Hours-of-service compliance is centered on two areas, limits and logs. Both drivers and carriers are held responsible for compliance with these regulations. Here's a back-to-basics rundown:
Limits
The limits are actually fairly straightforward. These include no driving once you reach:
- The end of the 14th hour after coming on duty for the day
- 11 hours of driving
- 60 hours in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on whether the company operates vehicles 7 days a week
The hours that count toward the 14 and 11 hour limits are started and stopped by a break of 10 hours or more.
14-hour rule
Once you reach the end of the 14th consecutive hour since coming on duty from your 10-hour or more break, you cannot drive a commercial vehicle. You can work, but you cannot drive. If you started your day at 7 a.m.., you cannot drive a commercial vehicle any more as of 9:00 p.m. Waiting to load or unload, meals, other breaks, breakdowns, etc., do not impact the 14-hour limit.
There are only a couple of exceptions to the 14-hour limit, but they are fairly narrow exceptions requiring certain conditions be met. The first exception applies only to drivers of vehicles that do not require a CDL to operate and stay within 150 air-miles of, and return to, the work reporting location. This exception allows the driver to drive up to the 16th hour twice during every seven days.
The other exception allows a driver that has returned to his or her work reporting location the last five working days to drive through the 16th hour once every seven days, or once since the driver’s last 34-hour restart. One requirement that is unique to this exception is that the driver must be released for a 10-hour break after the 16th hour, not just “stop driving.”
11 hours driving
Within the 14 hours, you can drive a total of 11 hours. Any time at the controls of a commercial vehicle while on the roadway counts as driving.
There is only one exception to the 11-hour driving limit, and that is the “adverse driving conditions” exception at §395.1(b). This allows a driver to complete his or her run or reach a place of safety using up to an extra two hours of driving time if delayed by adverse conditions that could not have been known at the time of dispatch. However, this exception does not allow the driver to go over his or her 14-hour limit.
Please note that drivers driving in Alaska and passenger-carrying drivers (bus and motor coach drivers) have different daily hours-of-service limits.
60/70-hour rule
To offset the effects of cumulative fatigue, drivers are not allowed to drive if they have been on duty for 60 hours over the last 7 days, or 70 hours over the last 8 days. Companies that operate vehicles seven days a week are allowed to use the 70-hour limit, if they choose to.
Much like the other limits, the driver can continue to work once the 60- or 70-hour limit is reached, but the driver cannot drive.
Any break of 34 hours or more will allow the driver to “restart” the 7 or 8 day days. In effect, once the driver has 34 consecutive hours off, the driver’s total hours for the last 7 or 8 days go to “zero.”
New for July
As of July 1, drivers can only take a restart if the driver has not had a restart in the last 7 days (168 hours) and if the 34 hours include two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods. If the 34 hours did not include these two periods, it is not a restart even if it is 34 hours long (§395.3(c) and (d)).
Also new for July is that a driver cannot drive if it has been 8 hours since the driver’s last off-duty break of 30 minutes or more. Basically, a driver will need to stop and take a 30-minute break if it has been 8 hours since the last break of 30 minutes or more and the driver wants to continue or start driving (§395.3(a)(3)(ii)).
The ‘records’
The main record that is used to show compliance with these limits is the driver’s daily log, officially known as the “driver’s record of duty status” (see §395.8). The driver’s log must account for all activities based on the four “duty lines” on the “grid graph.” These duty lines are:
- Off duty: Driver has no responsibility to the carrier, the vehicle, or the cargo, is performing no work for the carrier (or anyone else), and is free to pursue activities of his/her choosing.
- Sleeper berth: Time spent is the “bunk” (sleeper berth) on the truck.
- Driving: Time spent at the controls of a commercial vehicle on the road.
- On duty: The driver is performing any work for, or has any responsibility to the carrier. Waiting to load or unload, loading and unloading, inspecting the vehicle, fueling the vehicle, standing by, and taking a drug test (including driving to and from) would all be examples of on-duty time.
