TSNA: Trucking News Update

That’s right, the next installment of the Trucking Industry Update is here - powered by Truck Services of North America. Don’t hide it; we know you’re excited. In an industry filled with ever-changing regulations and policies, we know it’s a daunting task to stay up-to-date and informed. But not to fret, that’s what we’re here for. So just like always, keep reading and we’ll get to the good stuff.

Operation Safe Driver Week:

Starting on October 18 and running through the 24th is the annual Operation Safe Driver Week, sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). During this week, officers in the United States, Mexico, and Canada will be looking for a variety of specific violations.

The five most common violations they'll be searching for are:

• Speeding
• Failure to Wear a Seat Belt
• Failure to Obey Traffic Control Devices
• Improper Lane Changes
• Following Too Closely

Last year during safe driver week, officers pulled over nearly 60,000 commercial vehicle and car drivers for “unsafe driving behaviors.” That’s right, almost 60,000 traffic stops across North America over a one week period. So if you want to be safe, drive safe, and don’t get pulled over next week!

Delayed Regulations:

There’s been a lot of long-awaited trucking mandates that were expected to be implemented before the end of the year: but many have now been postponed. Don’t get too excited though—that’s postponed, not canceled. But regardless, it looks like you’re all going to be getting just a little bit more time before you have to deal with any of these new rules.

Let’s take a look and see some of the regulations that have been delayed so far:

Speed Limiters: The official rule that would mandate speed limiters was originally expected to be issued by the end of September 2015, but now the final rule is not expected to pass until the end of 2016.

ELDs: This one isn’t going to be delayed quite as long, but the ELD rule originally expected to pass by the end of September has been pushed back until the end of October.

Entry-Level Driver Training: The new requirements for entry-level driver training may not ever be passed. Just kidding, well, kind of. The rule has already been delayed multiple times, most recently to November 15, and Congress expects that date to get pushed back even further. The reason cited for the delay is that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has had a tough time justifying it from a cost-benefit standpoint. So while this new regulation may still may be coming your way soon, there's actually a strong chance it may not be heading your way at all.

Minimum Insurance Increases: Many agencies already agreed to this rule in principle, and the FMCSA was set to issue an advanced notice of the new regulation. Instead, it appears that other regulations have moved to the top of the priority list, and this has been put on the back burner for now.

I-95 Reopens in South Carolina:

This one hit us close to home here at TSNAmerica (quite literally), and we’re excited to say that all closed sections of I-95 through South Carolina have been reopened. Earlier this week, the state DOT announced that all southbound lanes had been reopened and that bridges on the northbound lanes were still under construction. But as of now, all lanes in both directions are ready for truckin’!

Well, folks, you’re welcome; you’re now the most well-informed truckers on the road. Stay tuned for more updates so you can continue to stay ahead of your brethren in both preparedness and knowledge.

At TSNAmerica, we take pride in helping you take care of all things trucking. We know the UCR registration season has begun and those 3rd quarter IFTA reports are due soon. So if you want someone to take care of it for you, just give us a call! You can reach us at 803.386.0320, email us at support@tsnamerica.com, or send us a service request.

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Trucking Industry Update

We know it’s been a bit since the last one and you’ve probably been itching for it… so here it is, the latest trucking industry update! This time, we’re going to be focusing on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the initiatives set for the last three months of 2015.

How do they affect you, you might ask? Well, it’s the FMCSA’s job to do everything in its power to keep you safe. Don’t you like being safe and knowing what’s going on in your own industry? Of course, you do, because there’s nothing wrong with being a well-informed trucker, and that’s why you’re going to keep reading to see the FMCSA’s newest initiatives!

FMCSA Yearly Initiatives

Safety Fitness Determination (SFD):

Currently, the FMCSA is in the process of publishing a new rule that would greatly increase the use of inspection data when making Safety Fitness Determinations of motor carriers. The new proposed rule would change the process for assessing the performance of truck companies to focus more on current performance information, such as roadside inspection and crash data. If you don’t like this rule, well, you may be stuck with it anyway. Although luckily for you, the FMCSA is giving everyone the option to voice their opinion. So if you don’t like it, you can tell them personally!

