Purpose and Assumptions

‘Dotfleets’ Purpose:

• To help the employer who “shall be knowledgeable of and comply with all regulations contained in this subchapter which are applicable to that motor carrier’s operation”.(~390.3(e)(1))
• To help the driver who “shall be instructed regarding, and shall comply with all applicable regulations contained in this subchapter”. (~395.3(e) (2)
• This site designed to help . . .

See Road Damage? What would you do?

Heading West on the Gratigny Parkway Miami, FL December 14th 10am.  After having gone over this road damage many times this year I decided to do something about it.  While riding in truck as a passenger I decided to take a picture on the fly.  Here it is.

Next to the yellow line this hole has been getting bigger and bigger.  You can see metal rebar exposed now.   As you can tell, this is pretty high off the ground.  Maybe 50’ .  Today, after making almost 15 or 20 phone calls with many dead ends and hearing ‘. . . that’s not our responsibility. . . call this number ######.”    $#&^$&^^%*(&^%*%$.  

I BECAME MORE DETERMINED TO GET THIS INFORMATION IN THE RIGHT HANDS.

I finally succeeded by calling . . .

The Florida Highway Patrol  305-376-4303

The officer did not want my picture and assumed he knew where I was speaking of.  I may never know.  BUT   after spending so much time I’m going to make the most of the effort.

BOTTOMLINE:  Be an owner of the situation, it may be your family that benefits.

Technorati Tags: Gratigny Parkway,Miami-Dade,Florida Highway Patrol,FHP,Road Safety,Road Repair,Concrete,Rebar,Road Damage,Citizen,Proactive,Overpass,Palmetto,924,826

No Cell Phones for CDL Drivers?

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FMCSA is providing for the public to comment on this rulemaking until Feb. 22nd, 2012. The proposal and information about how to submit comments is here. 

Government regulators have announced a new rule prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving.

To be issued jointly by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the rule is the latest action by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to put an end to distracted driving.

“I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The final rule prohibits commercial drivers from using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial truck or bus. Drivers who violate the new restriction will face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver’s commercial driver’s license (CDL) after two or more serious traffic violations.

Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000. Approximately four million commercial drivers would be affected by this final rule.

The rule will take effect 30 days after it gets published in the Federal Register. J. J. Keller’s Distracted! Driving – DVD Training is designed to change distracted driving habits and help professional drivers deal with the dangerous habits of others.

Related articles

• U.S. Safety Board: Ban Cellphone Use by Commercial Truckers (danielrrosen.com)
• Mobile telephones and other communication devices and their impact on traffic safety – A review of the literature (bespacific.com)
• South Carolina Attorney Supports New Rules Aimed At Curbing Distracted Driving By Commercial Truck Drivers (prweb.com)
• DOT, Regal, and Outcast Launch “OMG” Video to Deter Distracted Driving (danielrrosen.com)
• DOT Launches Bus Safety Strike Force (danielrrosen.com)

Are Your Tires Safe?

Are You A Target For DOT Audit – Intervention?

It depends on how you have responded to inspection citations like this.

Find our how you are doing with your DOT inspections by going to this site. http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/ or click on pic below.

If your report looks like this . . . you’ve got some serious training and DOT safety system training to do.  (3 years of reports)

and your status report will probably look like this . . . and expect intervention

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/

Get a Grip On Roadside Inspections

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Just because your company uses straight trucks spec’d under the 26,000 GVWR ( Non – CDL ) doesn’t mean your trucks are invisible to DOT inspectors and State Highway Patrol officers.  

Even without events like Roadcheck,  DOT roadside  inspections  of your vehicles are inevitable especially because of  CSA 2010.   If you want to pass these inspections and get back on the road quickly, you need to make sure that you are keeping your trucks properly maintained  That is the role of the pre and post trip inspection.

1		Inspect left rear lamps , wheels, rims, hubs and tires. (click for video)
2		Throughout the inspection . . . look on ground & engine compartment for wet fluid leaks on chassis and ground
3		Inspect left rear lamps , wheels, rims, hubs and tires. (click for video) Tire at left showing the result of core wire exposed due to under inflation of tires. Replace!
7		Inspect left wheels , rims, hubs and tires.  Full service fleets usually have the tire pressure needed posted near the tire on the truck body, near by.  Use that pressure.  10% more or less must be corrected before it is safe to drive   Example:  Tire is rated for 100 psi.  Your inspection reveals it is 85 psi.  This tire must be checked by the full service truck provider mechanic before it is safe to drive.
10		Inspect right wheel, rim, hub and tire. The tire at the right has a damged rim and a bubble in the tire.  Do not drive on a tire and rim like this.
11		Inspect brakes fluid levels & if operating properly (Not too much play in the foot pedal).

