The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) that weighs in over 10,001 pounds to receive an annual inspection to ensure the CMV is in good condition without any safety concerns. However, there are numerous types of inspections and drivers need to be familiar with them all so they can know what [...]
Truck drivers have a lot to juggle when it comes to roadway safety. With numerous regulations, changing laws, fatigue, and more, it’s easy to overlook external threats. People outside of the truck cab can incapacitate the vehicle with disturbing ease—intentional or not. The following are three of the biggest external threats that can compromise truck [...]
Every year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) releases their highest priority safety improvements for all modes of transportation. They develop the list by examining accidents, injuries, and lives saved. The following are the biggest changes they hope to see going forward for the trucking industry. Eliminate distracted driving. Many drivers operate under the false [...]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is in the process of overhauling the long-lambasted Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. In its stead, FMCSA is aiming to adopt the National Academy of Sciences’ item response theory (ITR). This approach relies on mathematical equations to prove the validity of safety assessments. Building a Culture of Safety [...]
While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has been in effect since December 2017, not everyone is compliant yet. Drivers operating a vehicle equipped with an automatic onboard recording device (AOBRD) have until December 2019 to implement an approved ELD. Many other drivers fall under exemptions as well; however, [...]
Fleets have a lot to consider when improving their safety rating. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) considers seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) to determine a fleet’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score. These scores help FMCSA pinpoint unsafe fleets, which they then target for interventions. These interventions can culminate in out-of-service [...]
Many drivers and fleets view roadside inspections as a necessary evil. No one relishes them, but they are well aware that inspection help keep the roads safe. Unfortunately, inspections take time and can eat into a driver’s hours of service (HOS). Drivers aren’t alone in their desire for a rapid inspection, either. Inspectors and officers [...]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues out-of-service notices to drivers and trucking companies that commit egregious or numerous safety violations. However, not every company takes the message to heart and tries to flout the transportation agency’s orders. Ekam Truck Line, LLC, a Georgia-based trucking company, attempted just such a maneuver after the FMCSA [...]
The hours of service (HOS) regulations have been under intense scrutiny as of late. While they remain unchanged, enforcement reached peak levels with the arrival of the electronic logging device (ELD). HOS regulations pose a challenge for all players in the transportation industry, but drives have a bone of contention when it comes to shippers. [...]
Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) holds a three-day long International Roadcheck. This year’s event will go from June 5-7 and will focus on hours-of-service compliance. This should not come as a surprise given all of the excitement surrounding the recent electronic logging device (ELD) mandate and its ability to enforce HOS regulations [...]