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  • July 25, 2023 10:19 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    On July 25, 2023, FMCSA removed the following four ELDs from the list of registered ELDs due to the companies' failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A.

     

    ELD Name

    Model Number

    ELD Identifier

    ELD Provider

    ALL TRUCKERS ELD

    ARS

    ARS194

    All Truckers ELD

    GOLDEN ELD

    GRS

    GRS199

    GOLDEN ELD

    PRIMELD

    PRS

    PRS139

    Primeld

    SECURE ELD

    SRS

    SRS224

    WBCS Group LLC


    These ELDs now appear on FMCSA’s Revoked Devices list.


    FMCSA will send an industry email to let motor carriers know that all who use these revoked ELDs must take the following steps:

    1. Discontinue using the revoked ELDs and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours of service data.
    2. Replace the revoked ELDs with compliant ELDs from the Registered Devices list before September 23, 2023.

    Motor carriers have up to 60 days to replace the revoked ELDs with compliant ELDs. If the ELD providers correct all identified deficiencies, FMCSA will place the ELDs back on the list of registered devices and inform the industry and the field.



  • July 07, 2023 10:55 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    ATA is inviting all types and sizes of motor carriers to participate in its latest Safety Spend Survey! This valuable study aims to estimate yearly industry expenditures on safety and provide carriers with a benchmarking resource to compare their safety costs.

     

    This brief survey looks at how much motor carriers spend on necessary and elective safety expenses, such as maintenance, compliance, on-board safety technology, driver safety pay, and training. Participants in the survey will receive an executive one-pager outlining the study's findings.


    The survey deadline has been extended to July 21, 2023. If you are interested in participating, please download the survey, complete and return it to [email protected]. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a crucial industry assessment!

    Survey website:  https://www.trucking.org/safety-spend-survey


    Optional: Carriers also have the option to sign a non-disclosure agreement if they choose. Please download, sign, and return the NDA with your completed survey. All data will be held in the strictest of confidence and no individual company data will be released. Only industry aggregate data will be reported.  


  • July 07, 2023 10:36 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    A number of states have now enacted new laws concerning hand-held electronic devices by all vehicle operators.  Michigan is the latest.

    According to a news release from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office, the law makes it illegal to hold any electronic device while driving.

    After introducing a hands-free law in April, Ohio has seen a 9% drop in distracted driving in just one month, preventing over 500 crashes, according to a news release from Whitmer’s office.

    Similar legislation passed the Senate in Pennsylvania and now goes to the House for review.

  • July 06, 2023 12:13 PM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    Hair testing uncovered use of opioids at a rate greater than 25-times than what was caught in urine-based drug screening; 23 times more cocaine; 13 times more amphetamines/methamphetamines; 5 times more Marijuana; 65 times more ecstasy; and 3 times more PCP. Results indicate hair testing produced a positivity rate 9 times higher than urinalysis and hair testing uncovered more positive drug tests across every illegal drug, every examined age group and every U.S. state. Hair testing uncovered 10 times more drug positives in 2022 alone.

  • July 05, 2023 1:23 PM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    The Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) would like to remind urine specimen collectors and DOT-regulated employers of the following:

    ·        The 2023 Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF) has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) with no changes to the current 2020 Federal CCF. 

    ·        Because the 2023 Federal CCF is the same as the 2020 Federal CCF, DOT-regulated employers, and their service agents (collectors, laboratories, medical review officers) may continue to use the 2020 Federal CCF.

    ·        As of August 31, 2023, the 2020/2023 Federal CCF must be used for DOT-regulated specimens.

    ·        The 2020/2023 Federal CCF can be viewed here https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/workplace/2020-fed-ccf-proof.pdf

    ·        Regarding the expired 2017 Federal CCF:

    ·        The 2017 Federal CCF may be used without a memorandum for the record (MFR) until August 31, 2023.

    ·        As of August 31,2023, if the 2017 Federal CCF is used, labs must treat the use of the 2017 Federal CCF as a correctable discrepancy.  A MFR must be completed per §40.205(b)(2).

