If you are looking for an “Expert” who not only knows the written text of the regulations but also has hands-on trucking and commercial vehicle experience, you have found him! Mr. Napier has worked in the trucking industry and various applications of the commercial vehicle operations. He has worked with the regulations in the real world of trucking and commercial vehicle operations.  This work related experience brings his clients the knowledge that their adversaries will not always have.  Being armed with the upper hand of “Knowledge” is integral in obtaining equitable and expedited settlements.  Mr. Napier will provide his clients with guidance during the Discovery process through the Trial, providing litigants with the analysis, consulting, expert opinions as well as expert witness testimony. (see Curriculum Vitae)

Whenever an accident occurs, involving a commercial vehicle, or tractor/trailer (otherwise may be called “semi’s” or “big trucks”), it seems that a lawsuit becomes the rule rather than the exception. Notwithstanding the litigiousness of our society, a couple of external factors contribute to this pattern.

One external contributing factor is the “deep-pockets” of the motor carrier, which is often backed by the company’s equity, insurance companies (its policies) or trusts; with coverage’s that often range from $750,000.00 to $10,000,000.00. This will sometimes make undeserving motor carriers subject to expensive litigation.

However, some motor carriers have exposed themselves to expensive lawsuits, as well as, damage and punitive awards because of their failure to comply with the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Many times this failure is due to a willful and wantonness of the owners to avoid the expense associated with compliance; training; and even apathy with regards to their obligations for safe operation.

In either case, the Defense or Plaintiff’s attorney will need to involve an objective expert in order to proceed through the complex and voluminous discovery process. Mr. Napier specializes in trucking operations and safety/compliance issues with all commercial vehicles. His hands-on involvement with commercial vehicles and in the trucking industry, makes him one of the most insightful and sought after experts in this field. Mr. Napier has served in almost every capacity in this industry, spanning over forty years. As such, he has obtained a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the standards promulgated in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) as well as numerous other federal, state and local regulations or laws, which combined, regulate commercial vehicle and trucking industry. Additionally, Mr. Napier has come to possess a keen insight as to the accepted industry standards of care and the myriad of issues which seem to be addressed in almost every trucking litigation case. These include, but are not limited to, corporate governance, organization, maintenance, risk management, operations, accounting, safety, sales and numerous other compliance issues. The overriding goal is to provide clients with a honest and forthright assessment of the highest quality.

Mr. Napier spent twenty years serving in the United States Marine Corps. During this time he received extensive training regarding the Code of Federal Regulation (Title 49 CFR) as it may relate to domestic and foreign transportation. He served during the Vietnam conflict, culminating his career with a deployment to the Persian Gulf War. During his career, he supervised numerous aspects of both foreign and domestic transportation. He retired, honorably, as a Master Sergeant from the United States Marine Corps in 1993.

His transition into the private sector began by starting a trucking company prior to his retirement, AA Quality Transport, Inc,. Mr. Napier successfully and profitably operated and subsequently sold this company after four years. In 1993 he took positions with International Transit, Inc. (ITI) and International Transit Company (ITC), as the company’s’ Director of Safety Compliance. Within two and one half years, Mr. Napier was promoted to the Senior Vice President of Risk Management and Corporate Administration. His duties included, but were not limited to, operational and risk management of ITC. He played an integral role in the sale of ITI and ITC to the Florida East Coast Industries, Inc. (parent corporation of the Florida East Coast Railway Company). In 1998 he left these companies and started two others, Semper Fi Logistics, Inc., a logistics and brokerage company, and Semper Fi, Inc., a regional truckload motor carrier. In April of 2002, these companies were sold after four years of successful and profitable operation.

Mr. Napier’s unique experience differs dramatically from nearly all other commercial vehicle or trucking regulation and safety experts in that he has first hand knowledge and understands trucking company organizational structure, has a firm command of regulatory and industry standards of care, and he has held a multitude of positions in the industry ranging from a commercial driver to the duties of a chief executive officer.

This diverse experience includes, but is not limited to, the following issues: