A recent report from the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) revealed that truck drivers don’t fully comprehend Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA), the FMCSA’s new regulatory program.
The report, based on survey data collected from over 4,500 truck drivers earlier this year, uncovers a lack of understanding of what CSA is and does. For example, over 77 percent of the truck drivers surveyed incorrectly believe that a trucking company inherits past violations from newly hired truck drivers. In addition, nearly two-thirds of truck drivers are concerned that they will lose their jobs as a result of CSA.
The ATRI report, which can be seen here, also includes recommendations for enhancing driver knowledge and support through multiple training and educational sessions. What’s clear, based on the report, is that “motor carriers, state trucking associations and FMCSA collectively need to do more to educate drivers about CSA and what it does and doesn’t mean for their jobs,” said Ed Crowell, Georgia Motor Trucking Association President and CEO.
Nearly two years ago, in an effort to further enhance our drivers’ safety awareness, Driving Ambition embraced a robust driver safety training program using Vertical Alliance’s Infinit-i safety training platform. The fact that drivers can simply go online and log-in to complete over 200 safety-related modules, including CSA, is what makes Infinit-i’s program so valuable.
Driving Ambition will continue to do our part to reduce the number of truck drivers who have misconceptions about CSA. In the meantime, please find more helpful CSA resources for truck drivers below.
CSA Resources for Truck Drivers
- www.csa.fmcsa.dot.gov– The FMCSA has improved several areas on its CSA website
- The Your Role pages have been enhanced and a new section specifically for drivers has been added. Each role page now contains a stakeholder-specific toolkit of CSA materials, links to important FMCSA websites, and a comprehensive list of questions and answers specific to each major stakeholder group.
- A new Resources page, where stakeholders can download a toolkit customized to their role, has replaced the previous news and media page. A new search feature allows visitors to customize their searches using keywords or simple checkboxes. The search results provide the most relevant documents as well as a list of the top five relevant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
- Vertical Alliance’s Infinit-i Safety Training
- Driving Ambition’s CSA Blog Updates
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 weekend, I had the privilege of attending my third consecutive National Truck Driving Championships (NTDC) as over 450 professional truck drivers competed in Orlando, FL.
The NTDC, also known as the “Super Bowl of Safety” is sponsored annually by the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The contestants are state champions from all 50 states. States send their first place winners from each of eight classes of competition - Straight Truck, 3-axle Van, 4-axle Van, 5-axle Van, 5-axle Sleeper Van, Flatbed, Tanker, and Twin Trailer.
Collectively, these drivers compiled almost 600 million accident-free miles. They truly are the best of the best.
If you’ve never attended this event, I highly encourage you to consider it in the future. I enjoy being able to see all the familiar faces as I root for drivers from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. With over 2,000 cheering friends, family, colleagues, and spectators, it’s easy to get excited.
The competition lasts for four days as drivers challenge their driving skills and knowledge of safety, equipment and the industry. At the conclusion of the event, the first, second and third place finishers in each class were recognized at the Awards Banquet. The Rookie of the Year, the State Championship Team, and the National Grand Champion were also named.
To view all the final standings for the 2011 National Truck Driving Championships, click here.
I’d like to congratulate all the champions. I sincerely appreciate your dedication to the industry and to safety.
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.
It's time to celebrate the professional truck driver! National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, held September 11-17, is a chance to extend a special “thank you” for all their hard work.
There are over 3.2 million professional truck drivers nationwide – delivering the goods U.S. consumers need every day of the year. Logging over 432 billion miles per year, trucks deliver nearly 70 percent of total U.S. freight tonnage. Professional truck drivers are more essential to the national economy than ever before, and they’re delivering their loads safely and professionally.
It’s no secret that the backbone of this dynamic industry is its drivers. Driving a truck is one of the country’s most demanding and essential jobs. Millions of these dedicated men and women travel the roads every day, sacrificing a lot personally to deliver the freight that keeps the country moving. They miss birthdays, anniversaries, family dinners, school plays and many other special moments that most of us take for granted.
During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW), America and the trucking industry honors and recognizes all professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment to the vital role they play in the economic growth of North America. Companies and industry associations across the U.S. and Canada will host special events and promotions in honor of professional truck drivers.
NTDAW allows the rest of us to recognize and appreciate the sacrifices that our drivers make every day out on the road. Be sure to let the men and women driving those trucks down the highway know it’s appreciated. Sometimes a little gratitude goes a long way.
Thank you drivers for a job well done!
