LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 7: Billing and Rates

Join us for a Webinar on February 6

45 minute lesson followed by a 10 minute Q & A period Title: LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 7: Billing Plane, Rates Date: Monday, February 6, 2012 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/704612449

Mandatory USPS Pre-Qualification for Highway Contractors

The United States Postal Service is asking every Highway Contractor to pre-qualify for future contracts.  New contracts issued by the USPS will ask for new and expanded services compared to current contracts.  The deadline for your submission is 1700 EST on March 2.

This process, called "Network Optimization Prequalification", will assess your ability to handle deeper and more flexible service.  You will be evaluated in 4 areas:  Eligibility, Financial Capabilities, Past Performance, Supplier Capability.

Contractors, your goal is to qualify for contracts, and to qualify at the highest level possible.  The information gathered will qualify you at for Local, Regional, or National contracts.  In addition to the meeting in Las Vegas last week, there will be another educational meeting on this process February 23 - which will also be broadcast on the internet.  Watch Emptoris to sign up for this event.

An important part of this process is your answer to the following question: Technology.  In your response, describe technical capabilities of the company, including the capabilities such as dynamic dispatching technology, routing technology, client integration, GPS tracking capabilities. 

LoadTrek is providing our clients (and future clients) with 4 services to help respond to this RFI:
1.  You can find information regarding the USPS' need for dynamic routing and dispatching here.

2.  You can request our white paper for USPS Highway Contractors by sending us an e-mail here.  

3.  We are providing a white paper for you to attach to your RFI response that will address each aspect of your LoadTrek.net system that provides the services requested by the USPS.  You can request a copy by contacting us here. 


4.  You can request a consultation from us by contacting us here.  We can assist you with your technology-related questions and comments.  We have retained trusted advisors who can assist you in setting up safety and compliance procedures and policies. 

LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 6: Hours of Service

LoadTrek Clients - Join us for a Webinar on February 1

Title: LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 6: DOT Information, View, Edit Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/893689520

How are carriers really doing with CSA?

I received some interesting information from a member of my safety/compliance roundtable group. How is the CSA program really working?  Here are some facts:

The Safety Rating is everything to a Motor Carrier.  In 2010 (pre-CSA) the FMCSA issued 13000 Safety Ratings during Compliance Reviews (CR's).  In 2011 they issued Safety Ratings to 9000 motor carriers.  In 2012 (remember, the Fed's year starts in September) they are on track to issue 6000 Safety Ratings. 

The Agency does not have to issue a rating during a Compliance Review.  In 2010, 139 CR's resulted in no Safety Rating.  In the first quarter of 2012 alone, 569 CR's resulted in no Safety Rating.  Could it be that no Safety Rating is issued if the carrier has no serious violations? It appears that safety investigators are staying on site as long as necessary to find critical or acute violations.  It has been reported that investigators are staying from 3-11 weeks on site. You can find the information here: 

http://www.ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafetyProgram/spRptReview.aspx?rpt=RVFR

I was reminded by my colleague that CSA rates on a curve.  You may be OK, and drop to"not OK" in a single month - if those below you go out of business or improve. 

What can you do?  Have written policies regarding driver discipline, speed limits, drug and alcohol testing, cell phone use, load securement or bulk cargo containment, and Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports.  Monitor and measure your drivers' performance.  Only operate equipment when necessary, cut down on deadhead and non-revenue producing miles.  If possible, route vehicles around congested times and roadways.  Always think in terms of minimizing exposure. 

The CMV Cell Phone Ban Double-Whammy

The new Unsafe Driving fact sheet explains that commercial drivers and fleet operators must abide by FMCSR 392 — the newly-amended federal regulation which specifically prohibits drivers from using hand-held mobile phones and forbids their employers from requiring them to do so.

Employers caught violating the ban, either by requiring employees to use hand-held phones or by failing to ensure that they don’t, not only carries a fine of up to $11,000 – but it could also negatively impact the Safety Measurement System (SMS) score a carrier receives from CSA. 

According to the new fact sheet, violations will stay on carriers’ records for at least 24 months – and only “time and clean inspections” will erase the damage done by a cell phone ban violation.

So getting caught in violation could be a painful double-whammy – first a hit to your bottom line, followed by a hit to your safety score.

Tank endorsement interpretation received from FMCSA

49 CFR 383.5

Tank vehicle means any commercial motor vehicle that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis.  A commercial motor vehicle transporting an empty storage container tank, not designed for transportation, with a rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is temporarily attached to a flatbed trailer is not considered a tank vehicle.