Find our how you are doing with your DOT inspections by going to this site.  http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SMS/Default.aspx or click on pic below

 

Related articles

• Men charged in fraudulent inspection of 18 vehicles ()
• Commercial vehcile safety emphasis begins June 7 | Washington State Patrol (pnwlocalnews.com)
• Roadcheck 2011 focuses on safety (bendbulletin.com)
• FDOT Commercial Vehicle Requirements (manateeornprod.wordpress.com)
• Wheels: N.H.T.S.A. Investigates 4,400 Lotus Elises for Oil-Cooler Leaks (wheels.blogs.nytimes.com)

Cracks in Windshield?

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You are driving along and suddenly you hear a whack.  Later you notice a little fuzzy circle on you windshield.  It won’t rub off, because it is a crack.  Report it to your fleet supervisor before it becomes a long haired crack which could implode upon the driver under various circumstances.  Don’t make make me tell you . . . you can figure it out.  Repairs of a little dime crack is under $100.  Replacing the window can cost up to $400.  Even if the insurance pays . . . you will still be paying in the end. Nothing is free.

Improvements at FMCSA Support Sites

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Data Quality

The Data Quality Module has been updated based on the September 23, 2011 MCMIS data snapshot in the following areas:
-The State Safety Data Quality Evaluation Reports found in the Evaluation Area.
-The SSDQ Continuous Improvement information resource (NFCC Preview Results) found in the Evaluation Area.
For more information, click here:  http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/DataQuality/Dataquality.asp

You will need your DOT# and Motor Carrier Pin to obtain and view statistical data.

Safety Programs

The NAFTA Safety Stats reports have been updated using the September 23, 2011 MCMIS data snapshot. This update includes motor carrier census, roadside inspection, traffic enforcement, compliance review, and crash data up to September 23, 2011. The US and Mexican Carrier Report has also been updated.

For more information,

click here:  http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/International/border.asp
If you have comments or questions regarding A&I Online, we would love to hear from you.Click on the "Contact Us" or "Feedback" menu buttons from any of the A&I Online pages to access a list of contacts or provide feedback electronically.
Thank you!

Scott Valentine
A&I Online Program Manager
FMCSA

UCR Registration : Here’s the Scoop

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Q: What is UCR?
UCR is the Unified Carrier Registration program. Created by federal legislation to authorize, through registration, all Commercial Motor Vehicles carrying their own goods and products across state lines. It also includes carriers transporting interstate goods even if your vehicles do not leave the state; except in non-participating state noted in Yellow in the map below.

Q: What is a “Commercial Motor Vehicle”? in  the UCR system?
Any self-propelled or towed (like a trailer) vehicle used on highways engaged in
interstate travel that:
- has a gross weight of 10,001 pounds or more or,
- is designed to transport 11 or more passengers (including the driver) or,
- is required to have hazardous waste placarding

Example:   A Green state roadside inspection of your non UCR registered truck cites and reasonably penalizes your company, regardless of your truck is from a Yellow non-participating state . What is the fine or penalty?  Whatever they decide is ‘reasonable’ . . . do you like playing with fire?

A Green state roadside inspection of your non UCR registered truck cites and reasonably penalizes your company, regardless of your truck coming from Yellow non-participating state .  Will they impound your truck till it’s paid? Answer:  Whatever they decide is ‘reasonable’ . . . do you like playing with fire?

If your answer is ‘YES’ in any of the rows below, you need to register your interstate truck(s). 

