LoadTrek HOS Webinars

Upcoming webinars to introduce and explain new features - open to all LoadTrek customers.

Webinars will last approximately 30 minutes, with 20-25 minutes of instruction followed by a 5-10 minute Q & A session.

Invitations and links to register for the next scheduled webinar will be sent prior to each session.  All webinars will be recorded and posted to the existing LoadTrek training video library.

Contact LoadTrek support if you did not receive an invitatin and would like to attend.
 

Date              Time                   Topic

10/1/2013     13:00 Central    HOS Interface - 34 Hour Reset Review and Selection

10/2/2013     15:00 Central    HOS Interface - Configuring Report Subscriptions

10/3/2013     13:00 Central    HOS Interface - Review and User Questions

ATRI Seeks Motor Carrier Input on HOS Impacts

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has announced the second of two data collection efforts to measure impacts from the recent changes to the Hours-of-Service rules, which went into effect July 1, 2013. 

In this latest survey, motor carriers are asked to provide input on the changes. "The response to the driver survey has been tremendous thus far and we likewise expect a lot of interest from motor carriers in documenting how they have changed their operations to fit the new rules," said ATRI President Rebecca Brewster. 

Motor carriers are encouraged to participate in the confidential survey online at www.atri-online.org. 

How To Prepare For a Safety Audit & CSA Overview on October 9 in Austin

The TXTA Training Institute, in cooperation with a former U.S. DOT official, Leon Feazell. will be conducting a seminar concerning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. 

Attendees will receive valuable information on FMCSA's current  and future audit procedures, find out what items trigger a safety audit, What questions will be asked, what records will be checked, how records are selected, differences in acute and critical violations, how penalties are determined, how your carrier rating is determined, how to prepare for CSA.

Safety Audit and CSA Overview

October 9

TXTA Headquarters
Weller Training Institute
700 East 11th St.
Austin, TX 78701

To register, visit: www.tmta.com 

FMCSA Withdraws Driver Training Proposal, Will Start Over - News - TruckingInfo.com

FMCSA Withdraws Driver Training Proposal, Will Start Over - News - TruckingInfo.com

Report Shows Truck Enforcement Disparities - News - TruckingInfo.com

Report Shows Truck Enforcement Disparities - News - TruckingInfo.com

The FMCSA has published a final rule

Unified Registration System (URS), amending its regulations to require interstate motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, intermodal equipment providers (IEPs), hazardous materials safety permit (HMSP) applicants, and cargo tank facilities under FMCSA jurisdiction to submit required registration and biennial update information to the Agency using a new electronic on-line Unified Registration System (URS).

The implementation of the URS final rule consolidates the following registration and information systems:

• The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) identification number system;
• The commercial registration system to obtain for-hire operating authority/MC Number;
• The financial responsibility information system; and
• The service of process agent designation system.

The URS is designed to streamline the registration process and serve as a clearinghouse and depository of information on, and identification of, all entities required to register with FMCSA.

Provisions in the final rule include:

