CSA 2010, the FMCSA's new safety initiative being rolled out this year, has been described as a "game changer." Since it will affect all of us, it's critical to make sure we're all as informed as possible.
Driving Ambition, in conjunction with the Indianapolis Traffic Club, is proud to be sponsoring the most important seminar of the year.
What can we expect from the FMCSA in 2010?
We hope you will join us on Thursday, March 11 as Former FMCSA Administrator, and Indiana's own, John Hill will discuss a variety of topics including CSA 2010, Hours of Service (HOS), and Electronic Logs (EOBRs) and their impact in 2010.
Click here for more information on this special event. We hope to see you there!
John H. Hill, the FMCSA's third Administrator since Congress created the Agency in 2000, was nominated to the position under President George W. Bush in 2006 and served until 2009. Before joining the FMCSA, between 1974-2003, Mr. Hill served as a member of the Indiana State Police as the Commander of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, the Logistics Division Commander, and Field Enforcement Commander. Mr. Hill is a 1973 graduate of Taylor University in Indiana. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Last month, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released
sample legislation to be used as a starting point for states crafting new laws to prohibit texting while behind-the-wheel, the latest step in the campaign against distracted driving.
Although there are many sources of driver distraction, there is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because texting combines three types of distraction - visual, taking the eyes off the road; manual, taking the hands off the wheel; and cognitive, taking the mind off the road. "Texting while driving, like talking on cell phones while driving, is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening practice," said DOT Secretary Ray LaHood.
According to LaHood, the language in the sample bill "is another powerful tool in our arsenal to help the states combat this serious threat." The DOT hopes the sample law will encourage states to take action on the issue, given the attention the issue has been getting. As of the end of 2009, 19 states and the District of Columbia had laws banning texting while driving.
In his official blog, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said this sample bill should "make it easier for the 31 states that have not already banned texting behind the wheel to get their acts together and get on board."
The DOT worked with safety organizations to craft the language of the sample bill, including Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, AAA, Governors Highway Safety Association and the National Safety Council, to name a few. The agency has also made the move with the support of the wireless and automobile industries.
The sample law would authorize law enforcement officers to stop a vehicle and issue a citation to drivers who are texting while driving. The sample law would not apply to law enforcement, fire service or emergency medical services professionals. It would also not be enforced when reporting an emergency or criminal or suspicious activity to law enforcement or when receiving messages related to the operation or navigation of a motor vehicle, safety-related information, or data used primarily by the motor vehicle. It would not be applied to radio or the use of a device or system for navigation purposes. Other wireless interpersonal communication that does not require manual entry would also be exempt.
On the first offense, drivers would be subject to a minimum fine of $75 and action against driving privileges. For a subsequent offense, the sample bill says penalties should rise in accordance with the state's motor vehicle and traffic laws. If an offense results in death or injury, the violation should increase to a felony.
Click here to see the sample bill and the groups that participated in drafting it.
The DOT also recently launched a federal website, www.distraction.gov, as a forum and information clearinghouse with comprehensive information on distracted driving.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The FMCSA has launched a website where trucking companies can register for access to a safety database they will be able to use for screening applicants for driving jobs.
The Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) is designed to allow motor carriers and individual drivers to purchase driving records from the FMCSA's Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS).
Records purchased through PSP will contain the most recent 5 years of crash data and 3 years of roadside inspection data from the FMCSA's MCMIS system.
Some key points:
* Registration is free but there will be a charge to use the system. Carriers with fewer than 100 power units must pay a $25 annual subscription fee and $10 for each record retrieved. Companies with more than 100 power units must pay a $100 subscription fee, plus the $10 per-record fee. Both are limited to 10 users. The agency will not charge a carrier that comes into the system through a third party provider, although presumably the provider will charge its own fee. Individual drivers will not have to pay a subscription fee but will have to pay the $10 charge to retrieve their record.
* The data is protected by a number of federal laws, including the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. FMCSA will audit the program to confirm driver and company identity, and the accuracy of driver permission forms. The program is being administered by a contractor, National Information Consortium Technologies (NIC), which does not have access to the content of the reports.
* The agency encourages drivers to look at their records. Incorrect information can be challenged through the agency's DataQs system: https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/login.asp.
The next step in setting up the program will be publication of notice in the Federal Register asking for public comments on the agency's plan to make to make the records available. The program is expected to go live in the spring.