As well as the grid graph accounting for the time, the log must contain other information. This includes the date, miles driven, driver’s signature, co-driver’s name (if there is one), shipment number (or shipper and cargo), starting time, carrier’s name and address, total hours on each duty line, and the remarks section where the location of any duty change is recorded. A duty change is any time the driver changes duty lines.
The driver’s log must be current at all times to the “last duty change.” If the driver changes duty from on duty to driving at 3 p.m. at Toledo, Ohio, and the driver’s log is checked at 6 p.m. by an officer, the log will need to show the driver driving since 3 p.m. starting at Toledo, Ohio.
Electronic options
There are electronic versions of logs available. These fall into two general categories, automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRDs), and electronic logging applications (apps) and programs.
AOBRDs are connected to the vehicle and automatically determine when the driver is driving. If the driver is using an AOBRD, the officers will only ask to see the screen, smartphone, or tablet that is used to display the data the AOBRD has recorded. These are discussed in the regulations at §395.2 and §395.15.
Electronic logging apps and programs that are not getting movement data from the vehicle to determine when the driver is driving are basically an electronic version of a paper log, and are regulated under the “regular” log requirements in §395.8. One key point to using such electronic logging apps and programs is that the driver must be able to print his/her logs on demand during a roadside inspection.
Exceptions
There are a couple of exceptions in the regulations that allow the driver to keep time records rather than having to complete a log. These apply to drivers that stay within 100 or 150 air-miles of their work reporting location and return nightly. There are other requirements, so if you think one of these exceptions might apply, check §395.1(e).
There are other “specialized” exceptions as well. These apply to driver-salespeople, drivers involved exclusively in oilfield operations, drivers specializing in transporting construction materials and supplies, and certain drivers transporting agricultural products. Each of these exceptions has certain requirements that must be met to use them, and they only exempt the driver from specific hours-of-service regulations (see §395.1).
Who is responsible for what?
The driver is always responsible for compliance with the limits and logging requirements. The driver can be written a violation on a roadside inspection report and fined (and maybe even placed out of service), if:
- The driver is not able to present a log or an acceptable electronic record from an AOBRD for today and the previous seven days at the time of the inspection.
- The driver’s log is not current to the last change in duty status at the time of the inspection.
- The driver is operating over a limit or has operated over a limit in the past seven days.
- The driver has falsified a log entry.
The company (the carrier whose DOT number the driver was operating for) is responsible for making sure that:
- Drivers submit the completed logs within 13 days.
- Drivers are operating within the limits.
- Drivers are submitting logs that are true and correct (not false and containing all information).
- The logs are retained for 6 months.
To verify that drivers are obeying the hours-of-service regulations, the company must have a mechanism in place to verify compliance, and catch and prevent violations. This is referred to as a “safety management control.” The safety management control must at least be able to make sure that drivers are obeying the limits and not submitting false logs.
During the six months that the company must keep logs on file, the logs are subject to investigation by FMCSA safety investigators. The investigation involves:
- Checking form and manner (all required information is on all logs),
- Checking for compliance with the 11, 14, and 60/70 hour limits, and
- Comparing the logs to supporting documents (such as fuel receipts, toll receipts, inspection reports, accident reports, etc.) to verify that the logs have not been falsified.
Any violations discovered can result in the company being fined. In some cases, the driver may be fined for violations discovered during an investigation as well. If the violations are frequent and serious enough, the company may end up with a lowered safety rating, or worse, ordered out of service.
The company is also responsible for making sure that any assignment given to the driver can be completed legally. As the hours-of-service limits are what determine how many miles a driver can drive and how much work a driver can do, it is something that must be considered with every work assignment.
This great article was written by Tom Bray, editor in the Transportation Publishing Department of the Editorial Resource Unit at J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc, specializing in motor carrier safety and operations management. The article was originally posted on Truckinginfo.com.
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Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The FMCSA sent a proposal to the White House March 26th to begin the process of establishing a national drug and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial drivers. If it's established, a clearinghouse would be available for employers to check for drivers that tested positive for drugs or alcohol while on the job. The rule would eliminate a loophole that allows drivers to “job hop” by not reporting failed or refused drug tests on applications.