• Form MCSA-1. Replaces the current MCS-150 and OP-1 forms. The Form MCSA-1 must be submitted electronically; it is an interactive form, requiring applicants to see and complete only the sections that apply to their operation. Carriers that currently have a USDOT number do not have to file the MCSA-1 until they are required to update their information.
• Designation of process agent. URS requires all private carriers and exempt for-hire motor carriers to file proof of designation of process agents with the FMCSA. All entities must report changes to process agent designations to the FMCSA within 30 days of the change. Also, when a motor carrier has a change in name, address, or contact information, the motor carrier must provide notice of the change to its process agents and/or the company making a blanket designation on its behalf within 30 days of the change.
• The effective date and compliance date for this provision is April 25, 2016. Existing private carriers and exempt for-hire carriers must file a designation of process agent (Form BOC-3) by the compliance date.
• Financial responsibility filing. A provision in the final rule requires private hazardous materials and exempt for-hire motor carriers to file proof of liability insurance with FMCSA. These entities are already subject to the financial responsibility requirements of 49 CFR 387 which require them to have and maintain the required amount of financial responsibility. Exempt for-hire carriers and private carriers of hazardous materials must file proof of insurance by October 23, 2015.
• Biennial update. A motor carrier that fails to update their Form MCSA-1 information every two years will be subject to deactivation of their USDOT number. This provision is effective and compliance is required on November 1, 2013. Beginning November 1, 2013, the FMCSA will issue a warning letter 30 days in advance of a biennial update deadline to notify the entity that its USDOT Number will be deactivated if it fails to comply with the biennial update requirement. Only after an entity has failed to heed that warning will the Agency begin deactivating USDOT registrations for failure to update the information on Form MCSA-1 and consider imposing civil penalties. FMCSA, however, will not retroactively apply sanctions against entities that had not met the biennial update requirement by November 1, 2013.
• USDOT registration required. 49 CFR 392.9b has been added to prohibit a motor carrier with an inactive DOT number from operating a commercial motor vehicle; violation of this provision subjects the motor carrier to civil penalties. The effective and compliance date for this provision is November 1, 2013
• Filing changes to name, address, form of business. The final rule requires all entities to notify FMCSA of any changes to legal name, form of business, or address within 30 days of the precipitating change.
• New USDOT number. New applicants will be issued an inactive USDOT number; the USDOT number will be activated by the FMCSA only after all required filings (financial responsibility, if required, and process agent designation) are completed. If the applicant is also requesting operating authority (non-exempt for-hire carriers only) the USDOT number will remain inactive until all protests have been resolved and all required filings are complete. A carrier may not operate until the USDOT number is activated.
• USDOT number sole identifier. FMCSA will use the USDOT Number as its sole unique identifier for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders subject to its regulations. The URS will discontinue issuance of MC, MX, and FF Numbers. MAP-21 also amended 49 U.S.C. 13901 to require distinctive USDOT Numbers for each type of authority issued. For example, an entity applying for both broker and motor carrier authority would receive a different USDOT Number for each type of authority. This MAP-21 provision also requires that the USDOT Number include an “indicator” of the type of authority issued; FMCSA will address this requirement in a separate rulemaking.
• Registration fees. The final rule includes a new requirement for private and exempt for-hire motor carriers, cargo tank facilities, and intermodal equipment providers (IEPs) to pay a $300 registration fee when submitting a new application.

The effective and compliance date for this final rule is October 23, 2015, except for the provisions noted above with separate effective/compliance dates.

This final rule implements statutory provisions in the ICC Termination Act of 1995 (ICCTA) and the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, 2005 (SAFETEA-LU).

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) was enacted on July 6, 2012 and includes several provisions that are relevant to the implementation of the URS. Many of these statutory provisions will require separate rulemakings to implement regulations.

Rather than delay issuance of this final rule the Agency intends to initiate separate rulemaking proceeding(s) to address the necessary regulatory changes.

New Texas Study Shows Highly Successful Trucking Companies Use Different HR Practices

Highly successful companies use distinct practices in building their workforces and offer more benefits to recruit and retain drivers when compared to all other trucking companies, according to new research in the 2013 Texas Trucking Industry Study.To qualify as highly successful, referred to as a "HSS" company in the study, a Texas-based trucking company had to report revenue growth in 2012, a net profit margin of at least 10% in 2012, and a minimum of 11 drivers.

The study was sponsored by the Texas Trucking Alliance (TTA) that includes The Bassett Firm in Dallas, Business Financial Group in San Antonio, Regions Insurance, SelecTransportation Resources in Houston, TravisWolff in Dallas, and Texas Trucking Association (TXTA, formerly Texas Motor Transportation Association) and the TXTA Foundation both in Austin.

"We think this study will move the research closer toward the TTA mission of providing scientifically quantified best practices in the Texas trucking industry," said John D. Esparza, President and CEO of Texas Trucking Association (TXTA). "These practices, if adopted more broadly, should strengthen TXTA members and the overall industry."

According to the 2013 Texas Trucking Industry Study, 86% of HSS companies use contract drivers, compared to 42% of all other companies. Even so, 76% of HSS companies employ a mix of both contract drivers and employee drivers, compared to only 30% of all other companies.

Concerning recruitment venues, 91% of the HSS regards driver referrals as useful, compared to 66% of all other companies. Significantly, the HSS companies are twice as likely as all others to pay referral bonuses to referring drivers. Moreover, the HSS companies that do pay bonuses appear to pay higher bonuses than all other companies: The average HSS bonus was $532 per driver referral compared to $321 for all others.

Regarding benefits and pay structure, the HSS companies appear to be more likely to offer these benefits tracked in the study than all other companies in 2013:

     Driver recognition awards (67% v. 45%)

     Bonus pay for accident-free driving (62% v. 44%)

     Health care insurance (57% v. 34%)

     Longevity bonus (52% v. 37%)

     Commissions on sales (35% v. 22%)

     Fuel surcharge pay (33% v. 21%)

     Signing bonuses (24% v. 19%)

     401(k) retirement plan (33% v. 14%).

More information is available at the TTA website, www.TexasTruckingAlliance.com. The website includes past research, white papers, news releases and a listing of TTA activities and events. The new 2013 study is available for purchase for $150 through www.texastrucking.com