Inspection Modernization:

The FMCSA has officially launched a new version of their inspection software, called Aspen 3.0. It’s got a new look and feel, as well as lots of new and innovative features. The software includes many roadside functions, and even allows law enforcement officials to get direct access to out-of-service notices. So if you’re driving out of service you may want to rethink that, because it’s about to be much easier for them to find you!

Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) Phase III:

In order to prepare the launch of its final two CSA interventions, the FMCSA is working on training federal and state investigators. One of the biggest safety measures being implemented is the crash BASIC investigation, which will focus on specific trends that are most common in carrier crashes. Seems like that might be useful, right?

In addition to spending more time analyzing crashes for contributing factors, the FMCSA will also be fine-tuning its SMS algorithm to do a better job of identifying carriers to investigate. Once the changes are made official, they will be announced in a Federal Register notice. We’re not sure exactly how this works, but if you think your company could be at risk for an investigation, you better get it together fast!

Electronic Logging Devices (ELD):

Here’s the rule you’ve been hearing about a lot recently, and also the one that you’re probably the least excited about. Sense some sarcasm? Maybe just a tad. But in all seriousness, we know that most truckers across the nation are dreading the implementation of this rule, but it’s looking more and more likely that it’s only a matter when, not if. That’s right, the final ELD rule is currently under review and is scheduled to be published later in the year.

Don’t think this rule is going to help you? Take a look at why the FMCSA sees the rule as “beneficial to all parties,” and maybe it can change your view.

• It is estimated that by improving the hours of service (HOS) compliance, up to 20 fatalities and 400 injuries can be prevented each year. 
• The electronic logging systems will save companies time and money.
• Drivers will be protected from harassment. The devices will keep companies from forcing drivers to drive for longer than the mandated period under the HOS agreement.
• Law enforcement agencies can now view and review driver HOS records with ease.

Still not liking the idea? Yeah, we don’t blame you, but it’s looking inevitable, so the best thing to do now is to prepare yourselves!

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about any of these new rules or implementations, just let us know! Just kidding, please don’t do that; take all those issues up with the FMCSA! They’re always happy to receive feedback from trucking professionals like yourself.

If you have any other trucking-related issues, that’s where we come in. We offer a ton of services for trucking professionals, so if you need anything taken care of for you, just give us a call at 803.386.0320 or email us at support@tsnamerica.com.

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Winds of Change Coming In Wyoming

Anyone traveling through Wyoming must brace for unusually strong gusts of wind that can topple an empty rig in the blink of an eye. This article will focus on gentler winds, i.e. changes in Wyoming law and attitude that are still worthy of your attention.

Wyoming made national news in April when two huge pile-ups occurred on I-80 within a single week, raising concerns about highway safety along our vast open spaces. While truckers have always known to “expect the unexpected,” Wyoming weather and abundant wildlife can surprise even the most experienced drivers! Bluebird weather one minute can change to dense fog or ground blizzards the next, and pulling off to the side of the road has its own risk as everyone else is trying to do the same. It can become one big tragic cluster in seconds.

This is why the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) opposed legislative bills to raise the speed limit from 75 mph to 80 mph on long, lonely stretches of our interstate highways. The patrol reasoned that higher speeds would result in less reaction time to our unpredictable everything and urged Wyoming lawmakers not to raise the limit. Those patrol worries did not win the day. So, Wyoming motorists enjoy the higher speed limit, but the WHP is showing less tolerance for those exceeding the limit even by a few miles per hour.