Valuable links:
- The American Trucking Association (ATA) has affordable driver gifts available now that can be customized with a company logo. Click here to see the entire line of 2011 Driver Gifts.
- www.DriverAppreciation.com – The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has launched a new forum to help keep track of all the various NTDAW events. This website allows companies to post their events, and also allows truckers to search for driver appreciation events being held within a specified state, city and/or distance in miles from a city.
- Professional Truck Driver and Industry Fact Sheet
- Trucking Safety Fact Sheet
- Future National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Dates:
- September 16-22, 2012
- September 15-21, 2013
- September 14-20, 2014
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.
Coming off one of the hottest months on record, the “dog days” of August, it is important for CDL drivers to be aware of what heat means. Working and driving in high heat and humidity puts an extra strain on you and your equipment.
Heat stroke occurs when the body is unable to regulate our heat production at a safe level. Symptoms of heat stroke include:
1. Fatigue, weakness, fainting
2. Nausea and vomiting
3. Headache
4. Dizziness
5. Muscle cramps
6. Irritability
7. Sweating (absence or presence)
8. Paleness
These conditions can be further escalated by a driver's physical condition. People at a greater risk for heat exhaustion and heat stroke are those with: heart disease, skin diseases, extensive burns, endocrine disorders (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.), high blood pressure, overweight, depression, insomnia and fever. Over the counter drugs can also contribute to a greater risk for these conditions.
But remember, all heat-related illnesses are preventable! What can you do to prevent them?
- Limit your exposure to direct sunlight as much as possible; wear good sunglasses when driving or working in the sun.
- Drink before, during and after physical labor to replace body fluid lost in sweating. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends fluid replacement not only as treatment for heat exhaustion, but as a preventive measure (i.e., water intake equal to the amount of sweat produced). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) identifies drinking water as one of its top 10 tips for staying cool in hot workplaces. The agencies recommend drinking every 15 to 20 minutes -- not just during rest breaks -- to stay sufficiently hydrated and maintain a safe core body temperature. This puts less strain on the cardiovascular system and can lead to fewer heat-related illnesses and injuries.
- Anticipate conditions that will increase the need for water, including high temperature, humidity, protective clothing and difficulty of work.
- Keep in mind that by the time you are thirsty, you are already about 2% dehydrated. Once you are dehydrated, it's difficult to make up for that lost hydration.
- Drink 5-7 ounces of fluids every 15-20 minutes to ensure proper hydration.
- Keep individual containers of cool, clean water within easy reach at all times.
- Drink cool water, which is absorbed more quickly by the body than warm or very cold fluids.
- Try carbohydrate/electrolyte drinks to help avoid heat cramps that can occur up to several hours after working.
- Avoid coffee, tea or soda, which act as diuretics, further depleting the body of fluid. Never drink alcohol while working.
- Wear lightweight, light colored, loose fitting clothing that does not create a safety hazard for your work environment. If outdoors, wear a hat to reduce direct exposure to the sun.
- Avoid hot foods and heavy meals – they raise your body temperature.
- Pack a cooler with water for the day. Also, keep an umbrella in the truck if you are operating in extreme heat. This will allow you to move to an area with breeze and still be protected from the sun.
- If exposure to the sun is inevitable, apply generous amounts of sunscreen with a high SPF rating to exposed skin.
- Make sure your truck is in excellent condition. While operating in extreme heat conditions, a good pre-trip inspection is crucial; otherwise, you may find yourself and your unit on the side of the road exposed to the extreme heat.
- Be aware of the eight symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion (listed above) and seek immediate medical attention if any of them occur.
When you are properly hydrated, you are healthier, safer and more productive, no matter what the weather or working conditions.
Make it a safe day!
Courtesy of the National Private Truck Council (NPTC)
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.
Continuing a process begun in 2005, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), a non-profit research organization for the trucking industry, is again conducting its annual Top Industry Issues Survey.
The annual survey, commissioned by the American Trucking Associations (ATA), asks trucking industry stakeholders to rank items such as CSA, Hours-of-Service, the driver shortage, onboard recorder technology, the economy, transportation funding, congestion, truck size and weight, and fuel issues.
Designed to provide insight into the critical issues confronting the trucking industry now and in the future, the survey also proposes strategies for addressing each issue, and survey participants are asked for their preferences.
Industry stakeholders are encouraged to complete the survey online. Alternately a paper copy is available on ATRI’s website at www.atri-online.org.
The results of the 2011 survey will first be released at the ATA Annual Management Conference and Exhibition, to be held October 15-18, 2011 in Grapevine, Texas.
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.