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Motor carriers and drivers using CI ELD LOGS, ELD 2 GO, ELD4TRUCKING, ELOG365, GOLDEN ELD, POWERTRUCKS ELD, STEER RIGHT ELD, TruckX-ELD, TST 1 ELD, and WORLD TRUCKING ELD devices have 60 days to replace them with compliant ELDs.

On December 1, 2023, FMCSA removed the following ELDs from the list of registered ELDs due to the providers’ failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A.   ELD Name Model Number ELD Identifier ELD Provider CI ELD LOGS CILGS CRS270 CV Options LLC ELD 2 GO GOMAX ERS200 ELD 2 GO ELD4TRUCKING ERS ERS174 ELD4TRUCKING LLC ELOG365 ERS ERS127 EZ ELD Solutions Inc GOLDEN ELD GRS GRS199 GOLDEN ELD POWERTRUCKS ELD PRS PRS211 Miran Support LLC STEER RIGHT ELD STRID SRS273 STEER RIGHT LLC TruckX-ELD XELD TRX927 TruckX Inc TST 1 ELD TRS TRS220 TST GROUP INC. WORLD TRUCKING ELD WRS WRS196 WORLD TRUCKING LLC These ELDs now appear on FMCSA’s Revoked Devices list. Motor carriers and drivers who use the ELDs listed above must take the following actions: Discontinue using the revoked ELDs and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours of service data. Replace the revoked ELDs with compliant ELDs from the Registered Devices list before January 30, 2024.

Motor carriers have up to 60 days to replace the revoked ELDs with compliant ELDs.

Motor carriers and drivers who continue to use the revoked ELDs listed above on or after January 30, 2024, will be in violation of 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)—“No record of duty status” and drivers will be placed out-of-service in accordance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) OOS Criteria. If the ELD providers correct all identified deficiencies for their devices, FMCSA will place the ELDs back on the Registered Devices list and inform the industry and the field. However, FMCSA strongly encourages motor carriers to take the actions listed above now to avoid compliance issues in the event that these deficiencies are not addressed in time. Questions? Contact [email protected].

Federal trucking regulators have issued a warning that late next year truck drivers who test positive for drug use will not only be placed on prohibited driving status, but will lose their commercial driver licenses and not be issued learning permits until they complete the federal return-to-work process.

“A driver with a drug-and-alcohol program violation is prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions, including operating CMVs, for any DOT-regulated employer until the return-to-duty process is complete,” said a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration notice on Nov. 28. “By November 18, 2024, as part of new federal regulations, drivers with a ‘prohibited’ status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will lose or be denied their state-issued commercial driving privileges.”

Predatory towing is a costly issue for motor carriers as well as compliant towing companies, and it has been overlooked for too long,” said Shawn R. Brown, Cargo Transporters Vice President of Safety. “With reliable data analysis and a thorough regulatory review, ATRI’s report sheds light on the sources of the problem and paths forward for addressing it by both regulators and trucking fleets.”

 

A copy of this report is available on ATRI’s website here.

I'm sure by now some of you have run into an issue with the TSA fingerprinting requirements for the Haz Mat endorsement.  The Federal Government in its infinite wisdom decided to increase the validity period of the clearance to five years to coincide with the TWIC card.  This is creating an issue for companies to track the expiration of the clearance.  I questioned Matt Becker from PennDOT and he sent me the following direction:

Correct. The Hazmat knowledge test is completed at time of renewal.

Six months prior to the threat assessment expiration a driver will receive a notification to return to a driver license center and provide the security threat assessment form along with proof of legal presence. The current fee of 34.00 dollars is collected at that time. Here is information regarding the threat assessment process from our website at HAZMAT Endorsement (pa.gov). An additional fee is collected from Idemia for fingerprinting.

The Federal Security Threat Assessment Process consists of:

• Providing proof of U.S. citizenship or appropriate immigration status
• Completing the Security Threat Assessment Application (PDF)
• Paying the Transportation Security Administration fee for the Federal security threat assessment. This fee will be collected at the PennDOT Driver License Center. Your check or money order must be made out to "PennDOT". Please refer to the DL-288 (PDF) for additional information regarding current TSA fees.
• • You will be issued a Fingerprint Authorization Letter (Pub 512), which outlines the necessary steps to completing the required background checks.
• You will be required to pre-register with Idemia before visiting a site for fingerprinting. Pre-registration can be completed by visiting the Applicant Fingerprinting Online Service or by calling Idemia's scheduling line at 1-844-321-2101. The (covering the FBI) will be collected by Idemia either at the time the CDL holder pre-registers to have their fingerprints taken or at a Idemia fingerprint location. Please refer to the DL-288 (PDF) for additional information regarding current FBI fingerprinting fees.

The issue is tracking the expiration of the clearance.  Some states are making notation(s) on the CDL.  Pennsylvania does not.

What stands out about Quantron’s new North American tractor, at least on paper, is a range promise of 750-plus miles under maximum load with 80 kg of hydrogen storage at 700 bar of pressure. By comparison, the FC8’s European QLI and QHM siblings have ranges of 280 miles and 435 miles, respectively.

