What will CSA 2010 mean for drivers? Keeping your nose and record clean

From Jim Klepper at The Trucker News Service:

Here is what David Freymiller had to say to the following:

-- Do you think the new CSA 2010 mandate will improve safety in the trucking industry? The reported purpose of CSA 2010 is highway safety; do you think truck-related fatalities will decrease even more than the large decrease we are now seeing with the current regulations?

“Yes, I believe with the focus that is being placed on the driver and his driving record across multiple employers it will result in a good driver becoming a better driver due to the attention to detail that the driver will have to become acclimated to.

“On the other hand it will also empower the FMCSA and the carriers to remove the problematic drivers that have been plaguing the industry for quite some time. I can envision a more focused driver, which will have a direct affect on accidents and highway fatalities.”

-- Have you spoken with your safety department about CSA 2010 yet and if so, what was the main focus of that meeting and what will be the first thing you do to prepare for CSA 2010?

“Yes, the safety department was given the responsibility to prepare both our drivers and staff for CSA 2010. Our long-term goals are to produce a better driver and operations through intensive training and preparation.”

-- What are you planning to do differently in your safety department to be ready for and work within CSA 2010?

“Beginning at CSA 2010’s inception our safety department has been proactive in the training of our drivers and staff. Understanding the significance and repercussions of CSA 2010 in itself has taken our focus to a higher level. We have also taken a step into the future with full implementation of the Qualcomm e-logs. I think that if we are pro-active enough we may be able to clean up and save some drivers that may not have made the cut otherwise.”

-- Have you spoken with your drivers about CSA 2010 and how it will affect their CDLs?

“New hires and tenure drivers have all met with the safety department and have been well versed in not only the focus of CSA 2010 but the ramifications of the point system and the effect it will have on their CDL. Extensive courses in CSA 2010, GPS Tracking, SaferStat, and the compass portal have been taught in detail.”

-- Will CSA 2010 change the way you recruit drivers?

“Yes, with the availability of the new software information our recruiting department will now be able to access much more of a driver’s history. We will require this extensive background to be preformed not only on new applicants but existing driver associates as well.”

-- Describe what type of driver will meet your hiring criteria when CSA 2010 becomes the law of the land.

“The driver should possess the culture and knowledge to perform his duties in a compliant manner. His past history will become much more scrutinized, therefore requiring the driver to already have a solid foundation in which to work with.”

-- What advice would you have for current and new CDL drivers regarding CSA 2010?

“Fully understand what CSA 2010 means to you as a driver. Focus on your attention to detail when filing out your daily logs and always be prepared for an inspection. Become acclimated to the point system and adjust your driving habits in order to protect both the carrier and your CDL.”

Social media comes to aid of stranded Arrow truck drivers

Sometimes technology can have some unexpected benefits, all it takes is a vision of the problem and a knowledge of the tools available.

Arrow Trucking, a respected fleet based in Tulsa with a venerable history, unexpectedly and suddenly ceased operations today. Fuel cards stopped working last night, and today drivers all over the USA are stranded. Drivers with Freightliner and Kenworth tractors are instructed to go to the nearest Freightliner dealership. Those driving International tractors have no instructions. Daimler Financial is assisting Arrow drivers with bus fare on Greyhound. However, many drivers can't make it due to their fuel situation.

To the rescue - social media and drivers helping drivers.

EOBR rule expected early in New Year

WASHINGTON -- The final rule in the U.S. requiring carriers to use electronic onboard recorders (EOBRS) has been sent to the White House for approval.

According to truckinginfo.com, publication could come as early as February.

Lautenberg withdraws amendment to make EOBRs mandatory in trucks

The Trucker News Services

12/17/2009

WASHINGTON — Sen. Frank Lautenberg this morning withdrew a proposed amendment to the Motorcoach Enhancement Safety Act (SB554) that would have required EOBRs on all commercial vehicles, including trucks. But he promised he would soon write and introduce legislation to make EOBRs mandatory in trucks.

