Avoid Accidents by Making Sure Your Drivers Understand Right-of-Way

Too often, commercial vehicle accidents occur because drivers either do not fully understand right-of-way, or they fail to act appropriately in situations where taking the right-of-way jeopardizes another vehicle.

To prevent these types of accidents, the FMCSA addresses right-of-way in their Accident Countermeasure Program.

The FMCSA recommends that commercial truck drivers give right-of-way until it is apparent that right-of-way is being given by the other driver. Drivers should also remember that, generally, the driver that arrives last gives right-of-way to drivers who were their first (be it at an intersection or merging onto a freeway).

Right-of-way should always be given in the following situations:

• When entering traffic
• When turning left in front of approaching traffic
• When changing lanes

Drivers should move into their intended path only after they are sure it won't interfere with other traffic. If a maneuver would cause another driver to steer or break, it should not be undertaken. Transportation managers should ensure that their drivers understand right-of-way and should periodically have a qualified person ride with drivers to examine their behaviors.

Navistar Shows Off its Latest Technology at World of Concrete, 2013

International had a lot to show off at this year’s World of Concrete tradeshow, which was held Feb 5-8 in Las Vegas. Not only did attendees get a glimpse at the latest in International truck technology, Navistar’s Continental Mixer division, acquired by the company last year, had the opportunity to showcase some of the products that are earning Navistar a top spot in the concrete industry.

In the center spotlight were International WorkStar severe-duty tractors with 13L MaxxForce engines equipped with Cummins SCR aftertreatment emissions technology. While ProStar+ models with similar emissions solutions began rolling off assembly lines late last year, this was customers’ first look at Cummins technology integrated into MaxxForce engines. WorkStars equipped with these engines are expected to be available to consumers in May.

International also showed off some of the features that will be available on the new line of WorkStars, including 96” breakaway mirrors, standard LED lighting, vocational bumpers, and Eaton Fuller UltraShift Plus 10-spd automated manual transmissions.

The showcased vocational trucks were equipped with new Continental Mixers, including a lightweight, integrated mixer with high-strength steel designed specifically for mixer applications. According to Navistar, this design weighs up to 2,000-lb. less than comparable mixers.

“With this lightweight mixer, we are changing the weight game in the mixer business,” said Steve Guillaume, GM of Continental Mixers. “We’ve developed a product that provides our customers with significant weight savings while maintaining all the benefits of a conventional steel mixer.”

Navistar will also be offering a WorkStar tractor integrated with a trailer mixer with 9.5-12 cubic meter capacity, which can also utilize Continental Mixers’ new lightweight components. This integrated design is intended to provide a complete mixer solution that is delivered, warrantied, and serviced through one network.

Profits Rise for Three International Customers: JB Hunt, Swift, and Celadon

While the country’s economic recovery is still progressing a little too slow for most of us, there are signs that better times are on the horizon for the trucking industry. For example, in spite of a largely stale economy in the final quarter of 2012 (combined with ever-rising fuel costs) three major publically-traded motor carriers posted higher-than-expected profits for October, November, and December according to the Jan 28 print edition of Transport Topics.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Swift Transportation Co., and Caledon Group, who maintain fleets consisting of International trucks, all reported favorable earnings in 2012’s fourth quarter. J.B. Hunt experienced record profit for the quarter with a 15.7% rise in income.

Swift Transportation increased its net income by 27.3% and Celadon Group experienced a 35.3% increase over the previous year’s earnings for the period.

While the economy still seems sluggish, at least it appears that we’re beginning to move in the right direction!

For further detail, visit: http://bit.ly/VK7GaD

Are Your Commercial Vehicles Properly Marked?

Federal law mandates that any commercial vehicle (CMV) over 10,000lbs MGVWR must be marked according to the regulations displayed in CFR 390.5. Motor carriers should make sure the following criteria are met to avoid costly fines.

CMV’s over 10,000lbs MGVWR must display the following information:

1. The legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier operating the self-propelled CMV, as listed on the motor carrier identification report (Form MCS-150) and submitted in accordance with CFR 390.19.
2. The motor carrier identification number issued by the FMCSA, preceded by the letters “USDOT”.
3. The City and State of the motor carrier is no longer required to be displayed.

The marking must:

1. Appear on both sides of the self-propelled CMV.
2. Be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background on which the letters are placed.
3. Be readily legible during daylight hours, from a distance of 50 feet (15.24 meters) while the CMV is stationary.
4. Be kept and maintained in a manner that retains the legibility of the above requirements.

Construction and Durability

The marking may be painted on the CMV or may consist of a removable device, IF that device meets the identification and legibility requirements above.

Marking of Rented CMVs from Peterson Idealease

A motor carrier operating a self-propelled Idealease CMV under a rental agreement having a term of 30 calendar days or fewer meets the requirements of this section if:

• The Peterson Idealease CMV is marked in accordance with the provisions of the marking requirements as stated above.
• The legal name or a single trade name of Peterson Idealease is displayed.
• The Peterson Idealease identification number preceded by the letters “USDOT” is displayed.
• The Peterson Idealease rental agreement entered into by Peterson and the customer renting motor carrier conspicuously contains the following information:
1. The name and complete physical address of the principal place of business of the Peterson Idealease customer renting the CMV.
2. The identification number issued the Idealease customer by the FMCSA, preceded by the letters “USDOT,” if the Idealease customer has been issued such a number. In lieu of the identification number required in this paragraph, the following may be shown in the rental agreement:
• Information which indicates whether the Idealease customer is engaged in “interstate” or “intrastate” commerce; and
• Information which indicates whether the Idealease customer is transporting hazardous materials in the Idealease rented CMV;
3. The sentence: “That Peterson Idealease cooperates with all Federal, State, and local law enforcement officials nationwide to provide the identity of Idealease customers who operate the Idealease rental CMV.” is on the rental agreement entered into by Peterson Idealease and its customer and the agreement is carried on the rental CMV during the full term of the rental agreement.

