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A recently released study examining the safety of the 10th hour of driving as compared to the 11th finds that there is no increased safety risk with the additional driving hour. The study will likely to be used in an upcoming Final Rule that is expected to retain the 11th hour of driving. Part of the reason the Court of Appeals overturned the original Hours of Service rule was because FMCSA failed to adequately explain and document its decision-making.

In recent years, sleep researchers have likened the impaired performance of chronically tired truckers to drivers who are legally drunk. New research, recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience, illustrates that being sleep deprived even for a single night may be extremely dangerous for all drivers, including commercial motor vehicle operators.

Foley Services, Inc. is proud to announce the release of a new FREE White Paper, “The High Return on Investment of Drug Free Workplace Programs.” This news is just the latest in a long line of initiatives heralded by Foley Services to prevent the huge damage that drugs and alcohol are doing to the U.S. economy.

With leaders in both government and industry grasping for ways to lessen the impact of soaring fuel costs on the economy, Maine Senator Susan Collins recently introduced a bill that she believes will help alleviate some of the strain being placed on the trucking industry. The bill calls for allowing trucks carrying up to 100,000 pounds to travel on the Federal highway system whenever the price of diesel is higher than $3.50.

Roadcheck 2008 — the annual 72-hour commercial motor vehicle safety blitz — will be held June 3 to 5 on highways throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. This year’s round-the-clock safety initiative will involve approximately 10,000 Federal, state and local inspectors at local inspection sites and in roving patrols throughout North America.

High diesel prices are on the minds of pretty much every motor carrier in the country. Large or small, everyone in the industry is worried about how much fuel is costing them and how much it will cost them in the future. A quick look on the internet will prove that there are lots of ideas out there on how to save fuel.

Senate bill S2910, otherwise known as The Truthful Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs(TRUCC) Act, was introduced at the end of April and proposes to stop middlemen from taking fuel surcharges and not passing them on to the motor carrier.

While recent years have seen vast improvements in the area of workplace safety, with 5,840 workplace deaths in 2006 there is still much room for improvement. Next week, companies, associations and individuals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico will be observing the annual North American Occupational Safety and Health Week (NAOSH), which runs from May 4 – 10.

Driving under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs continues to be a leading cause of preventable death by injury in the United States. A new report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that in some states as many as one in four persons aged 18 or older put their lives and the lives of others at risk by driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) recently asked the Federal government to impose a national speed limit of 65 mph as a way to reduce fuel consumption and improve highway safety. The request for the national speed limit was included as one of several ways the Federal government could alleviate some of the strain being put on truckers because of record-breaking fuel prices.

Filling up at the gas pump used to be a fairly benign task. Now, for many, it has become a decidedly painful experience. Oil prices are at more than $100 per barrel, diesel prices have risen to more than $4 per gallon and gasoline is averaging $3.30 per gallon. The finger of blame is being pointed at the major oil companies who are boasting of record profits while Americans struggle to pay their fuel bills.

Truckers and others who earn a living traversing the nation’s highways may soon have a new tool to combat driver fatigue. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center (LRC) are currently investigating how exposure to light affects alertness, and they are using that understanding in a variety of practical applications.

While climate change and global warming have recently been receiving lots of attention in the mainstream, there have been few large-scale investigations about its potential impact on transportation. With this in mind, the Transportation Research Board of the National Research Council recently published a 234-page report investigating how climate change could affect the transportation industry and outlining steps transportation planners should take to mitigate its effects.

With the economy in a freefall and the price of fuel skyrocketing, these are hard times for the independent truck driver. Across the nation, owner-operators and small family firms are finding their operations are making less money. In an effort to help, here are five great tips for saving money during the tough economic times.

Over the last 19 years, company drug and alcohol testing programs have led to a substantial reduction in the number of positive drug test results among U.S. workers and job applicants.

On February 29, The Port of Norfolk, Va., became the most recent port to begin enrollment for the new Trade Worker Identification Card (TWIC), bringing the total number of ports that have begun preliminary enrollment to 78. The credential will eventually be mandatory for all workers, including many truckers, that require access to secure areas of ports.

Biodiesel usage is growing throughout the motor-carrier industry. Is biodiesel the fuel of the future or just another failed alternative fuel? There are several benefits to using biodiesel but motor carriers should be aware that there are several factors that they should consider before they switch over…

Few other professionals are as uniquely positioned to rate the nation’s roads as long-haul truckers. They have a cabs-eye view of all the potholes, cracks, traffic and construction in the nation. For the last 13 years Overdrive magazine has been asking them to identify the nation’s best and worst roads.