Senate Committee Approves Bus Safety Bill

The Motorcoach Enhanced Safety Act of 2009 (S. 554) would require:

* Safety belts to ensure occupants are not ejected in a crash;

* Electronic stability control technology;

* Improved crush-resistant roofs that can withstand rollovers;

* Anti-ejection glazing on windows to prevent passengers from being easily ejected from the motorcoach;

* A comprehensive evaluation of improved protection against fires by reducing flammability of the motorcoach interior, better training for operators in the case of fire, and review of fire safety technologies by NHTSA, followed by new performance standards based on the results of NHTSA’s evaluation;

* All new motorcoach operators to undergo on-site pre-authorization safety audit before they could begin operations, and would be subject to safety audit within 9 months;


* Improved commercial driver training;


* Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBRs) on all motorcoaches for the purpose of complying with federal hours of service regulations;


* An assessment of whether all states should have a motorcoach inspection program;


* Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to issue a rule prohibiting the use of distracting devices (cell phones, text messaging devices); and


* All individuals seeking to register commercial motorcoaches to disclose all previous material relationships to other motorcoach companies for the past three years (stopping reincarnated motorcoaches).

Senator calls for EOBRs on all trucks

From OOIDA -

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, wants to mandate the use of electronic on-board recorders, or EOBRs, on all commercial vehicles and not on just the bad actors.

Land Line has learned that Lautenberg is expected to unveil his proposal on Thursday, Dec. 17, during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee markup of the Motor Coach Enhanced Safety Act, S554.

FMCSA to Propose Broader Use of EOBRs to Monitor Drivers

Transport Topics; This story appears in the Monday, December 14, 2009 print edition.

HEADLINE: FMCSA to Propose Broader Use of EOBRs to Monitor Drivers

By Sean McNally, Senior Reporter

WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is preparing to propose requiring “a much larger population of carriers” to use electronic onboard recorders to monitor driver hours-of-service than it earlier envisioned, an agency official said.

The safety agency is readying its new proposal before finalizing a Bush administration rule that would have required only a few carriers to use the technology.

Larry Minor, FMCSA associate administrator of policy and program development, told Transport Topics Dec. 8 the new proposal “would require EOBRs for a larger population of carriers.”

Under the Bush administration’s EOBR proposal — which is on course to become a final rule — only carriers that failed multiple compliance reviews would have had to use the technology. However, former FMCSA Administrator John Hill said before leaving office that the final rule would expand the number of fleets required to use the technology beyond what had initially been proposed.

FMCSA’s new proposal appeared for the first time in the agency’s monthly report this month on significant rulemakings, with a projected publishing date of December 2010.

As part of the “the new EOBR initiative, FMCSA also would consider addressing the hours-of-service supporting documents requirements” that spell out what evidence carriers need to retain to verify their logbook entries, the report said.

In October, American Trucking Associations said it was exploring options to get the agency to move forward on the oft-delayed supporting documents rule.

Dave Osiecki, ATA’s vice president of safety, security and operations, said it was “hard to understand” why FMCSA would attach the documents rule to a new EOBR regulation.

Osiecki questioned why the agency didn’t fold the supporting documents rule into its expedited review of the hours-of-service rule.

“It just seems like a natural fit,” he said, rather than attaching it to the new EOBR proposal “whose timeline is really further out.”

The FMCSA monthly report also listed the final EOBR rule, begun during the Bush administration, as still under departmental review; it was expected to be transmitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a final review by Dec. 7.

As of press time the OMB’s list of regulations under review did not include the EOBR rule.

Minor told TT that to further expand the population of carriers, the agency must move forward with a new notice of proposed rulemaking.

He said that in the final rule, FMCSA was “trying to go as far as we can” within the scope of the original notice of proposed rule-making. Because that formal document “didn’t propose a universal mandate or a larger population of carriers,” Minor said, “we couldn’t address that issue in the final rule.”

After taking office, the Obama administration withdrew the rule from the OMB, but DOT had yet to send it back.

Lena Pons, a policy analyst with Public Citizen, told TT that it was “certainly well within the agency’s discretion to revise the rule.”

Osiecki said it was “intriguing” that FMCSA has “a rule that will go so far, and they are already working on another rule that will go farther.”

“There’s an interest in Congress to go to a mandate,” he said. “So it’s hard for me to understand why they are taking the interim step.”

“It’s interesting that they are taking that approach,” said Steve Keppler, interim executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, though he cautioned that “it might make sense to step back a bit and maybe do one rulemaking, rather than two separate ones.”

Keppler said the law enforcement group believes that “there needs to be pursuit of a larger mandate on EOBRs,” but that as the agency requires more trucks to use the technology, there are “significant” issues related to training and capital investment for both the industry and enforcement.