According to the FMCSA, the rule would require employers to report “verified positive” drug and alcohol tests as well as refusals by drivers to submit to testing to a federal database. Employers could then access the database prior to hiring drivers.
“This rulemaking is intended to increase highway safety by ensuring CDL holders, who have tested positive or have refused to submit to testing, have completed the U.S. DOT’s return-to-duty process before driving CMVs in interstate or intrastate commerce,” the agency states in the limited available public information.
“It is also intended to ensure that employers are meeting their drug and alcohol testing responsibilities.”
The American Trucking Associations also supports the bill. “We’re very excited that the rule has gone over to [the Office of Management and Budget],” said Abigail Potter, a research analyst for the American Trucking Associations’ regulatory and policy affairs department. “This is something we've been advocating for since the late '90s.”
“We’re pleased and surprised that this is coming through, and I assume the rule shouldn't be more controversial,” Potter said. “It is something that will help to improve safety.”
Carriers would need written consent from the driver and/or applicant before making the query to the clearinghouse.
A final rule is still a ways off, but the highway bill – the $105 billion Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) – requires the creation of a drug and alcohol clearinghouse by Oct. 1, 2014.
The department has 90 days to look over the proposal with a target date of May 28, 2013.
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Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Last week the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced that a record 74,072 truck and bus inspections took place during this year’s Operation Roadcheck, the world’s largest annual 72-hour roadside inspection and enforcement blitz for CDL drivers and trucking companies.
There were a total of 48,815 North American Standard Level 1 inspections - the most comprehensive roadside inspection - resulting in a total of 22.4% of vehicles, and 3.9% of drivers, being placed out of service. Both percentages are the second-lowest achieved in Roadcheck’s 25-year history, and continue a downward trend.
The overall OOS rates for the entire event in 2012, including all inspection levels, were 20.9% for vehicles and 4.6% for drivers, both of which were higher than Roadcheck 2011.
Despite the positive trend on Level 1 inspections, the CVSA expressed concern that one in five vehicles selected for inspection was found with a violation serious enough to be considered an imminent safety hazard. While the attention to maintenance and regulatory compliance generally is improving, more needs to be done by industry and enforcement alike.
“Once again, Roadcheck effectively identifies and removes from the road truck and bus companies that cut corners at the expense of safety,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “FMCSA embraces Roadcheck 100 percent and for good reason – it enforces high safety standards and improves roadway safety for everyone.”
The 74,072 inspections conducted during Roadcheck 2012 included 652 inspections of passenger-carrying vehicles and 4,826 inspections of vehicles carrying hazardous materials. Of passenger-carrying vehicles inspected, 8.6% of vehicles and 2.5% of drivers were placed out of service. Of vehicles carrying hazardous materials, 15.6% of vehicles and 2.3% of drivers were placed out of service.
Roadcheck 2012 took place June 5-7, with an average of more than 1,000 trucks or buses inspected every hour. Inspections included an examination of driver license and credentials, proper and complete records-of-duty status, safety belt use, driving behaviors and other driver safety conditions. Vehicles were examined for proper brake system maintenance, tire condition, function of lighting systems, properly secured loads and other vehicle condition-related violations.
About CVSA
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The CVSA's mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. CVSA member jurisdictions are represented by various Departments of Transportation, Public Utility and Service Commissions, State Police, Highway Patrols and Ministries of Transport.
In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Operation Roadcheck is a 72-hour roadside inspection and enforcement blitz in which an estimated 10,000 inspectors set up more than 1,000 checkpoints on highways across North America to monitor truck safety compliance. Since its inception in 1988, Operation Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world.
As in past events, this year's Roadcheck will focus on commercial vehicle and driver safety and security. However, with the advent of CSA, these roadside inspections now play an even more important role. That’s because all inspection violations will become part of your CSA record. The Safety Measurement System (SMS) uses the on-road safety performance of carriers and drivers to identify candidates for interventions, determine the specific safety problems a carrier or driver exhibits, and to monitor whether safety problems are improving or worsening.
