Sunday, May 30, 2010
Survey Finds Cost Savings Are Top Concern
Almost half (48 percent) of the survey respondents said cost savings is C-level executives' main focus for fleet management in 2010 versus 36 percent from a 2009 survey.
Friday, May 28, 2010
CSA 2010 Rollout: What is Happening When?
April 12 – November 30, 2010 – Motor carriers can preview their own data by seeing their roadside inspections/violations and crash events organized by Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC).
June 30th – The Operational Model (Op-Model) Test will end.
July – The four “50/50” Op-Model Test states, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri and New Jersey, will join the five 100% Op-Model Test states in implementing the program.
August – Motor carriers will be able to see an assessment of their violations based on the new Carrier Safety Measurement System (CSMS) which will replace SafeStat later in 2010.
Fall/Winter 2010
SafeStat will be replaced by the CSMS. CSMS will be available to the public, including shippers and insurance companies.
FMCSA/States will prioritize enforcement using the CSMS.
FMCSA will begin to issue Warning Letters to carriers with deficient BASICs.
Roadside inspectors will use the CSMS results to identify carriers for inspection.
Winter 2010 - Safety Fitness Determination Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is scheduled to be released.
2011 – Enforcement staff will be trained, and new interventions will be implemented State-by-State
June 30th – The Operational Model (Op-Model) Test will end.
July – The four “50/50” Op-Model Test states, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri and New Jersey, will join the five 100% Op-Model Test states in implementing the program.
August – Motor carriers will be able to see an assessment of their violations based on the new Carrier Safety Measurement System (CSMS) which will replace SafeStat later in 2010.
Fall/Winter 2010
SafeStat will be replaced by the CSMS. CSMS will be available to the public, including shippers and insurance companies.
FMCSA/States will prioritize enforcement using the CSMS.
FMCSA will begin to issue Warning Letters to carriers with deficient BASICs.
Roadside inspectors will use the CSMS results to identify carriers for inspection.
Winter 2010 - Safety Fitness Determination Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is scheduled to be released.
2011 – Enforcement staff will be trained, and new interventions will be implemented State-by-State
Thursday, May 20, 2010
ATRI: Truck collisions down 11.7%, most wrecks in first 8 driving hours
Total collisions per million miles traveled for all fleets decreased 11.7 percent in 2009 from 2004. Preventable collisions per million miles traveled for all fleets also decreased 30.6 percent in 2009 from 2004. Both findings were statistically significant, according to the ATRI analysis.
Total driver injuries decreased 1.6 percent for all fleets and 23 percent for TL fleets. Both findings were statistically significant.
The majority of commercial vehicle collisions (87 percent) occurred within the first eight hours of driving. A similar trend was found in an analysis of fatal truck collisions using the Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents (TIFA) database. A review of 2007 TIFA data showed that 80 percent of fatal truck collisions occurred within the first eight hours of driving.
Nearly 70 percent of drivers used part of the 9-10 hour at least once during the month. Approximately 60 percent of drivers used part of the 10-11 hour and slightly less (52 percent) used the entire 10-11 hour. The majority of drivers (79 percent) used the 34-hour restart at least once during a month.
In general, drivers used the 34-hour restart an average of three or fewer times per month. Among TL drivers, 56 percent used the 34-hour restart three or fewer times per month; LTL, 61 percent; and specialized, 66 percent.
Total driver injuries decreased 1.6 percent for all fleets and 23 percent for TL fleets. Both findings were statistically significant.
The majority of commercial vehicle collisions (87 percent) occurred within the first eight hours of driving. A similar trend was found in an analysis of fatal truck collisions using the Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents (TIFA) database. A review of 2007 TIFA data showed that 80 percent of fatal truck collisions occurred within the first eight hours of driving.
Nearly 70 percent of drivers used part of the 9-10 hour at least once during the month. Approximately 60 percent of drivers used part of the 10-11 hour and slightly less (52 percent) used the entire 10-11 hour. The majority of drivers (79 percent) used the 34-hour restart at least once during a month.
In general, drivers used the 34-hour restart an average of three or fewer times per month. Among TL drivers, 56 percent used the 34-hour restart three or fewer times per month; LTL, 61 percent; and specialized, 66 percent.
DOT Projects EOBR Rule Release in December
The Department of Transportation said last week that it expects to publish in mid-December its follow-up proposal to require more fleets to use electronic onboard recorders.
DOT said it should publish the rule on Dec. 17. The agency previously projected issuing the rule on Dec. 3.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently issued a final rule requiring carriers with poor hours-of-service compliance to use an EOBR but said that future regulations could require more fleets to use the device.
DOT said it should publish the rule on Dec. 17. The agency previously projected issuing the rule on Dec. 3.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently issued a final rule requiring carriers with poor hours-of-service compliance to use an EOBR but said that future regulations could require more fleets to use the device.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
CSA 2010 and "Clean" Inspections
TruckingInfo.com explores the importance of a "clean inspection" in the CSA 2010 schema.