Although the data is not available yet, carriers and third party driver service providers can start registering for the Pre-Employment Screening Program at http://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov/. The site also includes a list of frequently asked questions.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
FreightWatch International recently announced that cargo theft industry-wide rose by 12 percent in 2009, to an average of 72 cargo theft incidents per month - the most ever recorded.
Electronics, the industry most heavily hit by cargo theft, accounted for 23 percent of total theft activity, with an average loss value of $806,000 per incident, closely followed by pharmaceuticals. California, Florida, and Texas topped the list as the states with the highest risk for cargo theft in 2009, followed by Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania.
Over the course of the past year, companies have increased their proactive security measures. That, combined with a decrease in total shipping, primarily due to the global recession, has forced cargo theft gangs to become more aggressive and increase their active targeting of unprotected high-value loads.
What is clear is that the trucking companies themselves are not being targeted - it's the specific goods they are hauling. Drivers need to be brought into the loop, knowing what they are hauling, so they can be more proactive in guarding against theft.
The research conducted by FreightWatch shows the average loss per incident for virtually every commodity group increased in 2009. Cargo theft in the United States is analyzed in the 2009 Annual Cargo Theft Report and includes theft rates per state, most common locations for thefts and areas with the highest risk.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
written by Chandler Moody, Account Executive - Indianapolis, IN
There once was a time where there was a driver shortage and companies had to fight for drivers and accept drivers that they may have not otherwise wanted on the road. In a way times were good. There was enough business on the roads that companies were profitable and going into a growth phase was fairly painless. Cash flow was abundant. Companies invested in their in house staff and could take risks on so-so drivers because they had money to burn.
What happened????
We all know that the economy isn't where we want it to be. Freight rates are down. Fuel prices are up. Government regulation is about to hammer the industry. All of these combined together to force transportation businesses, and all businesses for that matter, to take a look at current business practices to operate leaner and more efficiently.
A lot of areas and man power were cut due to lack of cash flow eliminating positions and creating more responsibilities on fewer people. Now there are less recruiters with the burden falling on the HR department and usually the HR person.
This usually singular person now has to manage the entire driving and non-driving staff plus recruit and qualify new staff. ...That's a lot for anybody to handle.
Can things fall through the cracks???
YES!!!
Could hiring the wrong driver hurt the company???
YES!!!
With CSA 2010, driver verification and qualification becomes increasingly important. It takes work, and then once you get the driver in, how hard is it to rectify once you realize this person isn't the driver for you. Workers Comp fraud and Unemployment problems are rampant.
I give you the ultimate in removing the burden of recruiting, workers comp and unemployment risk. We can qualify top notch drivers and maintain them on our payroll, eliminating the risk of filing for unemployment and hitting your workers comp policy until you are sure they are a fit. We allow you to work the drivers and give them the ultimate road test.
How much more information could you have on a driver if you could see him or her work for 3 months before hiring?
Let Driving Ambition help you recruit drivers and get you the best drivers for the position. Then you can monitor the drivers and roll them to your company when you are ready. Give me a call and I can explain how it works.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The FMCSA is hosting a free webcast on its new Pre-employment Screening Program (PSP). The presentation is scheduled for 60 minutes beginning at 1:00pm EST on February 24, 2010.
PSP is a new, national-level program designed to allow motor carriers to see a driver's crash and inspection file when he/she applies for employment with the motor carrier. The program is voluntary and the driver must give consent to allow his or her records to be viewed by their potential employer. The driver record will be comprised of data found in FMCSA's Motor Carrier Information Management System (MCMIS). FMCSA is taking every possible measure to assure the data is protected and handled according to all applicable laws and regulations.
During the webcast, the Analysis Division's Michael Johnsen will provide an update of the PSP, which is currently under development and expected to be available to the public in early 2010.
Click here to enroll for the free FMCSA Pre-employment Screening Program webcast.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is releasing the 2010 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC), providing law enforcement and the motor carrier industry with a valuable tool designed to improve commercial motor vehicle safety by promoting uniformity in compliance and enforcement throughout North America.