    ·        Best practice:

    Collectors should use up their existing supply of 2017 Federal CCFs before August 31, 2023


  • July 03, 2023 11:05 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    Operation Safe Driver Week Starts This Sunday

    Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 9-15. This year's focus will be on speeding. Throughout the week, law enforcement officers will conduct increased traffic safety enforcement and issue citations/tickets or warnings, as needed, to commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and drivers of passenger vehicles in an effort to deter unsafe driving behaviors


  • June 23, 2023 9:31 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state Senate wants to expand a ban on texting while driving and approved legislation on Thursday that would increase the penalties for motorists who are handling their cell phones for almost any activity while driving.

    The bill, approved 37-11, goes to the state House of Representatives.

    Pennsylvania first banned texting while driving in 2012, a summary offense punishable by a $50 fine. Under the new legislation, motorists cannot handle their cell phones to make a call or almost any other function while driving. That includes while sitting in traffic or at a stoplight.

    However, it allows people to push a single button to start or end a phone conversation on a phone that is within easy reach and to use it for navigation or listening to music.

    A first offense is punishable by a $150 fine. The bill carries exceptions for emergency responders and for people calling 911.

    Offenders who cause serious accidents could get more time in prison.

    In cases where the offender is convicted of homicide by vehicle, a court can add a sentence of up to five years. In cases where the offender is convicted of aggravated assault by vehicle, a court can add a sentence of up to two years.

    The bill would give drivers a grace period of a year in which they would only receive a written warning for violating it.

    It would require driving tests to ask a question about the effects of distracted driving and student driving manuals to include a section on distracted driving and the penalties.


  • June 22, 2023 7:37 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    Brake linings and pads will be the focus of Brake Safety Week, which is scheduled for Aug. 20-26, according to an announcement from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

    During Brake Safety Week, law enforcement officers will inspect brake systems and remove commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations from roadways until those violations are corrected. Throughout the week, CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct their usual inspections. However, they will be reporting brake-related inspection and violation data to the alliance.


  • June 13, 2023 11:14 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    Washington, D.C. (June 13, 2023) – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has scheduled this year’s Brake Safety Week for Aug. 20-26 with a focus on brake lining/pad violations.

     

    During Brake Safety Week, commercial motor vehicle inspectors highlight the importance of brake systems by conducting inspections of their components and removing commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations from our roadways until those violations are corrected.

     

    Throughout Brake Safety Week, CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct their usual inspections; however, in addition, they will be reporting brake-related inspection and violation data to the Alliance. CVSA will compile that data and publish a press release this fall with the results.

     

    “The focus of this year’s Brake Safety Week is on the condition of the brake lining and pad,” said CVSA President Maj. Chris Nordloh with the Texas Department of Public Safety. “Brake lining and pad issues may result in vehicle violations and could affect a motor carrier’s safety rating.”

     

    When inspectors conduct the brake portion of a Level I or Level V Inspection, they will:

    • Check for missing, non-functioning, loose or cracked parts.
    • Check for contaminated, worn, cracked and missing linings or pads.
    • Check for S-cam flipover.
    • Listen for audible air leaks around brake components and lines.
    • Check that slack adjusters are the same length (from center of S-cam to center of clevis pin) and the air chambers on each axle are the same size.
    • Ensure the brake system maintains air pressure between 90-100 psi (620-690 kPa) and measure pushrod travel.
    • Inspect for non-manufactured holes (e.g., rust holes, holes created by rubbing or friction, etc.) and broken springs in the spring brake housing section of the parking brake.
    • Inspect required brake system warning devices, such as anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction lamp(s) and low air-pressure warning devices.
    • Inspect the tractor protection system, including the bleedback system on the trailer.
    • Ensure the breakaway system is operable on the trailer.


  • June 12, 2023 6:10 AM | John Rigney (Administrator)

    Wow!  What a great weekend!  The drivers and their families were truly awesome.  We had plenty of volunteers to keep things rolling.  It was so nice to see all of the smiling faces all weekend.  Now it's off to Columbus to get some more hardware!

John's Safety Minute

My name is John Rigney and I am a retired Pennsylvania State Trooper. I retired in July of 2011 as a Sergeant in charge of Staff Services at Troop J, Lancaster. While there I received extensive training in emergency response with PEMA and FEMA. I was heavily involved in Motor Carrier safety and was certified by PADOT and FMCSA as an instructor for the roadside inspection processes. I hold a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Forest Products from the Pennsylvania State University. I also hold a Certified Safety Supervisor accreditation from the National Transportation Management Institute (NATMI) which is administered by the University of Central Florida. 

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