Tag: #truckcarriers

FMCSA considering revisions to safety fitness determinations

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Photo Missouri DOT

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is asking for input on a possible new methodology for determining whether motor carriers are fit to operate safely.

The agency’s safety fitness determination process uses existing motor carrier data and data collected during compliance reviews to form a three-tiered rating system of satisfactory, conditional or unsatisfactory. In a notice published Aug. 29, the agency asks for stakeholder feedback on potential revisions to the process.

“The intended effect of this action is to more effectively use FMCSA data and resources to identify unfit motor carriers and to remove them from the nation’s roadways,” the notice states. “A successful SFD methodology may target metrics that are most directly connected to safety outcomes, provide for accurate identification of unsafe motor carriers and incentivize the adoption of safety-improving practices.”

FMCSA is seeking input on:

  • The need for a rulemaking to revise the regulations prescribing the safety fitness determination process.
  • Available science or technical information to analyze regulatory alternatives for determining the safety fitness of motor carriers.
  • Current agency safety fitness determination regulations, including feedback on the process and impacts.
  • Available data and costs for regulatory alternatives reasonably likely to be considered.

Additionally, the agency requests input on 12 specific questions related to safety fitness determinations, including whether to retain the three-tiered rating system.

FMCSA notes in the notice that its safety fitness determination system “is resource-intensive and reaches only a small percentage of motor carriers.” In fiscal year 2019, the agency and state partners conducted fewer than 12,000 compliance reviews among a population of more than 567,000 interstate motor carriers.

Comments are due Oct. 30.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

New survey asks: What are the trucking industry’s top concerns?

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What are the trucking industry’s top concerns?

Photo: FMCSA

Arlington, VA — Wanted: input from trucking industry stakeholders on the most critical issues facing the industry.

An annual survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute – the research arm of the American Trucking Associations – asks respondents to rank their top three issues from a selection of 26. The list includes:

Respondents can also submit concerns not included on the list.

“The annual Top Industry Issue Survey has long been a crucial part of understanding the challenges facing our country’s supply chain,” ATA Chair Dan Van Alstine said in a press release. “ATRI’s research provides an opportunity for thousands of trucking industry professionals, from drivers to executives, to weigh in on the most important topics that affect trucking and collectively decide on the best strategies for addressing each.”

The deadline to complete the survey is Sept. 29. The results are set to be released Oct. 14 during the 2023 ATA Management Conference and Exhibition in Austin, TX.

Fuel prices and a shortage of drivers were the top two concerns on the 2022 list. Multiple safety-related issues followed, including a lack of safe places for truckers to park (third) and detention/delay at customer facilities (sixth).

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

FMCSA proposes adjusting scope of regulatory relief during emergencies

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: FMCSA

Washington — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would “narrow the scope” of temporary hours-of-service exemptions and other regulatory relief for truckers during emergency declarations.

As outlined in a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Dec. 8 Federal Register, FMCSA is seeking to:

  • Modify the definition of “emergency” to clarify that emergency regulatory relief doesn’t apply to economic conditions caused by market forces, including material or supply shortages, labor strikes, or driver shortages, “unless such conditions or events cause an immediate threat to human life and result in a declaration of emergency.”
  • Remove the definition of “emergency relief” and amend the definition of “direct assistance” to adopt the vital components of the former definition of “emergency relief.”
  • Exempt drivers and motor carriers for five days – down from 30 – during regional emergency declarations issued by a governor, governor’s representative or FMCSA, and apply exemptions only from certain HOS regulations.

Presidential emergency declarations still would have 30-day exemptions and be applicable to current covered regulations, including those applying to driver qualification requirements and vehicle inspections.

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Trucking survey asks: What are the industry’s top concerns?

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

Photo property of FMCSA

Arlington, VA — Trucking industry stakeholders are encouraged to help identify the most critical issues facing the industry by participating in an annual survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute.

Respondents are asked to rank their top three issues from a selection of 28. The list includes:

Respondents can submit additional concerns not on the list, as well as suggest potential strategies for addressing each issue.

The survey results will be used to help ATRI, the research arm of the American Trucking Associations, develop possible strategies for the concerns.

“The annual Top Industry Issues Survey has long been a crucial part of understanding the issues facing our country’s supply chain,” ATA Chair Harold Sumerford Jr. said in a press release. “ATRI’s research provides a chance for thousands of trucking industry professionals, from drivers to executives, to weigh in on the most important topics that affect trucking and collectively decide on the best strategies for addressing each.”

The deadline to complete the survey is Oct. 7. Survey results are slated to be released Oct. 22 during the 2022 ATA Management Conference and Exhibition in San Diego.

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.