CVSA has been maintaining, updating, and publishing the OOSC annually for more than twenty years which becomes effective throughout North America every April 1st. The OOSC is used by highly-qualified, specially-trained and certified state and federal law enforcement personnel in identifying Critical Vehicle Inspection Item violations following a roadside inspection that can prohibit a motor carrier or operator from driving or operating a commercial motor vehicle for a specified period of time or until the defective condition is corrected. Approximately four-million commercial vehicle roadside inspections are conducted annually across North America by government enforcement agencies. Issued upon the completion of a Level I or V inspection, CVSA decals are only applied to commercial motor vehicles with no violations of the Critical Vehicle Inspection Items contained in the OOSC. The OOSC is focused on the issues most critical to maintaining the safe operations of commercial vehicles on our roadways.
"It is in the best interests of every driver and motor carrier to be familiar with the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria," said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA's Interim Executive Director. "Knowing which commercial motor vehicle violations have been identified as being the most serious is helpful because it provides necessary focus in properly maintaining vehicles and it saves lives. It also helps prevent unnecessary delays and down time in transit as a result of having a driver or vehicle placed out-of-service."
Roadside inspection results are used in part to identify motor carriers that present a high degree of risk to the motoring public. As a result, the data collected helps in determining which transportation companies will be selected for review under FMCSA's new Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA 2010) initiative. "With full implementation of CSA 2010 activities on the horizon, such as the new Carrier Safety Measurement System, knowing the ‘Criteria' in advance can assist a motor carrier ensure the accuracy of the roadside inspection data collected and contained within a motor carrier's safety profile," said Larry G. Woolum, Regulatory Affairs Director of the Ohio Trucking Association and Chair of CVSA's Associate Advisory Committee.
"The information collected during a roadside inspection provides the foundation for data-driven traffic safety initiatives. As a result, the importance of this issue cannot be understated, as it has strong implications to not only CSA 2010 but all of our traffic safety programs," said Buzzy France, CVSA's President. "Commercial motor vehicle safety continues to be a challenge and we need the involvement of all affected parties to help us better understand these issues and put into place practical solutions. As commercial vehicle inspectors, our continued diligence will help us reach our ultimate goal of saving lives."
For more information on the North American Standard Inspection Program, or on how to obtain the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, visit http://www.cvsa.org/. For more information on CSA 2010, visit http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
written by Chandler Moody, Account Executive - Indianapolis, IN
Where do we fit in?
In my initial blog, I want to accomplish a few things. This will help establish where I want to go from here. I have been attending seminars, reading websites, and listening to all of the experts talk about what is in store for the Transportation and Logistics Industry going forward. I figured I would collect some thoughts here.
I sit everyday listening to the experts I try and contemplate:
"Where does Driving Ambition fit in?"
"What will our role be next year?"
The issue is that experts are talking to the trucking carriers. We are not a trucking carrier. Trucking, whether they have one truck or one thousand trucks, are all be affected by the economy, CSA 2010, environmental issues, infrastructure issues, and a plethora of new and old governmental regulations. But I repeat: we are not a trucking carrier - so why should I care?
The reason why I care is that we provide the integral part that makes the trucks move. A trucking carrier only needs trucks to be considered a carrier but without the driver those trucks don't move. I would like to go into a couple of items today.
I know what you are saying: "Drivers are easy to come by." My question to you is, do you know what makes a good driver and are you willing to put the safety of your friends and family on the road at the mercy of a potentially bad driver?
Issue 1) Currently there is a driver surplus. This has not always been the case but studies show that the trucking industry is about 20%-30% over capacity. This means that there are 20% more drivers/trucks payrolls than there are loads to go around to reach a stable flow of goods and a stable rate.
Where is the upside for a staffing company like Driving Ambition?
Right now there is an opportunity to shake out the worst of the worst drivers and replace them with better, more qualified drivers - Topgrading!! This is where Driving Ambition can help.
As the carriers have leaned down, we have beefed up. We specialize in hiring and qualifying drivers so that the carriers have quick, easy access to top talent. We take this seriously and hang our hats on the quality of our drivers. We have to. This gives us the opportunity to be more selective in our hiring process than any other time in our history.
Issue 2) CSA 2010 is coming!!! Believe it or not there are companies out there that do not know what CSA 2010 is. Shocking, I know. If you are not preparing now then I am afraid of what the outcomes will be. Remember that overcapacity that I mentioned before. CSA 2010 has the potential to shake out a good bit of the poorer performing drivers and carriers. I don't want to go into an entire breakdown of what is going to occur. That is multiple blogs in itself.