Richard Ansell, vice president of marketing for Quantron US, said the company is working to increase hydrogen storage to 120 kg, which would extend the FC8’s range well above 1,000 miles.

“Our goal is to be the range leader,” said Ansell. “Trucking is all about efficiency, and that means maximum payloads and limited downtime and quick refueling.”

As part of the company’s asset-light OEM strategy, the Quantron FC8 consists of a number of sourced components, including a 200-kWh capacity battery pack from Xerotech and fuel cells from Bosch. The FC8 is powered by two 200kw eAxles from Accelera, the zero-emissions power business segment of Cummins. Overall, the tractor yields just under 1,000 pounds of payload capacity compared to a conventional diesel tractor.

As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration explores a potential speed limiter mandate for heavy-duty trucks, another government agency is calling for similar technology on new cars.

The National Transportation Safety Board investigation into a multi-vehicle crash in North Las Vegas last year that resulted in nine fatalities has led the board to recommend a requirement for “intelligent speed assistance technology” in new cars.

The board issued the recommendations Tuesday at a public board meeting after determining the crash was caused by “excessive speed, drug-impaired driving and Nevada’s failure to deter the driver’s speeding recidivism due to systemic deficiencies, despite numerous speeding citations.”

Intelligent speed assistance technology, or ISA, uses a car’s GPS location compared with a database of posted speed limits and its onboard cameras to help ensure safe and legal speeds.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Requests Public Comment on the Possible Addition of Fentanyl to the Urine and Oral Fluid Analyte Table

SAMHSA is requesting public comment on the recommendation of adding Fentanyl/Norfentanyl (along with their proposed testing cutoffs) to its analyte table.  Comments can be submitted prior to the DTAB meeting, during the DTAB meeting, and up to 30 days after the DTAB meeting, but no later than January 4, 2024.  Written comments regarding the addition of Fentanyl to the HHS analyte table can be submitted via e-mail to:  [email protected]. 

October 20, 2023

FMCSA Portal Users –

Please see the IMPORTANT UPDATE below for all non-DOT FMCSA Portal users.

If you have or use an FMCSA Portal account, you must act now to maintain access.

How you log on to the FMCSA Portal is changing to ensure enhanced security and compliance with the Federal Mandate for Multifactor Authentication.  DOT Users should refer to the internal email notifications for specific instructions.

 

What is changing?

You will access the FMCSA Portal through a Login.Gov account instead of using your current FMCSA Portal username and password. 

 

What actions do you need to take now?

To ensure you have continued access to the FMCSA Portal, you must set up a Login.gov account by Dec. 1, 2023. Please follow the attached step-by-step directions or refer to this link to establish your account.

 

Have questions or need help setting up your Login.gov account?

·        State and Local Enforcement Users should contact FMCSA by dialing 617-494-3003 (Option 1) or emailing [email protected]

·        Carrier and Company users should dial 1-800-832-5660 or submit a question through https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/ask-fmcsa

What is Multifactor Authentication?

Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is a method to verify your identity requiring two or more pieces of evidence (factors). These factors can be something you know (like a password), something you have (like an access card) or something you are (like facial recognition or fingerprint).

 

Why is FMCSA implementing Multifactor Authentication?

The Federal Cybersecurity plan under White House Executive Order 14028, Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, and Office of Budget Memorandum M-22-09, Moving the U.S. Government Toward Zero Trust Cybersecurity Principles (Federal Zero Trust Strategy) requires all Federal agencies to adopt secure MFA to enhance information security by Dec. 31, 2023.

 

 

 This email is being sent to all Federal and State Enforcement Users.

• Create a Login-Gov Account How To Guide.pdf

Inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. conducted 18,875 commercial motor vehicle inspections Aug. 20-26 for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) Brake Safety Week. For the weeklong inspection and enforcement initiative, inspectors focused on the brake systems and components of commercial motor vehicles and submitted brake-related data to the Alliance. Of the total vehicles inspected, 87.4% did not have any brake-related out-of-service violations.

Lining/Pad Violations
	Power Unit Violations	Towed Unit Violations	Total %
Contaminated	214	59	40.03%
Cracks/Voids	98	98	28.74%
Loose/Missing	25	48	10.70%
Worn	64	76	20.53%
Total Violations	401	281	100%

Of the 2,375 commercial motor vehicles that were placed out of service, 295 (12.4%) had steering axle brake violations, 1,127 (47.5%) had stand-alone brake violations and 1,394 (58.7%) failed the 20% defective brakes criterion, which states that a vehicle is out of service if the number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle or combination.

The focus area for this year’s Brake Safety Week was lining/pad violations. Throughout the week, and just as they do normally when inspecting the vehicle components of commercial motor vehicles, inspectors checked brake lining/pads for cracks, voids and contamination. They also looked for loose, missing or worn brake lining/pads. A total of 379 power (tractor) units and 261 towed (trailer) units had lining/pad violations.

Next year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 25-31, 2024.

Top ten industry leaders concerns:

1. Economy

2. Parking

3. Fuel Prices

4. Driver Shortage

5. Driver Compensation

6. Lawsuit Abuse Reform

7. Driver Distraction

8. Driver Retention

9. Detention/Delay at Customers

10. Zero Emission Vehicles