CSA Violations And Your Rights To Refuse to Drive an Unsafe Vehicle

Judge Romero ordered Cargo Express to reinstate Mr. Graff, and pay him back pay of
$65,767.24 and his attorney fees. He also awarded Graff punitive damages of $25,000.00 because Cargo Express’s “actions rose to the level of reckless or callous disregard” for Mr. Graff’s rights.

Graff brought his claim under Section 405 of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act which prohibits retaliation against commercial drivers because they made complaints about violations of commercial vehicle safety regulations or refused to drive in violation of a commercial vehicle safety regulation.

U.S. Department of Labor ruling.

Jury awards $58.5 million to family, says truck driver not adequately trained

The jury in a wrongful death lawsuit in Santa Fe, NM, has awarded the family of a crash victim $58.5 million, saying the driver of a tanker truck that made a left turn in the path of the victim’s oncoming vehicle did not have adequate training. The bulk of the responsibility for the crash lies with the management company that contracted with the trucking company, the jury said.
Full story.

www.lmstrucking.com Learning Management System was built for the purpose of training your drivers. All companies should read this and commit to a comprehensive driver/employee training program today.

We offer a free demo to show how our LMS can be used to prevent this from happening to your company.
Call today 1-877-792-3866
 

Drivers Make Sure You Choose a GPS for Commercial Trucks

Choosing the Right Global Positioning System (GPS) Navigation Device is important to understand that not all navigation systems are the same. That is why it is critical for truck and bus drivers to use the right navigation system when operating a commercial truck or bus.

By using a navigation system that does not provide important route restrictions, such as low bridge overpasses, the shortcut you thought would save you time and fuel may end up costing you more than you bargained for.

A typical system that a consumer might buy at an electronics or auto parts store may not have software programming to show low bridges, hazmat routes and other information relevant to commercial motor vehicle operators.

The FMCSA created a visor card specifically for truck and bus drivers on how to choose the right navigation system intended for them. The visor card gives tips for safe use of navigation systems, and can be downloaded free-of-charge.

The visor card provides tips on selecting the proper navigation system designed for trucks and buses, and the correct use of the navigation systems. For example, in order for the navigation system to provide you with the appropriate route, truck and bus drivers should enter all relevant information such as:
vehicle's length,
width and height;
 axle weight;
and any hazardous materials being hauled.

By following the recommended route, obeying traffic signs and not driving while using a cell phone or texting, tragedies can be prevented and lives saved on our roads and highways.

Tips for Commercial Drivers on Selecting a GPS

FMCSA drawing attention Hazmat Compliance BASIC

This week, February 7th through the 14th, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is drawing attention to the Safety Management Cycle (SMC) that helps identify and address safety and compliance issues related to the Hazardous Materials (HM) Compliance Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC).

The SMC for the HM BASIC suggests actions that carriers can take to identify the root cause of safety issues, establish and improve their safety management controls, and reduce or eliminate violations. For instance, new hire and refresher trainings are effective ways to communicate company policy and expectations about how to safely transport HM cargo. Also, implementing a disciplinary policy where high-consequence incidents result in stringent disciplinary action can help provide incentive to make every effort to follow company policy.

We are in the process of launching two training videos on Security Awareness Training this month.

Did you know your company policy can be uploaded to our LMS platform and assigned to each driver that can be tested on their retention and understanding.

Are you interested in how we can help your company improve your safety management controls? Just give us a call at 877-792-3866 ext 102.

Joe

Cargo Tank Rollovers

What Percentage of Cargo Tank Rollovers Occur On Exit Ramps?

 

A. 25% B. 53% C. 7% D. 73%

YOU might be surprised to learn that according to a recent study conducted for the U. S. Department of Transportation, only about 7% of cargo tank rollovers occur on exit ramps. Eight times as many rollovers occur on straight roadways, often when a driver “over-corrects” after dropping a wheel off the road surface, or becoming distracted. Online Tanker Rollover Driver training. Training is an important part of any safety program. Train your tanker drivers online with our content or you can upload your companies content for your specific training requirements.

Four Months to go DOT Enforces the Hours of Service Rule

If the value of a government regulation is measured by how much its stakeholders hate it, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) rule governing a truck driver's hours of service—known simply as "HOS"—is giving U.S. taxpayers maximum bang for their buck.
Carriers loathe the regulations because they cut into their productivity and require more resources to move the same amount of freight they handle now. Shippers fear them because they could be forced to reconfigure their manufacturing and distribution networks if they want to get their goods to market in a timely fashion. Drivers claim the rules curtail their ability to earn a living and force rest upon them when they don't need it. State regulators worry that carriers will put more trucks on the road to offset the productivity losses, straining their enforcement capabilities. Some in Congress argue the rule creates a safety hazard by forcing commercial drivers onto the highways at the same time as millions of morning rush-hour commuters...Read More

ATA Asks Delay of HOS Changes

ATA Asks Delay of HOS Changes Until Court Appeal Is Resolved

By Timothy Cama, Staff Reporter This story appears in the Feb. 4 print edition of Transport Topics. American Trucking Associations has asked the federal government to delay implementing changes to the hours-of-service regulations until three months after the group’s pending legal challenge ends. A delay, ATA said, would avoid confusion and potentially unnecessary law enforcement training should the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturn or change the rule. Full Story