1. Not all roadside inspections are truly inspections, some are "pre-inspection screenings".
2. The CVSA is considering changes to its operational policies that will encourage law enforcement jurisdictions to formalize and standardize their approach to roadside inspections.
1. Not all roadside inspections are truly inspections, some are "pre-inspection screenings".
2. The CVSA is considering changes to its operational policies that will encourage law enforcement jurisdictions to formalize and standardize their approach to roadside inspections.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
LoadTrek at the Texas Mail Contractors Annual Meeting
LoadTrek Technologies will lead a learning session on CSA 2010 at the Texas Star Route Mail Contractors Association meeting in San Antonio.
Contact us to schedule a consultation while we are in south Texas on May 14-16.
Contact us to schedule a consultation while we are in south Texas on May 14-16.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Compliance, Safety, and Profits Webinar Tomorrow
We invite you to a short, informational Web-Conference to learn about the new trucking regulatory environment.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
CSA 2010 Motor Carrier Preview Data Now Available
Motor carriers can check their safety performance data. Your CSA 2010 data can be viewed until November 30. Percentiles – your ranking with other carriers – will not be available. Preview screen will show all inspections, and you can drill through to see violations.
1. If you do not have a carrier PIN, register online at https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/PKG_REGISTRATION.prc_option.
2. Once registered, view your data at https://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDataReview%2fDefault.aspx
3. On each BASIC screen you have the option to challenge inaccuracies by clicking on “Verify Data”.
4. Challenge suspect information at the FMCSA’s “DataQ” site; https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/login.asp.
1. If you do not have a carrier PIN, register online at https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/PKG_REGISTRATION.prc_option.
2. Once registered, view your data at https://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fDataReview%2fDefault.aspx
3. On each BASIC screen you have the option to challenge inaccuracies by clicking on “Verify Data”.
4. Challenge suspect information at the FMCSA’s “DataQ” site; https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/login.asp.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
DOT Issues Rule Requiring Electronic On-Board Recorders, Will Consider Broader Mandate this Year
The new EOBR rule, which is all over the news, has two parts; a requirement for carriers with 10% or more HOS violations, and a complete revision of the technical requirements. The new rule goes into affect on June 1, 2012.
The new regulation was published this morning in the Federal Register.
The requirements for those carriers who must install EOBR's is very clear. Those who install EOBR's voluntarily will receive relief from most supporting documentation requirements. EOBR's currently in use that comply with the current rules will not comply with the new rules. Check with your vendor to see what their plans are to comply with the new rules.
The new regulation was published this morning in the Federal Register.
The requirements for those carriers who must install EOBR's is very clear. Those who install EOBR's voluntarily will receive relief from most supporting documentation requirements. EOBR's currently in use that comply with the current rules will not comply with the new rules. Check with your vendor to see what their plans are to comply with the new rules.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Head of Canada Truck Group Backs EOBRs for All Trucks Operating in North America
From Tranposrt Topics. Byline: Michele Fuetsch
Electronic onboard recorders should be mandatory for all truckers operating in North America, the president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance said.
“It is rather bizarre that, in 2010, our industry relies on an archaic paper-based system when the rest of the world and the rest of society . . . is moving to a digital electronic world,” David Bradley said.
Mandatory EOBR regulations would “level the playing field to make sure that everybody is complying” with hours-of-service rules in whatever country they are operating in, Bradley told Transport Topics.
CTA, Canada’s largest trucking advocacy group, has 4,500 carriers as members.
On both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, “I think there’s a lot of inventive bookkeeping going on,” Bradley said. “There are people who have a variety of reasons why they might be opposed, but a good number of them simply don’t want to have that sort of oversight, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to bring an end to.”
If governments are serious about safety and enforcing HOS rules, he added, they “should be using all of the tools” at their disposal to promote compliance.
Bradley commented in connection with a position paper CTA issued March 15 that called for a universal, mandatory EOBR rule in Canada and, eventually, in all of North America.
Transportation officials in both Canada and the United States are currently conducting policy reviews on EOBRs.
In the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering expanding a proposed rule written during the Bush administration to require EOBRs for companies that fail several HOS reviews.
Current FMCSA officials said the agency might issue a new proposal before the end of the year.
In Canada, the Council of Motor Transport Administrators is working on a proposed EOBR rule to be issued in October.
In a position paper filed with the council, CTA urged policymakers to address unresolved issues with EOBRs that include a “reasonable, common-sense” approach to enforcement.
For instance, if truckers were stopped for an HOS violation 10 minutes from home or a rest area, then the industry likely would oppose an EOBR rule, CTA said.
The CTA position paper also called for harmonization of the rules between the United States and Canada and for driver protections that ensure EOBRs are used only to monitor hours, not to remotely control shutdowns or lockouts.
CTA also said that any EOBR rule should not prescribe specific types of technology and that policymakers should not be drawn into a large-versus-small carrier argument over cost effects.
“Anytime someone is breaking the law in order to run their business, they’re getting, arguably, a leg up on somebody else,” Bradley said.
EOBRs would help to set trucking rates that accurately “reflect what it really costs to run a trucking business safely,” he added.
In the United States, American Trucking Associations does not support a universal, mandatory EOBR rule.