Act now to meet 2013 Air Pollution Deadlines!

New California Air Resources Board (CARB) rules affect privately-owned diesel trucks and are phased in annually.

Trucks over 26,000 lbs. G.V.W.R.

All diesel trucks 2000-2004 model year engines must be retrofitted with CARB-verified filters by January 1, 2013. (No Reporting Required).

Small fleets (1-3 trucks / 14,000 lbs. G.V.W.R.+) can call and report to delay compliance until 2014.

Fleet owneers with four or more trucks can report to take advantage of a phase-in option where 30% of the fleet must have retrofits installed or have original equipment particulate matter filters.

Trucks 14,001-26,000 lbs. G.V.W.R.

Must meet initial compliance requirements by January 1, 2015 (No Reporting Required)

For detailed regulation information, visit www.arb.ca.gov/dieseltruck or call (866) 634-3735.

Motor Carriers: Have You Completed Your Accident Register for 2012?

Have you recorded your accidents during 2012 on a register? If you are a motor carrier operating commercial vehicles that are over 10,000lbs MGVWR, transport hazardous materials in quantities requiring placards, or transport passengers, you will be required to present an accident register during a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance review. Even if your operation experienced no accidents for the year, this register is mandatory.

The FMCSA requires that the following information be included on the accident register:

1. Date of accident
2. City or town, or most near, where the accident occurred and the state where the accident occurred
3. Driver name
4. Number of injuries
5. Number of fatalities.
6. Whether hazardous materials, other than fuel spilled from the fuel tanks of motor vehicle

Registers for a given calendar year should be retained for 3 years and must be accompanied by any accident reports required by local, state, or federal government entities as well as insurance companies. This documentation may be kept electronically, but should be available to print upon an auditor’s request.

The FMCSA recommends that two records be maintained to expedite the compliance review process: one for DOT recordable accidents and another for non-DOT recordable accidents. This allows motor carriers to present only the required accident register to an auditor during a review.

Motor carriers should review the FMCSA’s definition of a commercial vehicle-related accident when compiling their register:

An occurrence involving a commercial motor vehicle (>10,000 lbs MGVWR, HM or Passengers) operating on a highway in interstate or intrastate commerce which results in:

1. A fatality.
2. Bodily injury to a person who, as a result of the injury, immediately receives medical treatment away from the scene of the accident.
3. One or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the accident, requiring the motor vehicle(s) to be transported away from the scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle.

The term “accident” does not include:

1. An occurrence involving only boarding and alighting from a stationary motor vehicle.
2. An occurrence involving only the loading or unloading of cargo.

Revised FMCSA Rulemaking Agenda

A number of updates to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates were anticipated to take affect in 2012, 2013, and 2014. The FMCSA has now announced that the estimated publication dates for some of these rules have been postponed. The agency’s estimated publication dates are now as follows:

Electronic On-Board Recorders.
Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking now expected June 28, 2013. Final rule on mandating electronic logging devices most likely will not be published until mid-2014. With an expected two-year phase in, electronic recorders will likely not be required for all carriers operating in interstate commerce until mid 2016.

Carrier Safety Fitness Standards.
A notice of proposed rulemaking to replace the current safety fitness ratings system is now expected November 25, 2013. This rulemaking was withdrawn from review two years ago when issues arose with the agency’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program; CSA scores are expected to form the basis of a carrier’s safety fitness rating under the new rulemaking. The FMCSA has now established a subcommittee of its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee to review CSA and make recommendations on how to improve the enforcement program.

Unified Registration System.
A final rule to establish a new Unified Registration System to replace four legacy systems in support of FMCSA´s safety and commercial oversight responsibilities is now anticipated for April 25, 2013. It would require motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and others required to register with DOT to comply with a new URS registration and biennial update requirement, disclose the cumulative registration information collected by URS, and provide a crossreference to all regulatory requirements necessary to obtain permanent registration.

CDL Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
A proposed rule is now expected to be published on April 2, 2013 to establish an online clearinghouse of information on CDL drivers who have failed a DOT-required drug or alcohol test or refused to submit to testing. The data would be available to carriers seeking to hire drivers.

Diabetes Standard.
A proposed rule to establish driver qualification standards relating to insulin-dependent diabetes is now expected to be published November 6, 2013. These standards would replace the current requirement for a driver with diabetes to obtain a waiver of the qualification requirements in order to drive a CMV.

Entry-Level Driver Training.
The FMCSA has still not set out any deadline for publishing a final rule on minimum training standards for drivers to obtain a new or upgraded CDL. A draft rule has been withdrawn by FMCSA because the agency could not validate the hours and curriculum requirements and therefore could not justify the rule on a cost-benefit basis. The Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee has also been asked to review and provide recommendations on this program. (Information provided by the National Private Truck Council NPTC).