FMCSA HQ has indicated that the Tank endorsement would extend to a driver transporting bulk totes with individual rated capacities of more than 119 gallons, and an aggregate capacity over 1,000 gallons, in a box van and secured with bars, straps, etc.

LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 5: Tracking, Messaging, Monitoring

Join us for a Webinar on January 30

Title: LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 5: Route Plane: Tracking, Messaging, Monitoring Date: Monday, January 30, 2012 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/650811761

Cargo Theft Reaches Record High in 2011 - Truckinginfo.com

CSA Fact Sheets Available Now

You can find a fact sheet for each of the 7 BASIC’s here. 

U. S. DOT Motor Carrier Hours of Service Seminar

This is a performance-based seminar presented in a traditional lecture environment. Practical exercises include student activities and completing actual “log book entries”. This seminar is designed to give you guidance or refresh your knowledge of the Hours of Service requirements contained in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) as referenced in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49, Part 395.

Who should attend?
    Anyone in the Motor Carrier industry who has the responsibility for regulatory compliance in the area of hours-of-service.  This course is also suitable for enforcement/compliance personnel interested in becoming familiar with the hours-of-service requirements.

Course Topics:
    Part 395 - Hours of Service

Click here for a course listing and to enroll.

U. S. DOT Motor Carrier Safety Compliance Classes

Transportation Safety Institute; Oklahoma City, OK

Instruction is provided in the application of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) to fleet operations. The course emphasizes the practical side of regulatory compliance from the level of regulations to the acute, critical and serious safety violations identified by the U. S. DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Who should attend?
    Persons within the motor carrier industry who have responsibility for administrative oversight of driver qualification files and regulatory compliance.

Course Topics:
    Part 380 - Special Training Requirements
    Part 382 - Controlled Substances/Alcohol Testing
    Part 383 - CDL Requirements
    Part 385 - Safety Fitness Program
    Part 387 - Financial Responsibility
    Part 390 - Applicability
    Part 391 - Qualification of Drivers
    Part 392 - Driving of Motor Vehicles
    Part 393 - Parts & Accessories; Out-of-Service (OOS) Criteria
    Part 395 - Hourse of Service/Auditing
    Part 396 - Inspection, Repair, Maintenance

The next class starts March 5.  Click here for class schedules and to enroll

LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 4: Routes

LoadTrek Customers - Join us for a Free Training Webinar on January 18

Title:  LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 4: Route Plane: Route Creation and Edit

Date:  Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Time:  1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/831247064

LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 3: Load and Order Creation

Free for LoadTrek Clients:  Join us for a Webinar on January 16

Title: LoadTrek 101 - Lesson 3: Load Plane, Tree Options, Load Creation and Edit Date: Monday, January 16, 2012 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CST Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/291396568

More Information on the CMV Cell Phone Restrictions

While many trucking fleets and the companies that make in-cab data devices to support carriers’ operations back moves to restrict cellphone use by drivers, a number of them strongly oppose the recent National Transportation Safety Board recommendation that calls for a total ban on their use — including hands-free devices — while driving.

Arkansas Best, Interstate Van Lines, Bestway Express Inc., Estes Express, Fanelli Brothers Trucking are all on record supporting a ban on texting while driving, but not a total ban on mobile phones in CMV’s.  At LoadTrek, all major fleets that we are aware of already have company policies in place banning use of cell phones while driving.  

OOIDA is against any ban.  “We are certainly disappointed the rule was adopted in spite of a scientific study showing this to be a non-safety issue for truckers,” OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer said before the rule went into effect. “It appears the issue has been generalized in such a way that all of distracted driving has been laid at the feet of the trucking industry.”

Although the U.S. Department of Transportation said in late December that it would not back the NTSB recommendation, it still could become problematic for truckers if it is adopted by states.

The use of CB radios, EOBRs and hands-free devices is exempt because they are considered one-button push devices posing no more danger than selecting a radio station or turning on the heat or air conditioning, FMCSA said.  EOBRs are not considered a personal electronic device.

Successful fleets, including those that use LoadTrek, know that data and not voice is the key to running a successful operation.  By minimizing voice communication, you minimize the disruption in the workday of two workers.  By maximizing the use of data (such as driver messaging or automated dispatch assignments) you have an audit trail and minimize the work needed to facilitate your company’s work process.  

Contact LoadTrek for more information on minimizing the use of voice communications in your fleet operations center.