Due to the chronic shortage of long-haul drivers, trucking companies across the United States are being forced to rethink their recruitment strategies. Increasingly, companies are recruiting women, minorities, veterans and other groups not traditionally thought of as ‘typical’ long-haul drivers.

In part two of our series exploring the recommendations of the government report “Transportation for Tomorrow,” we explore its recommendation to replace the existing Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies with 10 programs that would report to one “parent” agency, which would be responsible for ensuring that the programs are working compatibly.

The California Supreme Court ruled last week that employers can fire employees who test positive for marijuana use even if they are taking the drug as recommended by a doctor. Furthermore, employees can be fired for using medical marijuana off-duty even if the use does not impact their job performance.

If the recommendations of a recent Transportation Commission report are followed, we could be facing a 5- to 8-cent Federal fuel tax increase every year for the next five years. The increase is the report's recommendation to avoid transportation funding shortfalls in the billions. The report says that if no action is taken, the Highway Trust Fund will face funding shortfalls of between $4 and $5 billion in 2009.

With the recent addition of four new Certified Substance Abuse Program Administrators (C-SAPAs), Foley Services now has twice as many C-SAPAs as its nearest competitor. The company’s newest C-SAPAs — Dale Bidwell, Amy Emonds, Crystal Barnes and Bruce Carlson — join the ranks of C-SAPAs Donald Lewis, Vincent Picciarelli, Roxanne Swidrak and Matt Wrobel.

A recent study has found that drivers who talk on a cell phone while driving take longer to travel the same distance as non-distracted drivers due to distracted drivers not changing lanes as often. With as much as 10 percent of the driving population using the phone at any one time, the cumulative effects of distracted drivers could be a contributing factor in increasing highway congestion throughout the country.

Hours-of-Service Debate Continues

Less than 10 days after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its plans to retain the 11-hour driving limit and 34-hour restart rules, five groups filed a challenge asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., to set aside the Interim Final Rule (IFR).

All Drivers Urged to be Especially Cautious during Holiday Season

With the height of the holiday season just around the corner, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has been hard at work educating the public about the increased dangers of driving during the holiday season. The Christmas and New Year’s holidays have seen dramatic increases in accidents relating to impaired drivers each year since 1982, the year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began keeping records.

Foreign Truckers on U.S. Roads

The contentious issue of foreign truckers operating on U.S. roads recently raised its head again. This time, the subject was resurrected because of remarks made by former Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino in a July 24 interview in Traffic World magazine.

Clean Diesel Has Arrived

The change to ultra-low-sulfur diesel has begun. Beginning June 1st 80% of the diesel produced by U.S. refiners and importers is required to be ULSD. (Note - refiners and importers are allowed to average their production between June 1 and the end of the year in order to arrive at the 80% figure.)

Push On For Federal Truck Speed Limits

A number of the largest for-hire motor carriers in the U.S. have joined forces with a public safety interest group in filing a petition with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The petition seeks a federal mandate to require that electronic speed governors in class 7 and 8 trucks be set at no more than 68 mph.

Federal Appeals Court Issues 90-Day Stay of HOS Decision

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in late September delayed for 90 days the implementation of its ruling to eliminate two hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. The July 24 Court decision called for the elimination of the 34-hour restart and the 11-hour driving limit rules.

Most Illicit Drug Users and Heavy Alcohol Users Hold Full-Time Jobs

According to a recently released study, the majority of the US’s approximately 16.4 million illicit drug users and 15 million heavy alcohol users hold full-time jobs. The study also found that drug users and heavy drinkers were more likely to have higher levels of absenteeism and more job changes.

Drug-Free Work Week is October 14 - 20

The Department of Labor has announced that the annual Drug Free-Work Week will be celebrated throughout the nation from October 14 - 20. Drug Free Work Week is the perfect way to highlight that a drug-free workplace is key to protecting workplace safety and health.

Driver Appreciation Week to Celebrate America's Truckers

The 2007 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week will take place from August 26 – September 1, 2007. The annual observance celebrates the men and women who deliver goods throughout the country. The week is the perfect time to let the truckers in your personal and professional life know how important they are.

ECM “Black Boxes” – Snitches or Saviors?

Whether you like it or not there is a passenger in every one of your trucks. Silent, unseen, always on duty and constantly recording information. Virtually every commercial truck on the road today is equipped with an onboard-computerized “black box.”

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has developed and made available on its website, a series of informative product guides that provide information on various safety and security systems available to the trucking industry.

Saving Money and Lives by Focusing on Driver’s Health

Let’s face it, truck driving does not lend itself to a healthy lifestyle. Besides the stress of driving, most long-haul truck drivers don’t get enough sleep, eat poorly, and get limited exercise. In addition, except for the required CDL physical exam every two years, truckers are notorious for avoiding checkups and other preventative medical care

New Programs Target Unsafe Drivers – Not Truckers

For years truck drivers and the trucking industry have complained that they are singled out and blamed for crashes which weren’t their fault. For decades, say those in the industry, truckers and motor carriers have provided easy targets for legislators, lawyers, and so-called “safety advocates” who have piled on regulations, fines, and requirements, all in the name of increasing highway safety.

Major Developments on the Mexican Truck Plan

In our March 5th edition we reported on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) plan to begin a demonstration project that will allow up to 100 Mexican trucking companies unrestricted access to U.S. highways. (See 03/05/2007 DOT to Allow Mexican Trucks in the U.S.)

Looking Towards the Next Highway Bill

Though we are only halfway through the 2005 SAFETEA-LU highway bill authorization, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and other industry and transportation groups are already planning for the next round of negotiations and lobbying for the 2009 highway authorization bill.

Fighting Driver Fatigue

According to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) report, driver fatigue plays a role in 13% of all truck crashes. (Other agencies place the number even higher at 30% to 40%.) In addition some 15,000 people die each year in fatigue related accidents involving motor vehicles of all types.

The True Costs of “Cheap” Background Checks

There are costs for everything you do. And in some cases there are costs for things you don’t do. For employers the costs of not doing an adequate and complete pre-employment background check can mean huge damage awards, and possibly, the loss of a business.

The Box That Changed The World

51 years ago an event occurred which revolutionized the transportation industry and changed forever the way global trade is conducted. As is often the case with such events, it stemmed from an idea which now seems simple and obvious yet at the time was seen as radical and threatening to the established way of conducting business.

The 2007 FMCSA Rulemaking Agenda

An interesting meeting involving a number of federal agencies including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently took place at, of all places, the Swedish embassy in Washington D.C. The embassy was host to a global traffic safety seminar entitled “The Safe Way Home.” Participants included representatives from U.S. and Swedish traffic safety agencies as well as researchers and industry experts.

TSA Hazmat Truck Tracking Center

Since January of this year, terrorists in Iraq have adopted a new and ominous strategy – attacking and blowing up trucks carrying hazardous chemicals in heavily populated areas. One such attack in late February targeted a chlorine tanker truck travelling in a Baghdad suburb.

What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You

If you are an employer, business owner, human resources manager, or in any way responsible for hiring new employees, these recent news items should be of interest.

Speed Limiters Comment Period Closing

Time is running out for interested parties to submit their comments to the federal government on the controversial issue of setting the speed limiters on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to a maximum of 68 MPH.

DOT to Allow Mexican Trucks in the U.S.

In a move aimed at ending a decade-long stalemate, the U.S. Department of Transportation on Feb. 22nd announced a one-year pilot project to open the U.S. – Mexican border to 100 Mexican trucking companies who will have unrestricted access to U.S. highways nationwide

New FMCSA Programs to Focus on Problem CDL Drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA, has announced plans to add another level to the current Inspection Selection System, ISS. This new inspection level will screen drivers in the same manner as the current ISS screens vehicles belonging to commercial motor carriers.

Trucking’s Top 10 Issues

A recently published survey of the top issues confronting the U.S. trucking industry provides some useful insights into the industry and the concerns that many in the industry have for its future.

Onboard Diagnostics for Large Trucks Beginning in 2010

For the first time the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) is proposing a requirement for large diesel and gasoline powered trucks to be equipped with onboard diagnostic (OBD) systems to insure that the vehicle’s emission control systems are working properly.

Counterfeit Parts – A Matter of Safety

Think “counterfeit” and what usually comes to mind is currency and $10 “Rolex” watches sold on city street corners. What usually doesn’t come to mind are safety-sensitive automobile and truck parts. However, for many in the transportation industry that may be changing.

Privatizing Public Roads

On January 8th 2007, Transportation Department Secretary Mary Peters announced that the Department has created “model” legislation for States to use in setting up Public Private Partnerships (PPP) that will, according to the Department, “give States flexibility to contract with the private sector to invest in and manage transportation infrastructure.