Your Business State	States Your Trucks Drive in	Does This Describe You?
Green	Yellow & Green   or Green only	YES
Yellow	Yellow only	NO
Yellow	Yellow & Green	YES

Start UCR Registration View UCR Information Register for a user account UCR Procedures UCR-1 Instructions UCR-2 Instructions UCR-1 Form UCR-2 Form UCR Brochure UCR FAQ

Registration Instructions-2010 Registration Instructions-2011 Registration Instructions-2012 UCR Registration Form – 2010 UCR Registration Form – 2011 UCR Registration Form – 2012 UCR State Percentages – 2010 UCR State Percentages – 2011 SAFER Contact Us

Related articles

• Van and truck registrations soar (autonetinsurance.co.uk)
• Truck registrations on the up! (staveleyhead.co.uk)
• Driver cited in crash with Rescue Squad truck (knoxnews.com)

DOT – CSA 2010 Compliance

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If you are NON-COMPLIANT WITH DOT REGULATIONS,  having accidents and lawsuits already . . . it is a matter of time for DOT to audit and perhaps fine you into recognition of the value of DOT – CSA 2010 COMPLIANCE. 

Drivers are required to fill out records of duty status (logs); the motor carrier is required to keep them plus supporting documentation for six months.

These tires are out of compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations because they have less than the required amount of tread; the truck should not be driven until maintenance has been performed.

Compliance

The commercial motor vehicle industry is highly regulated; many of the regulations are quite specific and they are frequently updated.

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR)  
• Qualifications of Drivers
• Driver Training
• Driver Files
• Company Management Processes
• Equipment, Inspection and Use
• Loading and Load Securement
• Hours of Service
• Logs/Record of Duty

Services · Ruhl Forensic

Related articles

• N.Y. tour bus driver lied about fatal crash, has criminal record, police say (pennlive.com)
• Arrests made for bogus drivers’ licenses in NY bus crackdown (reuters.com)
• Important Things To Know About Hazardous Material Transportation (cash-bandit.com)
• Some driver’s license services will not be available on Saturday, PennDOT says (pennlive.com)
• Lax Regulation of Discount Buses Is Cited After I-95 Crash (nytimes.com)
• Compliance, Safety, Accountability 2010 (CSA 2010) (truckinjuryattorney.wordpress.com)
• Lax Regulation of Discount Buses Is Cited After I-95 Crash – New York Times (news.google.com)
• Hours of Service (6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Young drivers `not helped at work` (autonetinsurance.co.uk)

Calculating Your Truck’s Payload (Cargo) Capacity

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So how are you supposed to know how much payload you can carry legally in your truck? To calculate your vehicle‘s payload capacity, you only need to know two things: your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and its curb weight.
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is simply the maximum allowable weight of an entire vehicle when it’s packed up and ready to go — that includes the weight of the vehicle itself, all of the necessary fluids for operation (gasoline, diesel, oil and so on) and any cargo, passengers and tools. A vehicle’s GVWR is calculated by its manufacturer based on the trucks design and materials.  You can find your truck’s GVWR in your owner’s manual or on the vehicle’s doorframe, near the door latch.

Curb weight is simply how much the vehicle weighs on its own, without any cargo or passengers. This measurement includes a full tank of gas and any other fluids that keep a car running.

GVWR	Curb or Empty Wt.	Max. Cargo Wt. or Max Payload Wt.
25,950 lbs.	17,950 lbs.	8,000 lbs
Truck designed to weigh no more than this wt. with cargo	Curb Wt. or Empty Wt. With driver and full tanks.	GVWR minus Curb Wt.

If your truck is overweight it will receive a citation at a weigh station if your truck weighs over your truck’s GVWR  according to CFR
Note:  Gross is not the same as Net Weight.   Gross Wt.  includes packaging, insulation, ice, pallet and the net wt. of your product.

Terms:

 

Cargo-carrying unit. As used in this part, cargo-carrying unit means any portion of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) combination (other than a truck tractor) used for the carrying of cargo, including a trailer, semitrailer, or the cargo-carrying section of a single-unit truck. The length of the cargo carrying units of a CMV with two or more such units is measured from the front of the first unit to the rear of the last [including the hitch(es) between the units].

Commercial motor vehicle. For purposes of this regulation, a motor vehicle designed or regularly used to carry freight, merchandise, or more than ten passengers, whether loaded or empty, including buses, but not including vehicles used for vanpools, or recreational vehicles operating under their own power.

 

 

 

 

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• Tow Rating & Your Tow Vehicle’s Maintenance (prestigeautoworks.wordpress.com)
• California Dump Truck Owners Association sues ARB to overturn Truck Bus emissions rule (greencarcongress.com)