“Hopefully, they would consider those implementation issues before they take the approach with two separate rulemakings,” he said.

Judith Stone, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, told TT that she was “delighted to see that’s in the works, but the devil’s in the details.”

Stone spoke to TT during a meeting of an FMCSA advisory panel discussing hours-of-service (see story, same page).

During the advisory meeting, Bob Pentracosta, vice president of safety for Con-way Freight, said that “maybe it is time that EOBRs be considered.”

“EOBRs are a must,” said Jennifer Tierney, a member of the Truck Safety Coalition and Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways.

Tierney also criticized the Bush-era proposal to require EOBRs only after a carrier is cited during a compliance review as “being reactive, not proactive.”

CSA 2010 101

CSA 2010 will change the way companies operate in compliance with federal regulations. Don't wait until 2010 to figure it all out.

FMCSA will calculate the safety performance of motor carriers and owner-operators running on seven Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (called BASICs). Those seven categories are:

•Unsafe driving (Parts 392 and 397);
•Fatigued driving (Parts 392 and 395);
•Driver fitness (Parts 383 and 391);
•Controlled substances/alcohol (Parts 382 and 392);
•Vehicle Maintenance (Parts 393 and 396);
•Cargo related (Parts 392, 393, 397 and hazmat); and
•Crash indicator.

Canadian Interest in EOBRs Remains Strong Despite Delays and Official Apathy

Even as the U.S. trucking industry awaits the final rule on EOBRs from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canada's trucking industry has been battling with some of the same questions.

Truckers around the world have used on-board recording devices for more than 50 years. The first electronic device, the Tripmaster by Rockwell (now ArvinMeritor), emerged in the mid-1980s, and the pro and con camps have been split ever since.

Read the entire article by following the link.....

Public Agenda for FMCSA Call on December 7, 2009

MCSAC has released the public agenda for the Hours of Service meeting on December 7-9 in Washington DC. The teleconference will remain open for the entire day from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST.

Late Breaking News - HOS Conference Call Monday Dec. 7

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee to advise on a draft rulemaking to be ready by next July.

Mark next Monday, Dec. 7, on your calendar if you're concerned about commercial vehicle drivers' fatigue and the hours of service rule that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has been using for about a year, steadily opposed by the Public Citizen interest group. On Oct. 26, 2009, FMCSA reached a settlement agreement in Public Citizen's lawsuit to derail the final rule, and that settlement contains a timetable for completing a new hours rule. FMCSA has asked its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee to advise on a draft rule that is supposed to be ready by next July.

The committee will meet Dec. 7 for one hour, 8:30-9:30 a.m. EST, via a conference call that will be open to the public. That meeting starts a short timetable, because the settlement agreement says FMCSA will submit a draft NPRM within nine months of the settlement agreement and then publish a final rule within 21 months of the agreement.

"The MCSAC will be requested to begin work on a new task: as part of FMCSA's broad efforts to gather information and recommendations on hours-of-service requirements for drivers of property-carrying vehicles, FMCSA is asking MCSAC to provide advice and recommendations on the hours of service requirements," FMCSA's notice of the meeting stated.

For information on the meeting's agenda, bridge line, and Web link for the conference call, send an e-mail to mcsac@dot.gov. For information on services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance, e-mail your request to that address by Dec. 4.

Oral comments from the public will not be taken during the conference call. Written comments may be submitted for the meeting by fax to 202-493-2251 by Dec. 3 or send via www.regulations.gov, citing Docket Number FMCSA-2006-26367.

The contact for more information is Jack Kostelnik, acting chief of the Strategic Planning and Program Evaluation Division, Office of Policy Plans and Regulation, at FMCSA, 202-366-5730.

Food banks go high-tech to feed the hungry

Interesting article regarding non-profits investing in technology. Visit www.loadtrektechnologies.com for more information on costs and returns on investment.

FMCSA's Driver Scorecard coming in 2010

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will implement in 2010 a new safety compliance system.

The agency’s Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 contains a new Safety Measurement System to replace the current SafeStat system, as well as new intervention options and a proposed change for evaluation through a new approach to the Safety Fitness Determination (SFD).

FMCSA proposes changing the safety determination by tying it to current safety performance, instead of today’s limitation to compliance review acute/critical violations. Also, under the new program, every carrier and driver will have a safety determination, instead of just carriers.