Hours of Service Survey – A Cause for Concern?

A recent online survey about the hours of service compliance rates of CDL truck drivers showed some disturbing if not surprising results. More than three-quarters of the drivers who participated in the survey admitted to deliberately violating the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) hours of service regulations.

Hot Fuel is a Hot Issue

The trucking community and ordinary motorists are not often seen as having much in common. However they do share a common interest in getting what they pay for when they buy fuel.

Crossing the Border Will Soon Require ACEs

Time is running short for cross border carriers who have not yet signed up for the new U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, electronic manifest program known as ACE, Automated Commercial Environment. ACE is designed to expedite cross border trade and at the same time enhance border security.

Idle Reduction – Laws and Technologies

The Environmental Protection Administration, EPA, recently released a model idling law that the agency hopes will be used by States and localities to develop consistent truck-idling regulations nationwide. The EPA model law is a suggestion and has no regulatory impact on either the trucking industry or local governments.

Trucking By The Numbers

Trucking, like baseball, lends itself to statistics. These statistics can be used for in-depth analysis by industry and government officials, or as answers to trivia questions over dinner at a truckstop. They can also provide an interesting snapshot of an industry that is in a constant state of change.

Large-Truck Accident Injuries and Fatalities Drop in ‘05

According to preliminary statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 2005 saw a minor decline in the number of fatalities resulting from large-truck crashes, from 5,235 in 2004 to 5,212 in 2005.

Driver Shortage Tops Industry Leader’s Concerns

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has released its list of the top ten issues currently facing the U.S. trucking Industry. Some 4000 trucking executives participated in the 2006 Critical Issues in Trucking survey conducted by the research arm of the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

Biodiesel – Promises and Problems

In the closing days of 2005 the eyes of many in the trucking industry were on Minnesota, as the nation’s first law mandating the use of biodiesel fuel took effect.

Where’s My Trailer?

In the trucking industry, that question is unfortunately not a rare one. Trailers become “lost in the system” for any number of reasons ranging from outright theft to erroneous movement or parking by drivers, subcontractors and shippers.

The Department of Homeland Security, DHS, recently announced the long-awaited details of how it will implement the first phase of the new Transportation Workers Identification Credential, TWIC, program.

Reducing Railroad Crossing Accidents

The old saying goes that in traffic accidents the big guy usually wins. In train-truck collisions the train is the big guy. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) there are more than 700 truck and bus highway-rail grade crossing collisions in the U.S. each year.

FMCSA Plans for 2010

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is planning for the future and is seeking input from concerned parties on how the agency can more effectively and efficiently fulfil its mandate of reducing commercial motor vehicle crashes, fatalities, and injuries.

Truck Parking – Oasis on the Interstate

As virtually any driver will tell you, one of the toughest parts of the job isn’t the driving, it’s the parking. Almost universally, truckers cite the need for more truck parking spaces, particularly along the highly congested freight corridors east of the Mississippi.

Trucking Fleets Going High Tech

The Space Age has come to the trucking industry. Today, the average 18-wheeler operated by a midsize to large motor carrier, has more computing power aboard it than did the Apollo spacecraft that carried men to the moon in 1969.

Foreign Truckers on U.S. Roads

Clean Diesel Has Arrived

The change to ultra-low-sulfur diesel has begun. Beginning June 1st 80% of the diesel produced by U.S. refiners and importers is required to be ULSD.

U.S. Citizenship Checks for CDL Drivers

The U.S. Senate recently approved a comprehensive Port Security Bill that included an amendment that would require the Department of Transportation (DOT) to insure that all CDL applicants are U.S. citizens or are legally residing in the country.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA, recently solicited “comments, suggestions and creative ideas” for a project which could revolutionize the current, cumbersome, safety inspection process.

The Highway Watch Program - Transportation Professionals Stand Guard

In 2004 the Department of Homeland Security in conjunction with the American Trucking Association began funding a program aimed at utilizing a unique resource in the war on terror.

Ribbons Across the Land - The Interstate System Turns 50

It seems that it has been around forever, and most of us use it without giving it a second thought.

Truck Sales Surging As 2007 Deadline Approaches

The good news is that truck sales for 2006 appear to be heading for record levels, as many in the industry had been predicting.

Danger in the Work Zone

Truck drivers are used to dealing with a variety of hazardous road conditions. Many of these conditions occur naturally, severe weather for example.