Several months ago it came to light that the WHP tied raises, promotions, and bonuses to ticket quotas, setting off a firestorm of criticism that resulted in discarding such policy before lawmakers felt compelled to introduce bills to formally stop the practice. The negative public sentiment toward the WHP changed quickly after the April pile-ups as the patrol worked tirelessly in horrible conditions to rescue accident victims and clean-up the carnage for days afterward.

Newspaper photos of the scene from both accidents showed multiple mangled semis and prompted a number of letters to the editor urging truckers to drive more cautiously. What few outside the industry realize is that truckers cannot stop on a dime and are as susceptible as any other driver to sudden zero visibility.

Like the Serenity Prayer, we seek patience to accept what we cannot change, and strength to change what we must. Obviously, operators can lessen risk by making sure their equipment and their brains are in good working order and capable of handling higher highway speeds and adjusting to sudden changes in conditions.

Another wind of change in Wyoming has been greater protection for persons using non-motorized modes of transportation. During the last legislative session, a law was passed that requires motorists to allow bicyclists three feet when passing them on the roadway. This happened, mind you, when legislators were also considering whether to increase the speed limits on two-lane roads (where cross-country bicyclists are more likely to travel). If safety is a top priority, increasing the speed limit on two-lane roads may not be such a wise choice. Such a law has not yet passed.

Truckers traveling on rural roads and in town should be aware that Wyoming school buses are now equipped with video cameras, so as to more easily identify and prosecute those drivers who pass a bus that is stopped with flashing red lights. This development occurred because of the death of a little girl exiting a school bus who was hit by a passing motorist ignoring the flashing bus lights.

For several years, Wyoming law has required motorists to move to the passing lane when passing a stopped patrol car with flashing lights on the side of the road…if you can safely do so. Traffic is beyond your control but maintaining reasonable speeds to allow maneuverability is still in your control.

Wyoming lawmakers have been keenly aware of the dangers of distracted driving. Hand-held cell phone use is banned in most cities and towns, and texting while driving is forbidden everywhere in the State. Marijuana remains illegal in Wyoming but not in neighboring Colorado. I’m wondering if I’m the only one who has noticed a distinct change in the flow of traffic in Colorado since marijuana became legal. Too often now, I cross into Colorado on I-25 and see a number of drivers appearing completely unaware of how slow they are driving and what effect that is having on other motorists. Their “happy zone” is my frustration.

Another small wind of change that is of particular interest is a new Wyoming law that deals with towing abandoned or disabled vehicles. The Wyoming Department of Transportation removes vehicles when an operator cannot. Law enforcement must now choose from a rotating list of tow truck companies, something that was not done in the past.

Lastly, truckers whose native language is not English, should be aware of English Comprehension Examinations that, by law, WDOT personnel can administer at a Port of Entry if they have reason to believe that the trucker does not have a sufficient grasp of the English language in order to understand roadway signs and signals. Unfortunately, the results of the test may be considered “passing” by one patrolman at the Port of Entry on the eastern border of Wyoming, while the same test with the same results by the same trucker on the western border is considered “failing” by a different WDOT grader. The subjective nature of this makes it vulnerable to criticism as patently unfair. The ACLU has raised a number of objections and concerns about this test in recent years but the ACLU just closed its Wyoming office so will no longer be around to try to right this wrong.

As you can see, Wyoming laws and attitudes have changed only slightly this year. People in this State are generally grateful for all that the trucking industry and individuals bring to us. By constantly expecting the unexpected, you will be doing your part to prepare for and adjust to those wild, windy things you cannot change or control.

By: Deb Kellam, Hall & Evans, LLC

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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Enforcing Trucking Safety Rules

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000 and its primary goal is to make our roadways safer for the public and commercial motor vehicles. It achieves this by placing safety as their highest priority.

The FMCSA continues work with Federal, State and local agencies to reduce and ideally eliminate crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles. FMCSA will use education, regulations, enforcement, research, and innovative technology to achieve a safer transportation environment.