Here are five steps you can take to make sure you survive Roadcheck 2012:
- Understand the inspection process. The roadside inspection involves a comprehensive 37-step procedure which includes items related to vehicle, driver and cargo safety. Click here for a complete list of the inspection procedures.
- Know the most frequently cited violations. Last year, CMV enforcement conducted nearly 71,000 truck and bus inspections during the three-day event, focusing primarily on the Level 1 inspection. HOS logbook violations led overwhelmingly as a percentage of all driver violations cited, as over 50% of drivers placed OOS because of HOS violations. With CSA’s Fatigued Driving BASIC, these HOS violations affect both the driver’s and the carrier’s CSA scores. Only 14% of those drivers inspected indicated they were using electronic logs. For equipment, the most frequent violations include brake issues, tires and wheels, lights, load securement, steering, frames, and suspensions. See Top Hazards for Truck Drivers during Roadside Inspections.
- Keep your vehicle clean and well maintained.
- Conduct thorough pre- and post-trip inspections.
- Treat the inspector with courtesy and respect.
For more information on Operation Roadcheck, visit http://www.cvsa.org/. The 2012 edition of the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Handbook and Pictorial is also now available for purchase.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
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Driving Ambition is proud to be a sponsor of the Indiana Motor Truck Association’s Spring Council Conference. The annual Conference, put on by the Safety & Maintenance Council, will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, May 9-10, at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel at Keystone Crossing.
This informative, two-day Conference will feature a variety of critical transportation-related topics, including:
- Driver Recruitment & Retention – presented by Jeremy Reymer, President & CEO of Driving Ambition
- Driver Wellness – presented by Chuck Gillespie, Program Director for Wellness Council of Indiana
- Cargo Theft – presented by Ari Berlin, Federal Bureau of Investigations
- FMCSA Update (CSA, EOBRs, HOS, and Sleep Apnea) – Kenneth Strickland, Division Administrator for FMCSA
- Fuel / Energy Price Advisory – presented by Jack Hunter, Risk Management Consultant for INTL FCStone, Inc.
- Alternative Fuels – Panel discussion led by Kellie Walsh, Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition
- Maintenance Compliance – presented by Michael Irwin, DEKRA Automotive North America, Commercial Fleet Performance Systems
- Indiana Transportation Projects – Keith Bucklew, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT)
The Spring Council Conference begins in the afternoon on Wednesday, May 9, followed by an Awards Dinner featuring key-note speaker Rob Abbott, VP of Safety Policy for ATA. The Conference will end before noon on Thursday, May 10.
At only $80 for IMTA members to attend (only $130 for non-members), this is an incredible value!
For more information, and to register online, click here.
Register now and join us for this important industry update!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
During last month’s Mid-America Trucking Show, an FMCSA roadside inspector demonstrated key problem areas for drivers, fleets, and truck owners.
For drivers, the FMCSA inspector said the top five roadside violations are:
- Logbook issues – either not current, not signed, or otherwise incomplete
- Driver’s record of duty status isn’t current
- Driver isn’t in possession of a medical certificate
- Driver doesn’t speak English
- Fleet requires or permits driver to drive after 14 hours on duty
The inspector indicated that the top five Out-of-Service violations include:
- Fleet requires or permits driver to drive after 14 hours on duty
- False reports of driver record of duty status
- No record of duty status
- Driver fails to retain logs for previous seven days
- Carriers requiring or allowing drivers to drive more than 11 hours
The top five vehicle violations were also identified:
- No, or defective, lighting devices or reflective material, as required
- Required lamps are inoperative
- Tire tread depth of less than 2/32-inch
- Inspection or repair and maintenance of parts and accessories
- Oil or grease leaks
The inspector indicated that the top five vehicle Out-of-Service violations are:
- Inoperative turn signals
- Flat tire or exposed fabric
- Inspection or repair and maintenance of parts and accessories
- Inadequate brake tubing and hoses
- Stop lamp violations
The inspector gave a list of “pointers” to help drivers pass a roadside inspection:
- Be prepared
- Have a valid CDL
- Keep current logs
- Drive within allowed hours-of-service
- Wear your seatbelt
- Know the critical vehicle inspection items
- Have a professional attitude
- Keep in mind BLT - brakes, lighting and tires
- Know the three P’s of hauling hazmat – papers, placards and packaging
The inspector referenced the following critical vehicle inspection items:
- Fuel system
- Brakes
- Coupling devices (fifth wheel)
- Lighting devices
- Steer mechanism
- Suspension
- Frame and body components
- Tires and wheels
- Windshield wipers
- Load securement
- Rear view mirrors
- Horn
- Exhaust
- Emergency equipment
After an inspection, the FMCSA inspector said that drivers or fleets should repair out-of-service defects before operating the truck again. If that’s not possible, get the truck towed, satisfy any driver out-of-service requirements before driving again, repair non-out-of-service vehicle defects and turn in the inspection report within 15 days.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The FMCSA recently announced enhancements to the CSA methodology, specifically the Carrier Safety Measurement System (SMS).