Senate Committee Approves Ferro to Head FMCSA

Is Changing the Hours of Service Rules the Real Answer to Highway Safety?

An excellent article from Fleet Owner Magazine. Former Administrator John Hill is quoted; "I am a little surprised that there’s not more focus on a effort to mandate EOBRs [electronic on board recorders] as that technology would do a lot more to improve highway safety than just changing the current 11-hour drive time limit back to 10 hours. I think EOBRs is where we need to go to really improve safety.”

That's something you LoadTrek.net users already know. Perhaps they should interview safe and successful fleets who effectively use solid technology?

Rules May or May Not Change after Review - Anon FMCSA Official

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration plans to reconsider—and perhaps revise—its hours-of-service (HOS) rule for commercial drivers. This action puts on hold a federal court challenge by a coalition of interest groups including Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, The Truck Safety Coalition, and the Teamsters.

As part of the agreement, FMCSA has nine months to submit its review to the White House and up to 21 months to issue a new final rule to replace the current one. Until that time, the current rule remains in effect.

Issued during the Bush administration, the current HOS regulation contains the 11-hour driving cycle first announced in 2003. That was an increase in truck driving hours from the previous rule. Under the current rule, truckers can drive 11 hours a day as part of a 14-hour workday and to refresh their weekly allotment of hours by taking a 34-hour break. The Court of Appeals for the Washington DC Circuit struck down the current rule in 2004, but Congress revived it as part of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2004.

An official who asked not to be identified said the move was “procedural,” and the agreement does not bind FMCSA to a particular outcome. The official said it is possible the rule won’t change after the review, but warned that it could.

Teamsters Respond to FMCSA's Reconsideration of Hours-of-Service Regulations

After years of legal challenges, the final rule was published last November. But earlier this year, Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Truck Safety Coalition, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Court to overturn the HOS regulations. This week the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) entered into a settlement with these groups, whereby FMCSA has nine months to review its current rule and submit a notice of proposed rulemaking on this issue to the White House, and up to 21 months to issue a final rule to replace the current one.

In a press release, Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said, “We will continue to push for a rule that protects trucks drivers, instead of the greed of the trucking industry. Longer hours behind the wheel are dangerous for our members and the driving public.”

ATA Responds to FMCSA's Reconsideration of Hours-of-Service Regulations

As the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has communicated for the last five years, the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations, as they are currently constructed, are good safety rules. They are working and the proof is in the industry's safety performance since they took effect in 2004.

"Safety in the trucking industry has greatly improved while operating under the current hours-of-service rules," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "Over the past five years we've seen a strong decline in truck-involved crashes on our nation's highways."

Figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) clearly demonstrate that the trucking industry is now the safest it has been since the DOT began keeping crash statistics in 1975. The number of truck-involved fatalities on our highways has decreased by 19 percent since the new HOS rules took effect. The number of injuries has decreased by 13 percent since 2004. These substantial safety improvements came at a time when the number of registered large trucks operating on our highways increased by hundreds of thousands of trucks and the number of miles driven by large trucks increased by more than 2 billion miles.

ATA looks forward to participating in the upcoming rulemaking process to further demonstrate how the current safety-based HOS rules are working and why they should be maintained.

The American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of other trucking groups, industry-related conferences, and its 50 affiliated state trucking associations, ATA represents more than 37,000 members covering every type of motor carrier in the United States.

Source: American Trucking Associations

FMCSA to rewrite hours-of-service rules

I have some news that is a bit surprising - the FMCSA has evidently decided to settle the pending litigation from the IBT, Public Citizen and others - rather than fight. The commercial drivers' HOS will be completely rewritten. This is of highest importance and could have dramatic consequences for our industry and the economy in general - it all depends on how it comes down. The first word I received is from the New York State Motor Truck Association. Their message is below. There will be lots of news forthcoming.

"NYSMTA has just learned that The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in response to a legal challenge to the current hours of service (HOS) regulations, will completely rewrite the 2008 HOS regulations. The agency will issue a proposed rulemaking within 9 months and a new Final Rule in less than two years.

This settlement is in response to a legal challenge brought against FMCSA by Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, the Truck Safety Coalition and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. In March 2009, the groups asked a D.C. Appeals court to throw out the HOS rule. The March 2009 challenge was the third challenge to the Bush Administration’s HOS rules.