ATA supports an FMCSA “remedial” approach that would require fleets with poor HOS compliance to use EOBRs, said Dave Osiecki, ATA’s senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs.
“We think that that’s a good idea,” Osiecki said.
According to ATA policy, there would have to be “sound evidence” that EOBRs enhance safety before a mandatory, universal EOBR rule would be justified.
As more trucks have EOBRs, Osiecki said, increased data indeed might show the devices increase safety. For now, though, the evidence shows only that EOBRs increase compliance to HOS rules, he said.
Electronic onboard recorders should be mandatory for all truckers operating in North America, the president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance said.
“It is rather bizarre that, in 2010, our industry relies on an archaic paper-based system when the rest of the world and the rest of society . . . is moving to a digital electronic world,” David Bradley said.
Mandatory EOBR regulations would “level the playing field to make sure that everybody is complying” with hours-of-service rules in whatever country they are operating in, Bradley told Transport Topics.
CTA, Canada’s largest trucking advocacy group, has 4,500 carriers as members.
On both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, “I think there’s a lot of inventive bookkeeping going on,” Bradley said. “There are people who have a variety of reasons why they might be opposed, but a good number of them simply don’t want to have that sort of oversight, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to bring an end to.”
If governments are serious about safety and enforcing HOS rules, he added, they “should be using all of the tools” at their disposal to promote compliance.
Bradley commented in connection with a position paper CTA issued March 15 that called for a universal, mandatory EOBR rule in Canada and, eventually, in all of North America.
Transportation officials in both Canada and the United States are currently conducting policy reviews on EOBRs.
In the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering expanding a proposed rule written during the Bush administration to require EOBRs for companies that fail several HOS reviews.
Current FMCSA officials said the agency might issue a new proposal before the end of the year.
In Canada, the Council of Motor Transport Administrators is working on a proposed EOBR rule to be issued in October.
In a position paper filed with the council, CTA urged policymakers to address unresolved issues with EOBRs that include a “reasonable, common-sense” approach to enforcement.
For instance, if truckers were stopped for an HOS violation 10 minutes from home or a rest area, then the industry likely would oppose an EOBR rule, CTA said.
The CTA position paper also called for harmonization of the rules between the United States and Canada and for driver protections that ensure EOBRs are used only to monitor hours, not to remotely control shutdowns or lockouts.
CTA also said that any EOBR rule should not prescribe specific types of technology and that policymakers should not be drawn into a large-versus-small carrier argument over cost effects.
“Anytime someone is breaking the law in order to run their business, they’re getting, arguably, a leg up on somebody else,” Bradley said.
EOBRs would help to set trucking rates that accurately “reflect what it really costs to run a trucking business safely,” he added.
In the United States, American Trucking Associations does not support a universal, mandatory EOBR rule.
ATA supports an FMCSA “remedial” approach that would require fleets with poor HOS compliance to use EOBRs, said Dave Osiecki, ATA’s senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs.
“We think that that’s a good idea,” Osiecki said.
According to ATA policy, there would have to be “sound evidence” that EOBRs enhance safety before a mandatory, universal EOBR rule would be justified.
As more trucks have EOBRs, Osiecki said, increased data indeed might show the devices increase safety. For now, though, the evidence shows only that EOBRs increase compliance to HOS rules, he said.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Published Comments in the Federal Register Regarding NPRM 395.16
These are my official comments regarding NPRM 395.16, published om 17 April 2007.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 395.16
I believe that we'll find the new EOBR rule, when it is made public, to be largely consistent with the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)395.16. This NPRM is a reasonable compromise, weighing the needs of small and large companies. It allows competing technologies, is reasonable and clear. There are some troublesome areas, but it's about as good as we can hope for when this many parties are involved.
Paperless Drivers' Logs Whitepaper
With today's news that the White House has released the new EOBR rule, I decided to re-post the link to this free whitepaper on commercial drivers' paperless DOT logs.
White House Clears Final EOBR Rule
A final rule mandating electronic onboard recorders for carriers that have a history of serious noncompliance with hours-of-service rules could be just days away now that the White House Office of Management and Budget has cleared the measure. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is expected soon to publish the rule in the Federal Register. Details of the final rule won’t be public until FMCSA announces it.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
WEBINAR: CSA 2010’s impact on the driver force
As carriers begin to cope with the realities of Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, they’ll look at retention and recruitment in new ways. In a webinar produced by Overdrive and Truckers News, Don Osterberg, Schneider National’s senior vice president of safety, security and driver training, will examine how fleets need to evaluate drivers’ safety performance and whether the new federal safety initiative will create a shortage of drivers with sufficiently clean records.
CTA Reiterates Support for EOBRs
The Canadian Trucking Alliance has reiterated its support for an electronic on-board recorder mandate in response to a discussion paper prepared by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.
Monday, March 15, 2010
ATRI Seeks Comments on HOS - Online Survey
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is continuing data collection and analysis to measure Hours-of-Service impacts on driver safety. For this latest effort, data is requested on overall safety performance for calendar year 2009.
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