This release is the first in a series of improvements to SMS that will take place up to twice a year. The process includes making a public announcement of planned changes, allowing carriers to privately view the impact the changes will have on their BASIC scores, soliciting feedback on the planned changes, modifying the planned changes (if appropriate), and making the new scores based on the methodology changes publicly available several months later.
The announced enhancements include:
- Moving Load Securement Violations to the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC – All load/cargo securement violations will be moved from the Cargo-related BASIC to the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC. This change helps to mitigate the inappropriate bias against flatbed carriers with their Cargo-related BASIC scores.
- Creation of a Hazardous Materials (HM) BASIC – A separate basic will be created to measure compliance with HM regulations. The Cargo-related BASIC will be renamed the HM BASIC and will measure only those carriers that transport placarded quantities of HM. This change helps to mitigate the inappropriate bias against HM carriers with their Cargo-related BASIC scores since their compliance with HM regulations was being compared against carriers that don’t transport HM.
- Applicability of Lower HM Thresholds – FMCSA will be changing the criteria for determining which carriers transporting HM will be subject to the lower thresholds in each BASIC. Under the new methodology, a motor carrier will be labeled as an “HM Carrier” and subject to the lower thresholds if the carrier:
- Has had at least two roadside inspections involving placarded quantities of HM in the prior 24 months, with one inspection occurring within the past 12 months
- Has 5% or more roadside inspections involving placarded quantities of HM
Motor carriers can now access the SMS Preview through two websites:
- Visit the CSA Website and log in with an FMCSA-issued U.S. DOT number and a personal identification number (PIN)
- Log in to the FMCSA Portal and select the “CSA Outreach” link.
FMCSA encourages motor carriers to view the SMS Preview to see how methodology changes will affect their SMS results.
On the CSA Website’s Resources page, motor carriers and other stakeholders can access a foundational document that provides additional information about the first set of SMS changes.
A Federal Register notice outlining the changes is also available for review. Written comments regarding the changes can be filed to the Federal Docket Management System at http://www.regulations.gov, Docket ID Number FMCSA-2012-0074.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The FMCSA has posted a new document on its website illustrating 20 logbook examples under the new Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules that were published Dec. 27 of last year.
The examples include logbooks with no violations, then logbooks with violations of the rules such as the daily driving limit and 14-hour driving window, the 30-minute break provision, the 34-hour restart provision and sleeper berth use.
Most of the new HOS rules are scheduled to go into effect in July 2013, but a new definition of off-duty time and a definition of egregious violations went into effect on February 27.
View the 20 logbook examples here
The final HOS rule remains a contentious issue, as multiple suits have been filed against the new rule.
For more information on the Final HOS Rule, click here.
HOS Final Rule Resources
Complete Final Rule
FMCSA’s Final HOS Rule Page
FMCSA’s Questions & Answers Page
FMCSA's Final HOS Comparison Chart
Transport Topics Special HOS Report
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Trucking Companies: Update Your Cell Phone Policy
Article provided by Antony E. Palmer, Jr., Attorney with AldenLaw
The age of the cell phone ban is upon us. Effective January 3, 2012, the FMCSA banned the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving a CMV and stiffened penalties against drivers and trucking companies that violate that ban. With a possible fine of up to $11,000 per offense for employers and $2,750 for drivers, trucking companies surely want to protect themselves and establish a written policy to address cell phone usage by drivers.
