Avoid Costly Fines During Roadcheck 2012 by Properly Inspecting Your Vehicles

If commercial-vehicle-related accidents have been declining in the past few decades, this is largely thanks to organizations like the FMSCA and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Since 1988, this latter organization has been conducting Roadcheck, a 72 hour period during which CVSA-certified local, state, and federal law enforcement officials hit the roads with the goal of preventing accidents by inspecting commercial vehicles for driver, vehicle, and cargo safety. It is estimated that 14 commercial vehicles throughout Canada, the US, and Mexico are inspected every minute during Roadcheck!

This year’s Roadcheck will be conducted June 5-7, and it’s a good idea to make sure that your drivers are properly conducting their pre and post trip inspections to avoid costly fines. Your drivers should also know the proper way to react when pulled over by a law enforcement official. For information on safely and considerately interacting with law enforcement, visit:

http://www.idealease.com/safetycompliance/04_20_2012.pdf

Increasing Fleet Profitability with a Tire Gauge

Every fleet manager knows that diesel isn’t cheap, and with fuel costs continuing to rise, fuel economy is increasingly important in maintaining a profitable business. An easy way to increase fuel economy is diligent tire-care. When tires at 30% under-inflation can cost you 5% in fuel efficiency, checking tire pressure daily becomes a cash-saving procedure!

And this doesn’t account for the increased longevity a tire can experience when it is kept properly inflated. Driving on under-inflated tires accelerates tread-wear and increases instances of tread separation and blowouts. Remember: with three to six thousand dollars invested in a commercial vehicle’s tires on average, your tires are a company asset and should be treated as such.

Your drivers are key in making sure that tires are always properly inflated. Have them check their tire pressure with a gauge before every trip. Also, irregular wear can be a sign of under-inflation and should be reported by your drivers.

For more on proper tire care, including determining tire age by US DOT ID number, visit: http://www.idealease.com/safetycompliance/04_13_2012.pdf.