Optimizing Fleet Compliance

Next year is expected to be a transformative one for carriers.

Despite their outsized impact on operations, confusion surrounding HOS regulations continues to plague the industry.

Carriers are operating in an environment where every new driver hire could result in a productive driver tenure or a multimillion-dollar negligence lawsuit.

Carriers with best-in-class safety programs enjoy the most competitive insurance rates while simultaneously protecting driver well-being and making positive changes in the industry as a whole.

With brand new drivers, carriers have the advantage of training them from the ground up.

During the last full calendar year, 2023, HOS violations accounted for over 40% of the driver-related violations found during roadside inspections.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided a detailed framework surrounding driver drug and alcohol violations – including return to work procedures.

International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative that takes place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Outsourcing the review of unsafe driving videos can help a carrier maximize the return on a dashcam-driven coaching system by handing the video clip screening process to experts.

While FMCSA has issued minimal requirements for MVR checks, carriers doing only the bare minimum are creating and perpetuating visibility gaps that leave their fleets vulnerable.

Augmenting a carrier staff with state and federal regulatory experts can help an organization exceed the minimum recordkeeping requirements, which can reduce the risk of a negligent hiring claim.

“Violations could indicate that you don’t have sufficient safety management controls,” said Rick Malchow, industry business adviser at J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.

The federal heavy vehicle use tax year began on July 1, and taxes for 2023–2024 are due by Aug. 31.

“Poor CSA scores can lead to warning letters from the FMCSA, more inspections, higher insurance rates and negative publicity,” said J. J. Keller & Associate Inc.’s Josh Lovan.

J. J. Keller advises that with on-site investigations and fines growing, carriers should focus efforts on compliance and record management.

“When appropriately managed, your records not only show who your drivers and employees are, but also that they are trained, qualified, properly taxed and work within the limits of the law,” said Daren Hansen of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

J. J. Keller & Associates Inc. broke down what businesses need to know about the MCS-150, its common challenges and how to stay compliant.

Are you Roadcheck ready? If not, now is the time to prepare. Tom Bray, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. senior business advisor, shares best practices.

Adhering to regulations alone is complex in itself, but is it enough for a strong safety program? J. J. Keller & Associates, industry experts in safety and compliance guidance, don’t think so.

In order to remain relevant and endure a soft market in this year’s competitive trucking sphere, fleets must put in the legwork to create a positive driver culture and grow their advantage.

“Treat every application like it is worth a million dollars. An allegation of negligent hiring in post-crash litigation could cost at least that and more,” said Mark Schedler, senior transport editor at J. J. Keller & Associates.

As 2022 comes to an end, it is time for trucking carriers to evaluate their driver drug and alcohol testing programs and make necessary improvements for 2023.

Truck driver safety is an ongoing process that involves engagement, awareness and targeted training.

Corrective action training may not prevent an incident but it will reduce the likelihood of one reoccurring.

Each year carriers must pay their Unified Carrier Registration fees, and failure to do so could result in significant penalties, including suspension of vehicle registrations.

FMCSA requires annual checks on a truck driver’s motor vehicle record. But doing that can leave gaps and potentially allows drivers to remain on the road when they are no longer eligible to drive a CMV.

The HVUT is a tax applied annually to many heavy commercial vehicles. How do you know if your vehicles are affected?

Preparing your fleet for an inspection is a continual process that requires monthly monitoring of safety data.

With millions of truck drivers on the roads every day, it is up to carriers to ensure they uphold the values and safety-first focus of the professional trucker. And it all starts with training.

The number of carriers receiving FMCSA conditional safety ratings is increasing as more off-site audits are conducted.

With CVSA’s annual International Roadcheck fast approaching, now is the time for carriers and drivers to prepare for the inspection process.

Trucking carriers face increased risk of nuclear verdicts, but managing those risks is not insurmountable, if done right and from the start.

Carriers interested in conducting driver training for both property carrying and passenger carrying commercial motor vehicles must now meet requirements set forth under FMCSA’s entry-level driver training rule, including registering their programs with the TPR.

Carriers must pay fuel taxes to states they travel through, but the process can be complicated and time-consuming due to the various jurisdictions. Even a simple filing mistake can trigger an IFTA audit and bring unwanted scrutiny upon the carrier.

As competition for truck drivers heats up, fleets need to take steps to improve their recruiting, hiring and onboarding processes to find candidates and get them into trucks.

Federal rules mandate the collection and maintenance of driver qualification files, but for fleets, managing this process can be cumbersome and fraught with potential liability.

Using a combination of the Safety Management Cycle and the 5 Why’s helps fleets identify the root cause and eventually end patterns of FMCSA violations.

As the industry prepares for the new entry-level driver training rule to go into effect in February, fleets that train their own drivers and schools face new challenges in complying.

From time to time, truck drivers require additional training. Whether it is refresher training or due to a recent incident, success depends on having the right approach.

FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse has several reporting requirements for carriers, but those without proper protocols in place could be reporting violations they shouldn’t, and that is harming drivers.

Trucking fleets that still use pen and paper to meet their recordkeeping requirements are adding unnecessary costs and complexity, and upping the chance of a recordkeeping violation during an FMCSA audit.

Yard tractors are often found in ports, like this one in Port Houston, but fleets, warehouses and distribution centers are typical users of the vehicles. Anytime a driver is using a yard tractor, it presents a safety risk, so even though it may not be going onto public roadways, driver training is critical to ensure safe operation. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

With the Canadian ELD mandate going into effect on June 12, fleets operating in that country need to know the key differences from U.S. regulations and whether they have a compliant device.

Carriers continue to face fines and out-of-service violations because they don’t understand the difference between intrastate and interstate operating authority.

Drivers often take the blame for roadside violations, but remaining in compliance with regulations is a team effort that includes maintenance personnel and safety operations in a fleet.

As International Roadcheck 2021 quickly approaches, truck drivers need to prepare for the inspection process. Here are five tips J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. recommend drivers follow to make the process easier.

Trucking fleets that conduct only yearly reviews of driver records may miss signs of risky driver behavior that ultimately could put lives in jeopardy.

Compliance with record-keeping regulations is a time-consuming task that can easily fall through the cracks as busy fleet executives focus on day-to-day tasks.

Driver hiring is the first step in building a safer fleet. A simple five-step approach ensures this process is conducted properly and the drivers you hire represent the least amount of risk.

As trucking fleets reassess their safety programs for 2021 and the post-pandemic world, here are five steps they can take to reduce their risk exposure.

E-log violations during roadside inspections and compliance reviews can add up to thousands of dollars in penalties for carriers. Knowing the most common violations is the first step to avoiding these penalties.

Upcoming changes to the hours-of-service regulations provide truck drivers with more flexibility in their days but open the door to violations for those uneducated on how to properly utilize the exceptions.

Carriers may not be able to eliminate risk, but they can minimize it with a strong and consistent driver training program.

Transporting oversize and overweight loads requires special permits, which vary by state and even county. Without the proper guidance to navigate the process, fleets could face large fines and even shutdowns.

With upcoming changes to hours-of-service rules, drivers and fleets could see improved productivity, safer operation and fewer violations.

As trucking operations ramp up after COVID-19-related shutdowns, and drivers return to work, some routines may need refreshing so fleets and drivers avoid violations.

Even though the EPA has relaxed some reporting requirements, trucking fleets that cut corners on environmental regulations could face large penalties for non-compliance.

In these trying times, regulatory compliance can’t be an afterthought. Failure to follow the rules – and the number of exemptions currently being issued makes that even more challenging – jeopardizes the fleet’s viability.

The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has been active for nearly two months now, but many carriers and drivers remain confused on what steps they must take to comply.

Companies may be creating unnecessary risk in their operations if they have an out-of-date policy and procedure manual, or worse, aren’t following it.

FMCSA has increased the use of off-site audits, giving carriers the opportunity to respond to safety and compliance concerns digitally, but it increases the likelihood of an interaction with an FMCSA official.

Set to go live on Jan. 6, 2020, the drug & alcohol clearinghouse will change the way truck drivers and carriers monitor drug testing.

Roadside inspections can be a scary proposition for drivers, and it’s obvious why. Even simply mistakes or misinterpretations of regulations can lead to drivers and fleets being penalized. Because of this, it’s more important than ever to provide proper training and coaching for drivers.

“I can license a 26,000-pound vehicle at 80,000 pounds, it doesn’t mean it’s legal. It’s understanding the local regulations to license it properly to match the local regulations,” Eric Jahnsen, director of the transportation fleet for Sunbelt Rentals, said on the complex task of vehicle licensing and registration.

Technology such as dash cams, ELDs, telematics and even diagnostics systems are helping fleets better manage their drivers and assets, and the opportunities to use this data are plentiful.

While many fleets and drivers are using ELDs, there are still some using AOBRDs, and time is quickly running out before the December deadline to switch arrives.

Integrating training and coaching programs into the driver experience can save a company significant money and minimize the risk of serious accidents.

Driver hiring includes many steps to ensure compliance, and many fleets turn to outside help to assist in that process.

Each year, truck drivers and fleets face both announced and unannounced inspections or enforcement blitzes.

Flip a switch. Seems easy enough, but for those fleets that think that’s all they have to do with their ELD come December 16, 2019, they may quickly find their truck driver sitting idle, which is why now is the time to start the transition from a legacy AOBRD.

Compliance issues can result in large fines for companies, which is why some companies find outsourcing compliance programs to experts can be a financial win.

As of December 16, 2019, anyone running an AOBRD must switch to an ELD. There are steps that can be taken now to ensure the changeover will be painless.