The FMCSA review companies on accountability and compliance, performance measures, safety measures and other various activities. Examples of some violations include but are not limited to, employing drivers who do not possess valid commercial driver’s licenses, employing unskilled, untrained drivers, and exceeding weight limits.

Upon review, if a company is found to be in violation of any of these, they will be shut down. The FMSCA has ordered the closure of multiple companies in the last few months and is continuing its enforcement of trucking safety rules. So be aware of the rules and regulations set forth and stay compliant so everyone will be safer on the road.

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Advice I Wish I Received When I First Started Truck Driving

Whether you are a new or experienced trucker, here’s something you may interesting/entertaining that I found on thetruckersreport.com.

Last week I asked the members of our truckers forum to think back on their careers. If they could travel back in time to when they first started driving, what advice would they give themselves? Their answers are below, covering a range of subjects and opinions.

Driving

• Relax, don’t let the stupid crap cars and trucks do around you get your blood pressure up. After I realized this trucking became a lot more enjoyable.
• Going faster doesn’t make you a better driver.
• Don’t let other big mouth CB cowboys get to you on the radio. If some flatbed owner op comes along in the hammer lane doing 71 and a half mph on the radio cursing because everyone is in his way, turn the radio off and realize you’re not going slow, he is speeding.
• Take it easy. That means let people in, don’t sweat other people cutting you off, don’t let the little things get to you, don’t be in a hurry (always a bad idea).
• Don’t let those 4-wheelers behind you make you begin to panic and make you lose focus. They live here, you don’t. They know where they’re going. You don’t. They can always go around you.
• Always pay attention. Be very patient.

Docking and Parking

• Good, consistent backing ONLY comes with experience
• I kick myself now for kicking myself back then for messing up backing. I realize now that I was just learning.
• If that last open parking spot looks like it could be a pain to back in to, it probably is. Go find somewhere else to park and leave that spot for someone who either has better skills or worse judgement.

Careers

• If you see a job that “might be for you”, go for it, don’t hang on the fence second guessing everything.
• The grass ain’t greener on the other side of the fence..Get your experience, get on with a good company and stay there!..Don’t get a reputation as a job hopper.
• Far as starter companies are concerned,the grass is never greener on the other side.
• Even if you are right out of school, you don’t have to go over the road with a crappy company to make a living driving.
• As far as making money goes, this is the golden rule: It’s what you haul, not where you haul.

Safety and Regulations

• Don’t let dispatchers push you to run illegal. Running too hard will eventually catch up to you and when you get involved in an accident the company will disavow any knowledge that you were running hard, violating the HOS reg at your dispatchers request. In short you will be thrown under the bus and replaced. WE ARE ALL REPLACEABLE. Toughest lesson I have ever had to learn.
• I wouldn’t of let dispatchers bully me into running and running.

Family

• I would have looked for something closer to home so I could see my kids grow up and not miss birthdays and holidays… that was the toughest part of my career.
• Your kids and your wife should always come first. Unless, of course, you don’t like your family. Then, stay out as long as you want, but then, you should do something about not liking your family.

Attitude and Dealing With Others

• No matter how much you hate your dispatcher/FM/DM (or whatever your company calls them)…keep them happy. They can and will…make you or break you.
• The desire to express your frustration with some of the people we associate with is understandable, however if you are patient and kind, time will usually weed out the whiners and reward hard work.
• Develop a sense of humor, if you don’t already have one. Otherwise, this business will chew you up and spit you out.

Health and Diet

• Don’t eat the corn dogs, they’re addictive
• Eat healthy from the get go, not 5 years into your career.
• Eat healthier and watched the truckstop food from day 1 not years later
• I wish I would have taken better care of my body. Eat better food and exercise more.
• I wish I wouldn’t have kept jumping off of my flatbed trailers, especially after the old guys warned me that I would regret it later.

Miscellaneous

• Don’t change everything on the truck to make it ride smoother. Don’t change the springs, shocks, alignment, tires, seat, wheel balance, etc. Instead, trade trucks.

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