At the time of this notice, the Department of Transportation had not released any comments about the settlement. NYSMTA will continue to update you as more information becomes available."

Things you Should Know About a Compliance Review

Here is a really good article by Eddie Roman. I have worked with a number of clients who are going through compliance reviews in the last 4 weeks. It's never fun, but a lot better when you are prepared.

Top Issues in the Trucking Industry

Top Issues in the Trucking Industry

By David R. Butcher

The trucking industry's not-for-profit research institute this week unveiled its list of the top 10 critical issues facing the North American trucking industry.

The United States economy depends on trucks to deliver nearly 70 percent of all freight transported annually in the U.S., accounting for $671 billion worth of manufactured and retail goods transported by truck in the U.S. alone.

"Add $295 billion in truck trade with Canada and $195.6 billion in truck trade with Mexico and it becomes apparent that any disruption in truck traffic will lead to rapid economic instability," the American Trucking Associations (ATA) says.

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry's not-for-profit research institute, this week unveiled its list of the top 10 critical issues facing the North American trucking industry.

Topping the list: the economy, which debuted on the ATRI's annual list last year.

In 2009, more than half of respondents (52 percent) ranked the nation's economy as the No. 1 issue with which the trucking industry must contend. Truck transportation is one of the first sectors to slow as orders for goods and shipments dry up during an economic downturn, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Before the financial collapse slammed the trucking industry, the sector enjoyed year-on-year growth. In 2007, trucks transported 57.8 percent of the value of trade between the U.S. and Canada, up 3.4 percent from the previous year, and transported 66.2 percent of the value of trade between the U.S. and Mexico, up 4.8 percent, according to the ATA's 2008-2009 American Trucking Trends report.

Analysts see much different conditions for 2009 and beyond, as a large number of small trucking operators have already gone out of business since the recession officially began in December 2007, logistics analyst Transport Intelligence says (via Supply Chain Brain).

Economists believe that freight volumes will not lead the way out of the downturn, as demand for goods has declined quicker than in previous recessions and existing supplies of both raw and manufactured goods remain high.

Government regulation climbed two places from last year to become the second most critical issue for the trucking industry in 2009.

"This year's ascension of government regulation could be attributed to the changes in the national political landscape and election results at the federal, state and local levels," the ATRI report says. "Many industry stakeholders anticipate a new era of costly government mandates."

Fuel, a perennial concern for the trucking industry, dropped from No. 1 in 2008 (and 2005) to No. 3 on this year's list. Commercial trucks consume 53.9 billion gallons of fuel each year. About 39 billion gallons, or 73 percent, is diesel, according to the ATA. Reflecting the ongoing volatility of energy prices, fuel has remained a top-three issue for five consecutive years.

Until several years ago, the average price of diesel fuel was usually lower than the average price of gasoline. Since September 2004, however, "the price of diesel fuel has been generally higher than the price of regular gasoline all year round for several reasons," according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

After peaking at more than $4.70 per gallon in July 2008, the national diesel fuel average declined 45 percent by September 2009. In its Short-Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook, released this week, the EIA projects diesel-fuel retail prices, which averaged $2.63 per gallon in August and September, will average $2.60 during the fourth quarter of 2009.

Congestion/Highway infrastructure rose two places to No. 4 this year. Congestion and an overstressed infrastructure continue to worsen, slowing freight delivery, creating unpredictability in supply chains, increasing the cost of consumer goods and altogether diminishing the competitiveness of U.S. businesses.

"The underlying factors behind this issue are becoming more prevalent; ongoing congestion impacts, deteriorating highway infrastructure and increasing interest in dedicated truck lanes and higher-productivity trucks have all worked together to put this issue at its highest level to date," the ATRI report makes clear.

According to The Road Information Project, 36 percent of the nation's major urban highways are congested, while the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2009 infrastructure findings show that one-third of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.

Rules regulating commercial driver hours-of-service (HOS) remain in the fifth spot this year. The ATRI notes that HOS has been a top-10 issue since 2005, having peaked at No.1 two years ago.

"Given the costs incurred by the industry in adapting operations to several HOS rules changes since 2005, the industry is closely monitoring HOS and related EOBR issues," according to the new report.