AldenLaw encourages a proactive approach in updating a carrier’s mobile communications policies according to the following recommendations:
- Make your policy uniform. While the federal government and states may have different rules on the use of hand-held mobile phones, AldenLaw recommends that trucking companies adopt one uniform policy to eliminate confusion. Where the federal law and state law conflict, a company should adopt a policy that follows the more stringent government restriction.
- Be clear in what is prohibited and what is allowed. At a minimum, an employer should include a provision that the company does not allow or require drivers to use hand-held mobile phone while driving a CMV. A policy should also mirror the regulation by prohibiting its drivers from dialing, using a push-to-talk function on a mobile phone, and reaching for the phone. Certain communication options remain legal for drivers, such as hands-free mobile phone use and touching a single button on a mobile phone, earpiece, steering wheel, or instrument panel.
- Establish specific consequences for violating the policy. The consequences could be warnings, termination, or other disciplinary actions, including a fine. A driver needs to know what the specific consequence of his violation will be. And of course, after setting the policy, enforce it.
- Disclose the policy to your drivers. It is advisable that the employer include a written acknowledgement to the driver that indicates that the driver understands the policy and agrees to abide by it.
AldenLaw is a law firm in Columbus, Ohio that focuses on transportation law. AldenLaw provides guidance and assistance to carriers on issues relating to safety regulations, business matter, and CDL traffic cases. AldenLaw also represents carriers before federal and state enforcement agencies. The founder of AldenLaw, John L. Alden, has practiced in transportation and warehousing law for over twenty-five years. Along with John, attorney Anthony E. Palmer, Jr. represents carriers and drivers in business, regulatory, and traffic matters. AldenLaw’s transportation clients range from local motor carriers to the largest nationwide carriers, including specialized carriers of all types, as well as brokers, shippers, and logistics companies.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
CDL Drivers and Carriers: Mark your calendars! Roadcheck 2011 will be conducted June 7-9.
Operation Roadcheck is a 72-hour roadside inspection and enforcement blitz in which an estimated 10,000 inspectors set up more than 1,000 checkpoints on highways across North America to monitor truck safety compliance. Since its inception in 1988, Operation Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world with an estimated 14 trucks or buses being inspected, on average, every minute from Canada to Mexico during the three day period.
The inspections are held in cooperation with the FMCSA, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico.
As in past events, this year's Roadcheck will focus on commercial vehicle and driver safety and security. However, with the advent of CSA, these roadside inspections now play an even more important role. That’s because all inspection violations will become part of your CSA record. The Safety Measurement System (SMS) uses the on-road safety performance of carriers and drivers to identify candidates for interventions, determine the specific safety problems a carrier or driver exhibits, and to monitor whether safety problems are improving or worsening.
Here are five steps you can take to make sure you survive Roadcheck 2011:
- Understand the inspection process. The roadside inspection involves a comprehensive 37-step procedure which includes items related to vehicle, driver and cargo safety. Click here for a complete list of the inspection procedures.
- Know the most frequently cited violations. Last year, CMV enforcement conducted 65,327 inspections across the US. Of those, almost 49,000 were Level 1. 4.4 percent of the drivers and 19.6 percent of the vehicles were placed out of service. The specific driver violations include hours of service, false logs, license issues, age and drug and alcohol issues. For equipment, the most frequent violations include brake issues, tires and wheels, lights, load securement, steering, frames, and suspensions.
- Keep your vehicle clean and well maintained.
- Conduct thorough pre- and post-trip inspections.
- Treat the inspector with courtesy and respect.
The CVSA has announced that the 2011 edition of the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Handbook and Pictorial is now available for purchase. For more information on Operation Roadcheck, visit http://www.cvsa.org/.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.