LoadTrek will be at the Western Region Meeting of the NSRMCA - January 23-26

The Western region meeting of the National Star Route Mail Contractors Association will be meeting at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, NV.  We will be attending the entire conference.  USPS contractors, this is a very important meeting that will cover the pre-qualification process.  Contact us for registration information.

• Monday, January 23, 2012-JBPIC Meeting (closed) 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 24^th-8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.- A mini Board Meeting to consider some agenda items-St. Andrews Room
• Tuesday, January 24^th-9:00 a.m.-Max dues paying members meeting only-Jeff Boone and John Sheehy in charge with Committee Members Tim Pals, Mark Matheson and Cliff Blackburn-St Andrews room
• Tuesday, January 24^th -9:30 a.m.-Registration for CDS Contractors
• Tuesday, January 24^th -10:00 a.m.-CDS Meeting only
• Tuesday, January 24^th - 11:00 a.m.-Registration-$75 Members-$40 Guests-$150-Non Members-$80 Guests
• Tuesday, January 24^th -1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.- Contractors Only Meeting
• Tuesday, January 24^th -5:30 p.m.- Welcome Reception (cash bar) and raffle of $10,000 in chips
• Wednesday, January 25^th – 8:00 a.m.- Joint meeting with USPS, DOT and DOL
• Wednesday, January 25^th – 1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m. – Pre Qualification of Contractors Seminar-Dwight Young-St. Andrews room
• Wednesday, January 25^th – 5:00 p.m.-Continuation of Board meeti

LoadTrek 101, Lesson 2: January 11 at 1300 CST

LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 2: Types, Customers, Drivers, Equipment, Locations.

Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/138304457

US DOT Hours of Service Changes

DOT Hours of Service Changes

The FMCSA introduced the new Hour of Service regulations for property-carrying interstate carriers.  While this rule is not what the industry wanted, the overwhelming volume of comments did help - the 11 hour driving limit is retained. It could have been worse.  

Changes from the current rule are:

• “On-Duty” definition excludes any time resting in a parked commercial motor vehicle.  This change permits a day-cab driver to take a break in the cab without having to log the time as “on-duty”.  Drivers may be off duty in a moving CMV’s passenger seat, provided it’s immediately before or after a sleeper berth for up to 2 hours.  When a driver is off duty, the driver must be able to pursue any activity of his/her choosing.  Therefore it is important to plan a driver’s day - including break beginning and ending times.

• Required break after 8 hours on-duty.  A driver must take a break of at least 30 minutes any time before reaching 8 consecutive hours on-duty.  The 14 hour day is in reality a 13.5 hour day once this break is included.  

• 34 Hour restart is kept, but in a different form and with limitations.  A 34 hour restart may be taken once every 7 days.  The 34 hours off must include 2 periods between 0100 and 0500.  
• Oilfield drivers must show “waiting time” in the remarks section of the log, or on a separate grid line.  Oilfield “waiting time”, specifically at a well site while servicing the well, is off duty and pauses the 14 hour on duty clock.  

• Serious violations are now defined.  Driving 3 or more hours beyond the limits is an egregious violation, punishable by the maximum civil penalties.  

The revised penalty schedule and the oilfield rules must be complied with by February 27, 2012,  The remainder of the rules are to be complied with July 1, 2013. 

 

We expect this rule to be challenged in court, as 93% of all public comments in the Federal Register opposed this new rule.  This may delay the implementation of this rule.  

 

Watch our blog for the latest news; http://transportfacts.blogspot.com/.  Breaking news is on our Twitter feed, #LoadTrekTech. You can find a copy of the new rule at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/topics/hos-final/hos-final-rule.aspx.  

LoadTrek 101, Lesson 1

Free educational webinar series for LoadTrek clients.  LoadTrek 101, Lesson 1 - System Overview.  January 9, 2012 at 1300 CST.  Sign up at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/346311809. 

Save Fuel in 2012

Can you get 8.00 MPG across your fleet for an entire year?  Studies show you can get very, very close.  This fleet runs mostly newer trucks in the upper midwest, and is a TL van fleet running mostly slip-seat.  They use LoadTrek to train and coach their drivers, track maintenance, optimize routing and dispatch, and automate their financial/administrative tasks.  How did they achieve 7.96 MPG in 2011?  Contact us and find out. 

LoadTrek 101 Training Schedule Released

The LoadTrek University 101 Training series has been released - free for all LoadTrek clients.  Contact us to sign up. 