Bottlenecks-Millions of Hours, Billions of Dollars

The Federal Highway Administration, FHWA, has released a new study, “An Initial Assessment of Freight Bottlenecks on Highways,”

Electronic On-Board Recorders Will Paper Logbooks Survive?

Sometime before the middle of the year the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA, is expected to issue

Virtual Driver Training on the Rise

For decades high tech training simulators have been associated with such elite occupations as military and commercial airline pilots, astronauts, etc.

Truckers Will Need Passports or FAST Cards by 2008

A provision of a bill signed into law last year will require all US citizens, including truckers, to have a passport or other government specified ID,

New Studies Find Higher Crash Risk in the 11th Hour of Driving

MCS-150 and MCS-150B Forms

According to the DOT, every 24 months, all motor carriers must complete an MCS-150 or MCS-150B Form

Two New DOT Operating Agencies Replace Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)
Do you now know who oversees your hazardous materials safety compliance?

Set-Up, Audit, and Maintain Your Driver Qualification Files
A quick and easy way to help you stay ahead of all necessary driver documentation..

Year-in-Review (Part II): Recap of Regulation Changes in 2004
Summarizing July-December regulation changes in 2004 including Hiring a Driver, Medical Exams, Hours-of-Service, New Part 40 Interpretations, Mandatory Safety Permits, and Random Selections...

Year-in-Review: Recap of Regulation Changes in 2004
Summarizing January-June regulation changes include tying down cargo, Hours-of-Service, OSHA Posting, Safety Performance, and more...

The Importance of Reviewing Alcohol Test Results.
What would you do if one of your safety-sensitive employees had an alcohol test result of 0.043 AC?

Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors!
Federal regulations state "Each employer must train supervisors on both drug and alcohol use...

HazMat Security Awareness Training Video Meets Mandatory Federal Requirements
New HazMat Initial Security Awareness training video meets RSPA's Initial Security Awareness Training requirements...

Sexual Harassment Training Package for the Workplace
Foley Services introduces a new, comprehensive, definitive Sexual Harassment Training Package and Video...

Foley Services Introduces Weekly DOT Safety Regulation Update Newsletter!
Weekly newsletter monitors, interprets, and reports DOT compliance and safety changes...

NEW! Training Video for Employees Who FAIL a DOT Drug or Alcohol Test
When a safety-sensitive employee fails a drug or alcohol test, or violates any DOT drug and alcohol prohibitions, he/she must complete the extensive Return-to-Duty Process as defined in 49 CFR Part 40...

ALL HazMat Drivers Subject to $83-103 Fees for Background Checks
Transportation Security Administration proposes new fees to cover fingerprinting and background screening costs..."

FMCSA Clarifies Current Requirements for Hours-of-Service/Duty Status Compliance and Proposes Minor Changes
On November 3, 2004 the FMCSA published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rule Making (SNPRM)...

New Folder and Form Paks to Meet Updated 49 CFR Part 391 Requirements
We have developed new folder and form paks to help you meet the new 49 CFR Part 391 requirements when you interview and hire new drivers...

Information on the New 49 CFR Part 391 Regulations
What you need to know to comply with the new mandatory FMCSA 49CFR Part 391 regulations...

Changes to FMCSA 49 CFR Part 382 Issued August 17
The New Part 382 (revised drug and alcohol testing regulations for employers who must meet FMCSA requirements) is effective immediately...

Regulation Updates and Several New Products to Help you Comply
New DOT Collections Guidelines and Compliant Training; U.S. Coast Guard Conforming News; FMCSA Part 382 and new compliant products...

New 49 CFR Part 40 in Effect / Delay in Part 382
Important Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Details Resulting from the New Part 40...

Revisions to the new FMCSA 49 CFR Part 40 Released
We received technical amendments to the new 49CFR Part 40 and explanations of the necessity for the changes...

Pre-Employment Alcohol Testing Permitted in New 49CFR Part 40
New 49 CFR Part 40 specifically authorizes employers to conduct pre-employment alcohol test...

What's New with Mandatory Employee Background Screening Checks?
All businesses benefit from performing some type of background check...

When You Should Verify a Vendor's Drug and Alcohol Testing Program
A conflict found in FMCSA interpretation on issue of what program an Owner/Operator needs to be in...

MROs Must Disclose Medical Information to Employers Under New 49 CFR Part 40
As-of August 1, 2001 49 CFR Part 40 requires disclosure of employee medical information...

Revised 49CFR Part 40 Issued December 19, 2000
Department of Transportation issues the "Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Programs; Final Rule..."

The Final Version of the New 49 CFR Part 40 Regulations