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Preventing Driver Injuries This Fall and Winter

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:06:39 GMT

In this issue:

Time to Fall Back…. Daylight Savings Time Change in Three Weeks!
Preparing for the Cold Weather Ahead!
Fuel Additive Use during Cold Weather Conditions
Labor Department Proposes New Test for Employee Designation
Got Chains?
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!

November 6-13 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:05:36 GMT

In this issue:

What You Can Do to Stay Alert While Driving
Halloween Driving “Tricks” to Keep Everyone Safe
CVSA Announces Results of Hazmat Inspections in June
FMCSA COVID Emergency Declaration Finally Expires; HME Extensions Available
Time to Fall Back…. Daylight Savings Time Change in One Week!
Got Chains?

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week Dec 5-9th

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 15:04:22 GMT

In this issue:

Time to Fall Back…. Daylight Savings Time on Sunday!
CVSA Announces 2023 Enforcement Blitz Dates
FMCSA Renews Yard-Move Exemption for ELDs for Another Five Years
Got Chains?

Have you had a Non-Preventable DOT recordable Accident?

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 15:08:48 GMT

In this issue:

Are your supervisors of CDL drivers trained according to the FMCSA regulations?
Where can I get the training?
FMCSA Begins Rulemaking on Electronic Identification of CMVs
FMCSA Renews ELD Exemption for Short-Term Rental Vehicles
October 9 – 15 Fire Prevention Week
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!

Do I need a CDL license to operate that truck?

Sat, 08 Oct 2022 15:08:04 GMT

In this issue:

Time to Fall Back…. Daylight Savings Time Change in Three Weeks!
October 2022 is National Pedestrian Safety Month
Got Chains?
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!

Preparing for the Cold Weather Ahead!

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 15:09:37 GMT

In this issue:

Fuel Additive Use during Cold Weather Conditions
How to Make a Cold Weather Survival Kit
Tis’ Deer Season!
CVSA Releases 2022 Roadcheck Results
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!

Is that a Drunk Driver?

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:10:50 GMT

In this issue:

We are still in Road Construction Season!
FMCSA Begins Rulemaking to Revise ELD Requirements
Private Fleets are Invited to Participate in ATRI Top Industry Issues Survey
October 9 – 15 Fire Prevention Week
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!

Fire Prevention Week is October 9-16th

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 15:11:53 GMT

In this issue:

Fire Prevention Facts
Are you looking to find the size and weight laws by the state?
Drivers May Now Renew TWIC Online
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!

September 11-17 is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 15:13:08 GMT

In this issue:

Driver Recognition Awards
FMCSA Seeks Comments on Proposed Guidance to Medical Examiners
Your Truck is No Match for a Train!
Safety Tips for Truck Drivers
New Operation Lifesaver Video Warns Filming on Train Tracks in Illegal, Deadly
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!
Brake Safety Week Starts Next Week!

Truck Safety Technology

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:13:56 GMT

In this issue:

Using Safety Technology Can Create a Safer Workplace for Your Drivers
How can Technology mitigate the dangers of being a truck driver?
Jury Verdicts and Safety Technology
Applications Requested for Safe Driver Apprenticeship Program
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!
Brake Safety Week Starts Next Week!
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 11-17, 2022

Do I need a USDOT Number?

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 15:14:42 GMT

In this issue:

What is a USDOT Number?
DOT Issues ANPRM on Electronic Signatures and Documents for Drug and Alcohol Records
FMCSA Lists Monitoring of Mexican Motor Carriers in Regulatory Agenda
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall!
Brake Safety Week Is Aug. 21-27
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 11-17, 2022

Read, share, and/or print this week's Safety Bulletin.
C heck out past Idealease Safety Bulletins.

Brake Safety Week is Aug 21-27th

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 15:15:41 GMT

In this issue:

What You May Not Know About Brake Systems and Inspections
Idealease Will Present a Limited Number of Safety Seminars this Fall
Registration Open for FMCSA Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 11-17, 2022

Back to School Safety

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 15:16:59 GMT

In this issue:

Back to School Tips
Measuring Tire Tread Depth
National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 11-17, 2022
Brake Safety Week Is Aug. 21-27

July is UV Protection Month

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 15:17:51 GMT

In this issue:

Tips for Choosing the Right Sunglasses
"Thank God for truckers"
Driver Recognition Awards
National Private Truck Council (NPTC) Signs Coalition Letter Supporting TSA Background Check Legislation
Brake Safety Week Is Aug. 21-27
Question of the Week

Hypertension and Drivers

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:19:08 GMT

In this issue

What can you do to help control hypertension?
Driver Health on the Road
The #1 Secret to Reduce Blood Pressure
Do you realize this NON-CDL truck could require the driver to have CDL with Tank endorsement to drive?
NHTSA Issues Final Rule Upgrading Rear Underride Standards for Trailers, Semitrailers
Brake Safety Week Is Aug. 21-27

Driving In Springtime Weather

Fri, 06 May 2022 15:20:30 GMT

Turn Around Don’t Drown!