Rounding out the top 10 critical issues in the trucking industry this year: commercial driver issues (driver shortages); environmental issues (anti-idling regulations and equipment mandates); tolls/highway funding (state and federal shortfalls and GPS-based mileage taxes); truck size/weight (proposed limitation revisions); and onboard truck technology (Electronic Onboard Recorders, in particular).

In addition to analysis of each trucking industry priority, the ATRI's survey also proposes potential strategies for addressing each issue.

Dualing EOBR Measures: The FMCSA sends its EOBR Rule to the DOT

There is an EOBR provision in the latest highway funding bill before in the House. But now we have more news. Remember that EOBR rule from 2007 that was in the Bush White House ONB for review? The Bush administration withdrew that regulation to let the incoming Obama administration properly vet the regulation. They have, and now it is going before the DOT. If approved by the DOT, it will go before the White House Office of Management and Budget again for a final review.

Ferro's Confirmation Hearing

Anne Ferro, President Obama's choice to head the FMCSA, is going through confirmation hearings. While she will likely be confirmed, some believe she will continue policies of the previous administration.

The hearing included several minutes of intense questioning of Ferro concerning Hours of Service and electronic on-board recorders by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D.-N.J.

Lautenberg asked Ferro to list her top three priorities should she be confirmed.

She listed them as:

• Working within the FMCSA to identify best practices to tackle the issue of driver fatigue.

• Placing a top priority on examining the impact of the current HOS rule and identify areas where gains could be made to advance safety.

• Examining the EOBR issue with the express intent of how the tool can be used to, among other things, help officers with roadside enforcement of HOS.

Long Haul Drivers' Survey

Everything you've ever wanted to know, from the best truck stop chains to the most scenic highways. Some surprises are buried in there this year, such as CB radio and smart phone use.

EOBRs: FACT vs. FICTION

Economist Says Onboard Recorders Offer Fleets Potential Efficiencies

From Transport Topics today....

http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=22559

Using GPS for Fleet Management White Paper

What exactly is GPS?

Ever wonder exactly how GPS works? Read a summary here.

New Regulations in place for Munitions Haulers

New regulations are being implemented on October 1, 2009 by the US Department of Defense. Mandates include; GPS tracking reports every 15 minutes, a HERO certified, self-powered mobile terminal, cargo and door sensors that record opening/closing and removing of cargo, a notification when a tractor hooks or unhooks from a trailer, and an in-cab communication system with a panic button.

White Paper on Fuel Economy

An excellent paper authored by the Kenworth Truck Company, you'll read about truck specifications and driving habits that contribute to fuel efficiency.

EOBR White Paper

Text of Proposed EOBR Mandate in the Highway Authorization Bill

SEC. 4036. ELECTRONIC ON-BOARD RECORDERS.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations to require commercial motor vehicles owned or operated by motor carriers subject to the Secretary’s hours-of-service regulations under part 395, Code of Federal Regulations, to be equipped with electronic on-board recorders.

(b) PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.—The regulations issued pursuant to subsection (a) shall include performance standards for electronic on-board recorders to be used to monitor compliance with the Secretary’s requirements for hours of service of drivers under part 395, Code of Federal Regulations. Such performance standards shall ensure, at a minimum, that an electronic on-board recorder installed in a commercial motor vehicle—
(1) is synchronized to the vehicle engine or other vehicle equipment;
(2) is able to identify each individual who operates the vehicle and track the periods during which such individual operates the vehicle;
(3) enables law enforcement personnel to access information contained in the recorder quickly and easily during a roadside inspection; and
(4) is tamper-proof.

(c) APPLICABILITY.—The regulations prescribed under subsection (a) shall be phased in and shall apply to all commercial motor vehicles used by motor carriers in interstate commerce not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘commercial motor vehicle’’ has the meaning that term has under section 31132 of title 49, United States Code.
(2) ELECTRONIC ON-BOARD RECORDER.—The term ‘‘electronic on-board recorder’’ means an electronic device that acquires and stores data showing the record of duty status of the vehicle operator and performs the functions required of an automatic on board recording device in section 395.15(b) of title 19 49, Code of Federal Regulations.

