Tag: FMCSA

Drivers Needed For 34 Hour Restart Study

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The FMCSA will pay drivers to participate, carriers for lost revenue and for the cost of installing data collecting technology.

The Details

  • Drivers will drive their normal routes.
  • Drivers will complete 3 minute alertness tests everyday.
  • Drivers will maintain sleep, wake, and caffeine intake logs, as well as report sleepiness.
  • The driver will be a part of one of two groups. The first group will follow the restart rules that require two 1 am to 5 am periods in the 34 restart while the other group can restart whenever they want.

If interested click here>>

Random Drug Testing Will Stay at 50%, Here’s Why.

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The FMCSA annual minimum random drug test for drivers will stay at 50% in 2015. This decision was based on testing from past lab results, the 2012 survey on drugs and alcohol and several other factors. Here’s what they found…

  • There was an increase in positive results by 4.5% from 2011 to 2012
  • This increase is mainly by FMCSA regulated companies (80%)
  • Recently the number of serious controlled substance testing violations make up 24% of compliance investigations

    For more go to Bulk Transporter>>

Collins: The Woman Behind the HOS Amendment.

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The changes to the hours of service regulations are being celebrated by many trucking associations around the country, and they have Senator Collins to thank for it. Here’s a little information on the woman behind the HOS amendment.

-First elected in 1996, this is her 3rd term.

-In 2011 Collins got trucks weighing up to 100,000 lbs on Maine highways that were once re-routed to busy downtown streets.

-Collins lives in a rural northern part of Maine, it’s big trucking country.

– Collins efforts won praise by many trucking associations as well as FedEx.

– FedEx was her 9th largest contributor with $44,500.

-Collins raised $2.76 million in total.

-She has fought for many other issues including, repealing $50 billion in tax breaks for tobacco industry and helped repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell”

– In 2002 she became chairman of Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and continues to work as a member.

DOT Gets Rid of Requirement for Drivers to Fill Out Daily Reports That Costs Us $1.7B

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Starting December 18th truck drivers will no longer have to file daily reports pre- and post- trip inspection. Getting rid of this rule will save the trucking industry $1.7 billion and 46.7 million hours a year. It’s a waste of time and money with 95% of inspections reports having no safety concerns, however there are certain trucking associations that do not completely agree of getting rid of reports. The ATA reported that 35% of their members will continue to file reports with 40% of electronic data recorders having way to file reports electronically.

Bloomberg>>

 

FMCSA Seeks Carrier Input on Raising Liability Insurance, Give Your Input.

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Earlier this year the FMCSA  tried to raise the liability insurance above the $750,000 current minimum, but it was shut down by the House of Representatives back in June. The liability insurance minimum has not been changed since 1982, however the ATA states that only 1% of truck related crashes exceeds the $750,000 and would just increase, not only the primary rates, but premium rates as well. They worry that carriers might want to cushion the blow of higher insurance rates with higher freight rates.

The FMCSA are asking carriers 26 “financial responsibility” questions. Here are the topics-

1. Premiums

2. Current Insurance Levels

3. Impacts of Increasing Insurance Coverage

4. Timeline

5. Self-Insurance

 

Give your input here>>

For the exact questions go to OverDrive Online>>

CVSA Wants FMCSA To Make CSA Scores Confidential

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CVSA asks the FMCSA to pull down the scores from it’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program’s (CSA) safety measurement systems. The reason for this request is the CSA inaccuracy in its carriers future crash risk numbers. The CVSA are asking that until the CSA scores are more accurate that they not be accessible to the public. Multiple government reports have also found issues with the agency’s CSA data and crash risk numbers.

CCJ>>

 

Oversized Loads Looking for Exemption of 30 Minute Break

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The hours of service rule requiring all drivers to take a 30 minute break within their first 8 hours of on-duty is being challenged by the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association. The SC&RA is asking the FMCSA for an exemption for oversized and overweight loads. Explaining that oversized and overweight loads need special permits that limit when they can actually drive. The required 30 minute break usually falls within the limited hours of transportation allowed by these permits. The SC&RA also discussed the safety issues that have materialized with having to take these breaks. With these larger loads it is hard to find a place to park and has resulted in oversized loads parking along highways and exits. The exemption would only apply to carriers with said permits.

CCJ>>

 

List of upcoming rules and mandates by the DOT: E-logging, Speed Limiters, etc.

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E-logging

On September 30,2015 the final electronic logging device mandate shall be in place, however the e-log mandate will not be enforced until two years laters on 9/30/17.

Speed Limiters

Next on the DOT’s list is a mandate on speed limiters. This proposition is expected to be delivered to the White Houses’ office of management and budgets next month. It has been a project the DOT has been working on for awhile but has pushed back several times this year.

Minimum Liability Insurance

The rule does not intend to raise the current minimum but intends to be more of a survey to gather data from carriers.

Other Mandates Being Published by the End of 2015

The Safety Fitness Determination Rules should be published by April.

The Anti-Coercion of Drivers by Carriers and Brokers is expected by the end of September.

The CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse Rules is expected by the end of October.

For more go to CCJ>>

FMCSA Survey Finds Truckers pros and cons to E-Logging

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FMCSA found that carrier harassment to truckers using E-Logs is minimal however it still found pros and cons to E-Logging. FMCSA stated that the evidence in the survey does not support the assumption that more harassments are due to logging Hours of Service with E-logs however it does not necessarily find that it doesn’t either.

FACTS

-More drivers using E-logs reported more frequent instances of harassment, however 95% don’t contribute it to E-logging.

Pros to E-Logging

70% of drivers believe…

1. E-Logging involves less paperwork to fill out.

2. E-Logging is time efficient and makes it easier to comply with hours.

3. Enhances relationships with fleet managers.

Cons to E-logging

More than 50% of drivers believe…

1. They give their fleet manager to much insight (no privacy).

2. E-Logging hinders them from doing their jobs the way they want to.

3. It makes them less Independence.

FMCSA is Getting Ready for E-Logging Mandate

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The FMCSA ELD mandate requires all truckers who have to keep records of duty status to do so on e-logging devices, this mandate will begin sometime in 2017. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has started preparing for the e-logging mandate by registering FMCSA approved e-logging devices. Those registered will be put up on the FMCSA website as approved ELD makers once they’ve met all requirements. FMCSA estimates 22 electronic logging device makers and about 88 e-logging devices will be registered.

Flexible Sleeper Pilot Program coming in 2016

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The current rule is that drivers who use the sleeper berth must take at least 8 consecutive hours in the berth and two separate consecutive hours either in or out of the berth. This is a very firm rule with no flexibility, therefore the American Trucking Association and other industry groups are asking the FMCSA to consider altering said rule. The FMCSA has been working on this pilot program for a year now but finally looks to be coming along. The FMCSA is testing the hypothesis that “greater flexibility will reduce driver fatigue.” How will the Sleeper Pilot Program work?

Sleeper Pilot Program

  •  Goals to collect data from 200 drivers
    • 50 small carriers w 50 trucks
    • 50 medium carriers w up to 500 trucks
    • 50 large carriers
    • 25 owner operated
    • 25 team drivers

These drivers will be trained at the North American Fatigue Management Program and will be tracked with onboard monitoring systems and their sleep patterns will be tracked with actigraph watches. More data on safe driving will also be collected.

For more information go to Trucking Info>>

FMCSA regulation plans for 2015

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In one year FMCSA will propose five rules to alter regulations in the trucking industry.This month alone the FMCSA will propose an increase in liability insurance for motor carriers. This is going to be a year of change, let’s see what’s coming.

Changes in the Trucking Industry

  • Agency’s safety fitness determination carriers scoring plan.
  • Speed Limiters on all Class 8’s
  • CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse- a data with all truck drivers that failed or refused a drug or alcohol test. Also mandating motor carriers to see the data before hiring.
  • Mandating e-log devices
  • Forbid coercion between truck drivers
  • Make it easier for military members to get a CDL. (in the works)

For more info go to CCJ Digital>>

Congressmen tell FMCSA errors in sleep apnea testing

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Congressmen are concerned about FMCSA’s recommended training organizations who are incorrectly teaching medical examiners how to test sleep apnea on truckers. How to handle sleeping disorders are being argued by many. Although it was first recommended to strengthen it’s guidance by medical examiners, the trucking industry was concerned because that decision did not clearly state what the responsibilities of motor carriers and other employers would be. The new recommendation is to write a new rule that not only covers  the new developments on sleep disorders but an understanding on the impact of such a rule, including its cost and benefits which is estimated at $1 billion a year by the American Trucking Association. Trucking Info>> 

FMCSA discuss medication, insurance, and cross border pilot program

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The FMCSA’s Motor Carriers Safety Advisory Committee and their Medical Review Board will be discussing the affects of painkillers and amphetamines on truckers driving ability. The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee will also hold another meeting to discuss possibly raising liability insurance for both carriers and brokers. They will also be discussing their failed cross borders pilot program with Mexican companies that ended last month.

The meeting are open to the public. The Medication discussion will take place Oct 27 and the rest on Oct 28 at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town in Alexandria Va., at 9-4:30pm in the Washington and Jefferson Rooms. Online comments are welcome until Oct 22 at the following link CCJ Digital>>

FMCSA is allowing laptops and handheld devices for truckers

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However you feel about logging software programs they are now easier for drivers to use with the revision by FMCSA  having gone into effect in July.

According to FMCSA, no longer will drivers have to print and sign paper copies of the information given by the electronic software. The driver will just have to electronically sign them on their handheld devices every day and seamlessly present this information on their handheld devices during load inspections.

Now LoadBook’s question is…

How do drivers feel about the accessibility of these e-logs on their handheld devices? If they are limiting and tracking a drivers hours but paying them by mile, is it fair to limit their hours when expecting them to go a certain distance? Then again FMCSA is just looking out for the safety of not only the drivers but the commuters surrounding them. Thoughts?

Bulk Transporter>>