With the recent storms and flooding that have occurred this spring, drivers of any type of vehicle need to know road conditions can change rapidly with flash floods. Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm-related hazard. Why? The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water. Over half of all flood-related deaths, each year occur with victims inside vehicles. Many of the deaths occur in vehicles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. Even when operating a large commercial motor vehicle, you can be swept away by the strong force of the water's current. I remember vividly watching several years ago a cement mixer that had been caught in a stormwater canal in Los Angeles during a flash flood be swept down the canal as if it were a toy boat. To check on weather conditions and flooding, go to the National Weather Service website at: www.srh.weather.gov .

Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, Turn Around Don't Drown. You will not know the depth of the water, nor will you know the condition of the road under the water.

If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes, etc.

Avoid areas already flooded, especially if the water is flowing fast. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Turn Around Don't Drown
Roadbeds may be washed out under flood waters. NEVER drive through flooded roadways. Turn Around Don't Drown If your vehicle is suddenly caught in rising water, leave it immediately and seek higher ground.
Don’t Park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers
Avoid low water crossings.
Use alternate routes to avoid flood-prone areas.
Leave your vehicle immediately if it stalls in floodwaters.
Move to higher ground if you can do so safely.
Most cars and light trucks will begin to float in as little as 1 to 2 feet of water.

Safe Driving Tips for Springtime Weather Conditions

TORNADO

Do not drive during tornado conditions
Never try to out-drive a tornado in a vehicle. Tornadoes can change direction quickly and can lift a car or truck and toss it through the air
Get out of your vehicle immediately and seek shelter in a nearby building
If there is no time to get indoors, or if there is no nearby shelter, get out of the car and lie in a ditch or a low-lying area away from the vehicle. Overpasses also can be places of refuge, however, be aware of the potential for flooding

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LIGHTNING

Tune in to your radio to stay informed of approaching storms
If you see a tornado or hear a tornado warning, don’t try to outrun it. View tornado driving safety tips
Turn on your headlights (low beams) and slow down. Many states require the use of headlights during rain
Allow extra distance for braking
Do not drive unless necessary
Pull safely onto the shoulder of the road away from any trees that could fall on the vehicle
Stay in the car and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rains subside
An automobile provides better insulation against lightning than being in the open
Avoid contact with any metal conducting surfaces either inside your car or outside
Avoid flooded roadways
Avoid downed power lines
Check your windshield wipers and tires regularly to ensure that they are ready for severe weather
Approach intersections with caution
Treat traffic lights at intersections as stop signs

Department of Homeland Security Retains Vaccination Requirements for Border Crossings

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will extend temporary Title 19 requirements and continue to require non-U.S. travelers, including truck drivers, entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

These requirements will continue to apply to non-U.S. travelers who are traveling both for essential and non-essential reasons and do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

The Canadian Government has similar COVID vaccination requirements in place for U.S. travelers entering Canada, including truck drivers. As of April 1, however, Canada no longer requires pre-entry negative COVID tests for fully vaccinated travelers entering Canada by land, air, or water. You must still use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your arrival to Canada, however.

Source

Click it or ticket

Thu, 05 May 2022 15:22:07 GMT

National Seat Belt Enforcement Mobilization

May 23 - June 5, 2022

Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save your life in a crash. Yet many still do not buckle up. Worse still, not wearing a seat belt is a habit that will pass on to impressionable youth who, in turn, will think it is safe to not buckle up.The Click It or Ticket campaign focuses on safety education, strong laws, and law enforcement support to save lives.

https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/click-it-or-ticket

SEAT BELTS SAVE LIVES

As I look at our customer’s CSA SMS scores, I continue to see numerous violations regarding failure to use a seat belt. This violation carries a point weighting of 7 and is detrimental to the carrier's “Unsafe Driving” basic score in the CSA SMS. By drivers operating your trucks and NOT wearing a seat belt, they are providing an unnecessary risk that you do NOT need! In addition, if you look at these violations in states where not wearing a seat belt is a primary offense it is the catalyst for a roadside inspection going beyond just a seat belt violation.

TIPS FOR INCREASED SEAT BELT USAGE:

A company policy states that the seat belt is to be always worn in all company vehicles while the vehicle is in motion.

Defined disciplinary action in your company policy to be taken when a driver receives a seat belt violation.