Oberstar's highway bill would mandate EOBRs for all carriers within 4 years

ATA conditionally supports an EOBR mandate, Public Citizen endorses EOBR mandates as well

Oberstar seeks mandatory truck EOBRs

Now Congress is getting in on the act, calling for mandatory EOBR's. First, it was repeated attempts by the NTSB (who has no authority over such matters) to require EOBR's, then three were 2 attempts in the last 7 years by the FMCSA.

Click on the link to read Rep. Oberstar's white paper on the subject.

Transport Ministers get on-board with CTA's call for an EOBR mandate

And now the latest news from Canada; they are now seriously considering an EOBR mandate.

GPS Fleet Tracking Helps Firms Weather the Tough Economy

Below is an excerpt from the Aberdeen Group in the UK - but it applies here in the US:

Yet another research report confirms that in this tough economy, GPS fleet tracking is helping companies maintain customer-satisfaction levels, optimize vehicle usage and control service-related costs.

The recently released report titled “”Service Workforce and Fleet Management: Driving Utilization with Location Intelligence,” published by the Aberdeen Group, found that major firms are turning to GPS vehicle tracking to “increase visibility into all service resources via GPS.”

Fleet operators who responded to the study report that they currently monitor and track the location of 35% of their workers and 47% of their vehicles. That’s up from averages of 23% for workers and 35% for vehicles in 2008. The respondents also indicated they planned further investments in GPS tracking systems in 2010.

“These results are indicative of the value offered by GPS-enabled tracking, navigation and routing solutions in meeting cost containment and customer management pressures faced by today’s service and manufacturing organizations,” an Aberdeen senior research analyst said.

The survey said responding firms have seen the following average improvements in key service performance indicators since they installed a GPS tracking system:

•25% reduction in idle times
•32% increase in fleet utilization
•22% decrease in fuel costs and a 31% drop in daily mileage
•23% boost in workforce productivity
According to the survey, responding firms are “significantly more likely than all others to actively integrate captured location information and intelligence into their field service scheduling and parts management systems to drive overall service delivery efficiency.”

The recent surge in similar reports confirms for us what we’ve known all along: There’s no better solution than GPS fleet tracking to help fleet operators rein in costs and improve employee productivity.

Tracking solutions remain popular even in down economy

You have to be careful reading reports, because the terms tracking, communications, and GPS are all used incorrectly at times. However, the fact remains that some form of onboard telematics for many fleets is a way of doing business, simply because it pays back and has become an integral part of doing business for many fleets.

The Driscoll Report, referenced this week in Fleet Owner, is evidence of that.

GPS Tracking and Enforcement Audits

There is an interesting article at http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=21827
about using GPS records during hours of service audits.

The author makes the point that enforcement would actually be more fair with an EOBR mandate.

Interested in reading more about EOBR's? You can find two free white papers at www.gpsgateway.com. The first is written by Qualcomm's Dave Kraft, the second is written by Joel Beal from Gateway Professional Services.

The Electronic Onboard Recorder (EOBR) proposal is sleeping, but not dead.

Ray LaHood's Comments to the ATA

Safety is important; saving lives and preventing injuries is also good business. The new Secretary of Trasnprotation, Ray LaHood, spoke to the American Trucking Associations's board of directors on February 24th. We all know that the Secretary's job is not to help us make money. However, there are some interesting ideas thoughts presented. Here are a few:

“In each of the past three years, our nation has achieved significant decreases in the number of large truck-related fatalities."

“I am troubled that last year, nearly 73,000 trucking jobs were lost,” LaHood said. “In the third quarter of 2008 alone, 785 trucking companies with a combined fleet of about 39,000 trucks went out of business.”

“We want to make sure it (the EOBR rule) is the best rule we can possibility put out.”

Safety, technology, and emerging as a stronger company are all related.

What will you do when the recession ends?

I was talking with a fleet owner yesterday. He indicated to me that this is the third recession he has been through as a businessman. In each of the two previous recessions, he picked up considerable business when the recession ended. He did things to increase operational efficiency and took advantage of increased demand and reduced supply when the economy turned back up. Theoretically that sounds good, but when a person puts his own money on the line - that means something. I pay a lot more attention to fleet owners than I do economists.

Today I was reading an article on Fleet Owner's web site that said the same thing about two much larger companies - UPS and FedEx. You can read the entire article at http://fleetowner.com/green/ups-fedex-economic-downturn-0204/index1.html.