Once again where do we fit in?
A big stress of the new CSA 2010 will be the drivers. Once again what are we specialists in? Drivers. It has become our mission to wrap our arms around the new "rules" and help spread the word when we can. Right now companies have the option of removing drivers and replacing them with safer drivers. Next year that option goes away and becomes mandatory.
"The economy sucks...fuel is too high...we are just trying to get by." We have heard them all before. No, we can't change the economy, and no, we can't lower the price of fuel for you. What we can do is help keep your trucks running safely and efficiently. We can help the carriers embrace the current and future situations, change for the better and come out on the other side stronger and more profitable than ever before. Just ask.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The FMCSA's fourth and final listening session on the hours of service rule was focused on hearing insights from drivers themselves on what the agency should do. The session, which was held near a Flying J truck stop in Davenport, IA, drew drivers and owner-operators from all over the Midwest.
The general consensus among drivers primarily resonated with the results of the three previous listening sessions: the need for more flexibility with the sleeper berth and 14-hour provisions, along with the desire to keep the 34-hour restart.
One issue that came up during the session is the lack of truck parking, especially throughout the snowstorm-ridden Midwest. Brenda Neville, president of the Iowa Motor Truck Association, told the panel that there has to be greater access to safe parking, as this is a nationwide problem.
"Many truckstops and rest stops are shutting down across the country, leaving drivers having to worry about loss of property or being a safety hazard while sleeping," Neville said.
Another concern with pulling over to rest is state idling laws, according to Tom Bower, a small fleet owner out of Kentucky. Bower pointed to an anti-idling law in Wisconsin, which prohibits drivers from using heaters or air conditioning units while resting unless the temperature reaches below 10 degrees or above 90 degrees. "That's just not acceptable," he said.
While Thursday's session was the last scheduled session on hours of service, the FMCSA is considering scheduling a fifth discussion.
For more information on FMCSA's Hours-Of-Service Listening Sessions, click here.
After the FMCSA's scheduled "listening sessions" in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Los Angeles, and Davenport, IA, the general consensus appears to be a desire to keep the hours-of-service (HOS) rule as it is. However, there are a handful of changes carriers and drivers indicated that they'd like to see, primarily changes that relate to allowing for more flexibility with the 14-hour rule, the use of truck sleeper berths, and taking breaks.
When looking at HOS, the FMCSA maintains it has three goals: first, raising the bar to entry so only the safest carriers can enter; second, maintaining a high standard of safety; and third, removing high-risk motor carriers.
Some of the suggested changes to the current HOS deal with the need for greater flexibility with the 14-hour rule. For example, some have proposed allowing drivers to take a short break during the day by stopping the 14-hour clock that limits a driver's workday. Ralph Garcia, a driver for ABF Freight System and a member of America's Road Team, said, "If they could split it up and let the drivers have a little bit more flexibility, I think it would be a lot more efficient for drivers, as far as rest periods and how they feel, and it would be a benefit to the company...we need to encourage drivers to take naps, which, by the way, would promote shorter continuous driving...and we need those breaks to not affect the 14-hour clock."
Tommy Hodges, chairman of the American Trucking Associations and Titan Transport, suggested the agency redefine the 10 hours and offer "flex time," or time the driver can use at his discretion. He also encouraged the use of naps to make drivers more alert - something the current rules make nearly impossible without using up precious driving time.
Jim Fitzpatrick, who has spent many years as a consultant to the carrier industry, told the panel the current rule does not allow for the driver to sleep when he's sleepy. "We cannot mandate sleep over time," he said. He suggested that drivers could take the 10 hours off any time over a 24-hour period, rather than requiring the hours be consecutive.
In addition, delay issues during loading and unloading also count against the 14-hour day. Most drivers don't have a problem with the 11-hour driving limit, but the delays frequently experienced during loading and unloading can make the 14-hour workday too tight. Some have suggested that the time at the shipper and receiver should not count against the driver.
Although the FMCSA intends to issue a revised driver-hours rule by July, statistics alone, such as the significant decline in the large truck fatal crash rate, indicate that major changes to the federal hours-of-service are not necessary.
The agency is considering a fifth listening session to accommodate those interested in participating.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.