warehousing Planning and Execution of the Movement of Goods (Domestic / International) Movement of Goods via Trucking and other Transportation Modalities Supply Chain Security Review

View Trade Resources & Associates' Consulting Profile.

Scott L. Turner is a highly qualified Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Transportation Expert, FMCSR Regulatory and PHMSA-HMR Expert with approximately 30-years experience in the highly specialized field of CMV crashes and incidents, and 16 years as the CEO of a nationwide CMV crash & HazMat disaster response corporation. 

Mr. Turner's career includes personal response and/or investigation of over 1,000 CMV crashes, 200 cargo-tank truck crashes/incidents and a multitude of industrial setting incidents including fixed facilities, loading docks and loading rack disasters. His FMCSR and PHMSA knowledge (Federal Enforcement Training), detailed reporting and testimony can be a focal point of any civil litigation, where commercial motor vehicle crashes and/or transit incidents are at issue, with or without hazmat involvement. Mr. Turner is qualified in both the Federal Court system as well as multiple States throughout the United States and testifies on an approximate 50/50 average of Defense to Plaintiff ratio.

Areas of Expertise:

• Level 1 FMCSA Inspections
• Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Post-Crash Inspection
• CMV Post-Crash Investigation
• Driver Qualifications
• HOS / Fatigue Driving
• Motor Carrier Fitness Standards
• Safety Programs
• Trucking Industry Standards
• Cargo-Tank Truck Incidents / Crashes
• CMV loading/Off-loading Cases (van, cargo-tank, flatbed)
• Flatbed, Cargo Securement Failure
• Loading Dock Incidents w/ CMV
• Forklift Incidents w/ CMV
• CMV Crash Involving Hazmats
• Loading Rack Explosions / Disasters
• Pedestrian v. CMV Incidents

Services Include:

• Litigation Support
• Trial Preparation Consulting
• Courtroom Testimony
• Commerical Vehicle Accident Investigations
• CMV, Highway Construction Zone Crashes
• CMV Loading and Offloading Investigation
• Level 1 FMCSA Audits
• Load Securement Incidents

Forty plus years in the Transportation Industry as a professional driver, small fleet owner to a Director of Safety, Consultant and Expert Witness. Ensure compliance with the FMCSA, PHMSA, TSA and OSHA Regulations.

Review records and materials, provide verbal consultation, opinions, and provide deposition and trial testimony when needed. Review records to screen potential cases for merit and identify case strengths. Provide verbal consultation to clients, unpacking complex concepts.