The Fleet Business Authority
Issue link: http://heavydutytrucking.epubxp.com/i/307131
2 3 when it has to be filled in. When a driver is stopped for an inspection, the log must be current up to the time at which the driver got behind the wheel. Make sure your policies reinforce these requirements. Review your CSA data to find the worst offenders and re-educate them on the rules. Finally, investigate two things that can help eliminate many of these violations: pre-printing of common log entries (address, etc.), and electronic logs (which will be mandatory soon enough). VIOLATION Medical issues One in eight driver violations is related to medical issues, often a fail- ure to have a valid medical certificate. These carry a low CSA point value of one or two, although driving while physically ill is a 10-point violation. Prevention: Track the expira- tion of your drivers' medical cards and make sure they get updated, placed in drivers' files, carried in the vehicle, and turned in to the state licens- ing agency. Make sure drivers know exactly what's required of them, and have consequences in place for those who fail to comply. Some of these violations may go away once we have the National Registry of Medical Examiners, and once interstate CDL drivers no longer have to carry their medical cards (in Feb. 2015). VIOLATION English ability This violation has been surging in recent years, currently at 9% of all driver violations and carrying four CSA points. Compliance is complicated because there is no yes/no standard. Key for a roadside inspection is being able to fill out paperwork, speak with officers, and answer their questions, all in English. Prevention: Your hiring practices should filter out drivers who simply cannot meet the standard. Use training and practice to help drivers know how to respond to typical ques- tions about their logs, their trips and cargo, their insurance, registration, license and their vehicle. Even if you don't pull the curtain on your CSA scores, a little training on these common violations may go a long way toward improving them. Daren Hansen is a Senior Edi- tor – Transportation Safety for J.J. Keller & Associates. Contact him at transporteditors@jjkeller.com. 24 HDT • MAY 2014 www.truckinginfo.com Safety&Compliance; JUDGE OVERRULES SHUTDOWN ORDER A federal judge overturned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's order for Illinois- based DND International to shut down all interstate movements. An administrative law judge ruled there was no evidence that actions by DND contributed to the crash and the FMCSA failed to prove the carrier was a danger. FMCSA says its investigation uncovered a pattern of logbook falsification by drivers. However, the judge said between the time the investigation ended and FMCSA ordered DND off the road, the carrier was in the process of switching to electronic logs. FMCSA said it would appeal. NTSB WANTS SIDE UNDERRIDE GUARDS T he National Transportation Safety Board issued seven rec- ommendations urging the National Highway Safety Administration to take action to improve the safety of tractor- trailers. They include adding side under- ride guards and improving rear underride guards on trail- ers; enhanced mirror systems and advanced technologies to address blind spots; and improvements in crash data related to trailers. 21 INDICTED IN NEW YORK CDL SCHEME T wenty-one people were indicted in New York for paying as much as $4,000 to get answers to the written commercial driver's license tests. Test takers allegedly took the exam materials out of the building, handed the tests to other members of the scheme to fill in the correct responses. The registered test takers then returned to the DMV testing area and submitted the completed exams for grading. SAFETY Shorts English ability violations have been surging in recent years, currently at 9% of all driver violations. s a f e t y & c o m p l i a n c e _ m a y . i n d d 2 4 4 / 2 9 / 1 4 4 : 5 6 P M 4/29/14 4:56 PM