If you anticipate staying in business, are you doing what's necessary to implement technologies to increase your efficiency and reduce your operating costs? It's worth looking at. Check out what a little increased fuel economy can do for you with this online calculator - http://www.loadtrek.net/loadtrek_net/FuelEconomy.aspx.

New Administration, Same EOBR Rule?

This is the first full day of work for President Obama. Of interest to truckers is the new administration's stance on electronic DOT logs, EOBR's, and the role of technology in highway safety and reducing gridlock.

We know that President Obama has selected Peter Orszag as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Mr. Orszag is young (younger than me), well-educated, and is best known as the former director of the Congressional Budget Office who is also a literate and prolific blogger. He enjoys wide bipartisan support, and his nomination will clear Congress easily.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the liaison between the President's administration and the federal bureaucracy. It is the final stop for a proposed regulation. it is really the final and only real system of checks and balances for regulations that federal agencies create.

We know that the 395.16 NPRM is left at the OMB by the outgoing Bush administration. The new OMB may pass it along as written, change it, delay it, or even send it back to the FMCSA.

We also know that President Obama has promised to apply technology and infrastructure improvements to reduce our dependence on oil - and EOBR's are certainly a part of that. Obama enjoyed the support of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters during the election, and the Teamsters are opposed to any EOBR regulation.

I have never been a fan of regulatory encroachment into the way we run our businesses. However, here are a few things to consider. EOBR's improve safety and have a definable and measurable payback. EOBR's could play a very significant role in a technology network reducing traffic congestion - also reducing fuel consumption and pollution. EOBR's can assist a carrier in negotiating with overbearing shippers who demand schedules that are too tight.

Onboard Recorder Rule is going to Wait

It looks like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will not publish their final rule expanding the use of EOBR's before President Bush leaves office.

"I don't know if we are going to get it out or not; it doesn't look like we are making progress at this point," Federal Motor Carrier Safety administrator John Hill said Thursday.

That certainly does not mean it is dead. In 2008 a group of Senators introduced legislation that would mandate the use of EOBR's. The NTSB has stepped up their campaign to mandate the use of EOBR's. Finally, the incoming administration of President-Elect Obama can certainly publish the new EOBR rule as well.

What is my return on investment?

Let's discuss why onboard technology can and does pay for itself - provided it's the right technology and it's managed. My first experience with obtaining an return on investment with onboard technology happened back in 1990 at a company in Dallas then known as Chemical Express Carriers. Using our early (and by today's standards antiquated) onboard computer system - we achieved a 12 month return on investment with our 550 trucks at 29 terminals.

The main payback is fuel economy. Even with electronically controlled engines, the driver is the difference.

"The driver is arguably the principal variable in fuel mileage. There is as much as a 35 percent different between the most proficient and least capable drivers" - The Fleet Manager's Guide to Fuel Economy, The Technology and Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Association.

How do you affect fuel economy? The average truck wastes 2196 gallons per year idling according to the Agronne National Lab. You can be assured that an idling truck engine burns a minimum 1 gallon per hour idle, without A/C or other engine load.

For every 1 MPH increase over 55 MPH, fuel consumption increases 2.2%. This means that 7.5 MPH at 55 MPH drops to 6.6 MPG at 65 MPH.

Rapid accelerations and decelerations. It's simple physics. You burn fuel getting that mass rolling - and then you scrub off that energy every time you hit the brakes.

Let's talk emissions. 10 MPH speed reduction reduces diesel engine NOX emissions by 18%. Idling by commercial trucks releases an estimated 10,000,000 tons of CO2, 50,000 tons of NOX, and 2,000 tons of particulates.

Fuel economy has a direct relation to vehicle wear. Increase in speed from 55 MPH to 65 MPH increases tire wear 5% to 16%, depending on weight. Increase in speed from 55 MPH to 65 MPH decreases miles to engine overhaul by 10% to 15%. Increase in speed from 55 MPH to 65 MPH increases oil consumption 15%. Idling for 6 hours = 42 miles of engine wear.

Will proper planning and execution of your dispatch and routing help your fleet utilization? An average of 42% of a fleet's operating costs is in vehicle depreciation. Intelligent routing and dispatching maximizes vehicle utilization and minimizes distance traveled.

You can find a simple, online fuel savings calculator at http://www.loadtrek.net/loadtrek_net/FuelEconomy.aspx.

This is an interesting subject. Let me know what you think.