Date                Time                           Topic

1/9/2012          13:00 Central              Lesson 1 – System Overview, Installation, Terminology, Setup

1/11/2012        13:00 Central              Lesson 2 – Types, Customers, Drivers, Equipment, Locations

1/16/2012        13:00 Central              Lesson 3 – Load Plane, Tree Options, Load Creation and Edit

1/18/2012        13:00 Central              Lesson 4 – Route Plane: Route Creation and Edit

1/30/2012*      13:00 Central              Lesson 5 – Route Plane: Tracking, Messaging, Monitoring

2/1/2012          13:00 Central              Lesson 6 – DOT Information, View, Edit

2/6/2012          13:00 Central              Lesson 7 – Billing Plane, Rates

2/8/2012          13:00 Central              Lesson 8 – Timesheet / Payroll

2/20/2012*      13:00 Central              Lesson 9 – Static Load Plane, Static Load Creation

2/22/2012        13:00 Central              Lesson 10 – Driver Rotations

2/27/2012        13:00 Central              Lesson 11 – Fuel Tickets, IFTA Report

2/29/2012        13:00 Central              Lesson 12 – Reports, Dataviews

3/5/2012          13:00 Central              Lesson 13 – Analysis Plane

3/7/2012          13:00 Central              Lesson 14 – Maintenance Plane

Top 11 Trucking Stories of 2011 - Truckinginfo.com

Update your VMT and PU Data Now

Did You Know…As a motor carrier, your Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) and Power Unit (PU) data from your Motor Carrier Registration form, known as the MCS-150, are used to calculate your Unsafe Driving and Crash Indicator Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) percentiles.

If your VMT data is 2009 or older, it will not be used in your calculations when the January Safety Measurement System (SMS) snapshot is posted at the beginning of February.
Update your MCS-150 now with 2010 VMT/PU information or shortly after January 1, 2012 with your 2011 data to ensure FMCSA is using the most accurate data available to calculate your percentiles. Visit https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/PKG_REGISTRATION.prc_option to update your MCS-150 information. Under the “Existing Registration Updates” section, choose the first option - “I need to update my USDOT number registration information or file my biennial update.”

PLEASE NOTE: The SMS website is updated monthly, so your MCS-150 changes will not be reflected on that site until the next monthly update. You can find the schedule of SMS updates at http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/InfoCenter/#question5. MCS-150 updates show up faster on SAFER and the FMCSA Portal websites.


Thank You,
CSA Web Team
USDOT/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Cell Phone Ban FAQ's Available

Do you have questions regarding the ban on cell phone use in commercial motor vehicles?  We have a free FAQ - contact us for a copy. 

2012 US Department Of Transportation Random Drug Testing Rates

What are the DOT's random drug testing rates for 2012?  Contact us for a chart. 

Senate Bill S.1950 Did Not Make it out of Committee

Senate Bill S.1950 (Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act) did not survive Wednesday's markups in committee.  Texas Senator Hutchinson, ranking member on the Commerce Committee, urged rejection of the amendment because they lacked time to review work on the amendment. 

The bill is best known for its individual safety ideas.  However, it was the establishment of a National Freight Rail policy that seemed to solidify opposition to the bill. 

Commercial Motor Vehicle Handheld Mobile Phone Ban

Effective January 3, 2012, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (“FMCSR”) will prohibit commercial drivers from using hand-held mobile phones while operating a commercial truck or bus. Violations of the rule can result in fines of up to $2,750 to drivers and $11,000 to motor carriers.  Habitually offending drivers of this new rule can be disqualified from operating a CMV.  

This new regulation presents challenges for accident defense.  Make certain you have a written and distributed policy statement, that this topic is covered in safety meetings, and that all supervisors are as aware of the law as you and your drivers.  

10 Tips from a Successful Small Business Owner

Senate Bill Would Mandate EOBR's

Senate Bill S.1950 reauthorized the FMCSA.  This bill would require truck operators to use EOBR's to electronically manage drivers' Hours of Service.  The bill would also require a study allowing increased truck weight and size limits, increases FMCSA's ability to revoke operating authority, and strengthens safety requirements for new operating authority applicants. 

Postal Contractors - Can you obtain 99% GPS compliance?

LoadTrek customers do it every week.  Let us know if we can help you:

Claiming your full 179 deduction from the IRS?

If you are planning on implementing onboard technology and/or transportation management software in the near future - you might want to do it this year to take full advantage of the Section 179 special deduction that is part of the American Investment and Recovery Act.  You can learn more about this special deduction here.

Contact us for more information.