Saturday, January 29, 2011

Free Educational Webinar for LoadTrek Customers

Topics: Route Setup and Review for Accurate USPS Reporting.

Friday, January 28, 2011

FMCSA to Hold Public Listening Session on Hours-of-Service Proposed Rule

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced it will hold a public listening session on its regulatory proposal that would revise hours-of-service (HOS) requirements for commercial truck drivers on February 17, 2011 in Arlington, Virginia.

The public listening session will be held at the Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport Hotel, 1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia. To encourage maximum public participation, the entire listening session will be live webcast at www.fmcsa.dot.gov. Additionally, as part of the webcast, FMCSA officials will take online comments and questions from the public starting at 12 noon until 12 midnight EST.

The goal of the listening session is to gather a broad range of comments, ideas and relevant data as the agency analyzes responses to its HOS regulatory proposal issued on December 23, 2010. Hours-of-service requirements are designed to help prevent commercial vehicle-related accidents, injuries and fatalities by prescribing on-duty hours and rest periods for commercial drivers.

  1. Crowne Plaza Washington National Airport
    1480 Crystal Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22202
    9 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST / Live Webcast
    FMCSA officials take online comments and questions from 12 noon to 12 midnight EST

To learn more about federal HOS requirements, please visit the FMCSA website at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos-proposed/statement.aspx. Interested persons may also contact David Miller, FMCSA Office of Policy Plans and Regulation at (202) 366-5011.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Deadline to Comment on the HOS Proposal is February 28

We have a month to get our comments into the Federal Register regarding the proposed changes to the US commercial drivers' Hours of Service regulations. We are setting up webinars now to help you respond. You can read about the proposed changes HERE.

Contact us to set up an appointment.

HOS comments rolling in to FMCSA

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

What was True Yesterday in Safety Management is True Today

Companies with the best safety records have a three-pronged approach of safety awareness programs, safety training, and measurement of driving performance with on-board recorders.

- NTSB, 1999

Friday, January 14, 2011

Trasnportation Research Board's 90th Annual Meeting

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology (ART) is hosting a forum titled FMCSA's Analysis, Research, and Technology Program. The Forum, being held in conjunction with the Transportation Research Board's (TRB) 90th Annual Meeting, will take place on:

Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 8 am - 12 pm
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Salon 3
Washington, D.C. 20009

Topics to be covered include:

  • The Wireless Roadside Inspection Pilot Test Preliminary Findings
  • Update on CSA 2010
  • Smart Roadside Initiative Overview
  • Effectiveness of Fostering Safety Culture in Motor Carriers
  • Data Quality Improvement Efforts in FMCSA
  • Investigation into Motor Carrier Practices to Achieve Optimal CMV Driver Performance
The ART Forum is open to the public at no cost. Simply go to Salon 3 and sign in. If you plan to attend other sessions of the TRB Annual Meeting, you must register separately and pay a registration fee.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Come See us Next Week in Las Vegas

We will be at the Western/Central Regional Meeting of the NSRMCA at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas January 18-19. Make an appointment to see us if you'd like to discuss the USPS GPS requirement, the changing regulatory environment, or operational issues you'd like to better control.

LoadTrek Customers: Free Advanced Educational Webinar Series Starts in January

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

FMCSA OK's Electronic Signatures

This is a very big deal, and good news for fleets running onboard computers and make extensive use of paperless processes.

This makes no difference to fleets running compliant electronic paperless logs-as this is directly addressed in 395.15/16.

This is important for fleets who use paperless Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports, which in LoadTrek are part of the driver's login process. This also means you can use electronic versions of other required documentation - other than direct correspondence with the agency where a signature is required.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued regulatory guidance that establishes parity between paper and electronic records and signatures, expanding interested parties’ ability to use electronic methods. FMCSA has received a number of requests from motor carriers and other interested parties asking permission to use electronic signatures in lieu of handwritten signatures on paper.

Any electronic document or signature is considered the legal equivalent of a paper document or signature if it is the functional equivalent with respect to integrity, accuracy and accessibility, and that anyone may use electronic methods so long as the electronic documents or signatures accurately reflect the information in the record and remain accessible in a form that can be viewed and/or reproduced accurately according to agency rules.

If the FMCSA asks for any documentation, you may use the electronic equivalent of a paper document as long as you can produce it in the timeframe requested - generally within 48 hours before an audit and immediately during an audit.

We have the Regulatory Guidance from the FMCSA contact us if you would like a copy, or have any questions on how this affects your fleet. We have DOT experts and safety/compliance consultants who can address your circumstance.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Guide to Understanding and Responding to the Proposed New Hours of Service Regulations

This document summarizes the seven changes proposed by the FMCSA to the Hours of Service regulations. It also provides instructions for commenting on the proposed regulation.

Proposed Hours of Service Regulation posted to the Federal Register

For an electronic copy, contact us. Deadline for public comments is February 28.

Free Copy of "Trucking 101".

Download a free copy of the "Trucking 101" from the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies. This is an excellent, updated source of information about our industry.