When ordering your trucks specify them with bright orange or yellow seat belts for better belt visibility.

Consider providing a company seat belt life insurance policy for drivers as an incentive for them to wear their seat belts. The policy would pay the driver’s beneficiary if they were killed in an accident while driving their truck and wearing a seat belt.

There is technology now available that will not let the driver start the truck unless the driver’s seat belt is fastened.

Does your company driver policy address seat belt usage?

One of the safest choices drivers and passengers can make is to buckle up. Many Americans understand the lifesaving value of the seat belt – the national use rate was at 90.4% in 2021. Seat belt use in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 14,955 lives in 2017. Understand the potentially fatal consequences of not wearing a seat belt and learn what you can do to make sure you and your family are properly buckled up every time.

Question: Is it a requirement of the Federal Motor Carrier regulations for a driver to wear a safety belt while driving a commercial motor vehicle?

Answer: FMCSR 392.16 requires a driver to wear a safety belt while in operation of a Commercial Vehicle.

SEAT BELT MYTH’S

MYTH 1: Safety belts are uncomfortable and restrict movement.

FACT: A 2005 Transportation Research Board study on commercial drivers' safety belt usage found many drivers do not find wearing safety belts to be uncomfortable or too restrictive of their movements. Once they correctly adjust the seat, lap, and shoulder belt, most drivers find that discomfort and restrictive movement can be alleviated.

MYTH 2: Wearing a safety belt is a personal decision that does not affect anyone else.

FACT: Not wearing a safety belt can certainly affect your family and loved ones. It can also affect other motorists since wearing a safety belt can help you avoid losing control of your truck in a crash. It's the law; Federal regulations require commercial vehicle drivers to buckle up.

MYTH 3: Safety belts prevent your escape from a burning or submerged vehicle.

FACT: Safety belts can keep you from being knocked unconscious, improving your chances of escape. Fire or submersion occurs in less than 5% of fatal large truck crashes.

MYTH 4: It's better to be thrown clear of the wreckage in the event of a crash.

FACT: An occupant of a vehicle is four times as likely to be fatally injured when thrown from the vehicle. In 2004, 168 truck drivers died when they were ejected from their cabs during a crash.

MYTH 5: It takes too much time to fasten your safety belt 20 times a day.

FACT: Buckling up takes about three seconds. Even buckling up 20 times a day requires only one minute.

MYTH 6: Good truck drivers don't need to wear safety belts.

FACT: Good drivers usually don't cause collisions, but it's possible that during your career you will be involved in a crash caused by a bad driver, bad weather, mechanical failure, or tire blowout. Wearing a safety belt prevents injuries and fatalities by preventing ejection, and by protecting your head and spinal cord.

MYTH 7: A large truck will protect you. Safety belts are unnecessary.

FACT: In 2004, 634 drivers of large trucks died in truck crashes and 303 of those drivers were not wearing safety belts. Of the 168 drivers killed who were ejected from their vehicles, almost 75% were not wearing safety belts.

MYTH 8: Safety belts aren't necessary for low-speed driving.

FACT: In a frontal collision occurring at 30 mph, an unbelted person continues to move forward at 30 mph causing him/her to hit the windshield at about 30 mph. This is the same velocity a person falling from the top of a three-story building would experience upon impact with the ground.

MYTH 9: A lap belt offers sufficient protection.

FACT: The lap and shoulder belt design has been proven to hold a driver securely behind the wheel in the event of a crash, greatly increasing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle and minimizing the chance of serious injury or death.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/cmv-fact-myth-brochure.pdf

FMCSA ANNOUNCES INTENT TO PROCEED WITH SPEED LIMITER DEVICES

On Wednesday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a notice indicating that the agency will move forward with a rule to require speed-limiting devices on commercial vehicles.

In a Notice of Intent document published on April 27, the FMCSA “announces its intent to proceed with a speed limiter rulemaking by preparing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to follow up on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s and FMCSA’s jointly issued September 7, 2016 notice of proposed rulemaking on this subject.”

The FMCSA plans to propose that any commercial vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more be equipped with an electronic engine control unit (ECU) that will be capable of governing speed to a limit that will be determined during the rulemaking process.

Source

Prescription Drugs And Commercial Motor Vehicle Operation Do Not Always Mix

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 15:28:52 GMT

Over the recent years we have seen numerous high profile deaths occur using prescription drugs. For example we have seen an actor who died of an overdose of prescription drugs and a doctor on trial for the death of a famous musician who died as a result of an overdose of a prescribed medication.

As managers of commercial drivers we need to be aware of the medications that our drivers are taking as they may have a direct effect on their driving skills and operation of a CMV. Prescription

medications have increased substantially in the last 50 years.