CSA, DataQ, SMS: What’s the Difference?

CSA, DataQ, SMS: What’s the Difference? By Nidasha Willis If you’re a truck driver or trucking company, you may hear acronyms like SMS, CSA, and DataQ tossed around a lot. In this short blog, we’ll teach you how to distinguish the three, why they’re useful to you, and how they facilitate safety. Let’s get started.[…]

a coronavirus illustration representing the impact that the pandemic has had on the trucking industry

How COVID-19 Has Impacted the Trucking Industry

As COVID-19 has spread across the world, it’s impacted all aspects of our “normal.” The trucking industry is no exception. While non-essential businesses shut down immediately to prevent further spread, truckers remained operational. After all, who else would continue to move essential items to and from hospitals and stores? Here’s everything you need to know[…]

Radio Nemo Interview with Gorilla Safety CEO at GATS 2019

LIVE from the Great American Trucking Show 2019 Radio Nemo interviewed Gorilla Safety’s CEO, Mark Walton, discussing the looming ELD Mandate deadline and how easy it is to make the transition from AOBRD to ELD. Tune in to hear more about the benefits of ELDs and the changes for drivers editing capabilities. Other topics covered include[…]

If You Employ CDL Drivers, You’re Going To Need A Query Plan For The Drug And Alcohol Clearinghouse

With the registration for the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse a few months away, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced the Query Plan options for employers conducting queries in the Clearinghouse. The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is designed to help monitor drivers that are not legally permitted to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) due to drug[…]

FMCSA Announced the Proposed Changes to the Hours of Service Rules

Wednesday, August 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the long awaited changes they suggest for the Hours of Service (HOS) rules. “This proposed rule seeks to enhance safety by giving America’s commercial drivers more flexibility while maintaining the safety limits[…]

Freightliner is now delivering the electric eCascadia truck to customers

On August 12, 2019, Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) announced that they are ready to start deliveries of their eCascadia all-electric semi trucks to customers. According to Freightliner, Penske Truck Leasing and NFI will be the first companies to employ the eCascadia in their commercial operations. The trucks are part of the Freightliner Electric[…]

Over 1,600 Trucks Placed Out-of-Service During Brake Inspection Blitz

On May 15, 2019, more than 1,600 commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) were placed out-of-service (OOS) for critical brake violations during a surprise brake safety inspection blitz. Surprise Brake Inspection Blitz One day only, fifty-five jurisdictions in the United States and Canada participated in a surprise brake inspection blitz and reported the results to the Commercial[…]

What You Need To Know About The IRT Model Replacing Current CSA Scores

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently working on an Item Response Theory (IRT) Model that will replace the current Safety Measurement System (SMS) used for CSA Scores. SMS identifies commercial motor vehicle (CMV) carriers at high risk for future crashes. The IRT Model will focus on “safety culture” rather than trying to predict[…]

Improve Your Safety Score By Keeping Up With Repair And Maintenance

Being placed out-of-service during a roadside inspection is the last thing any successful fleet wants. An inspection that turns up simple, ridiculous and expensive violations disrupts time on the road delivering cargo. Too many inspection violations can make your safety score plummet. Potential customers will see the low safety score as proof that your company is[…]

Texas, Are You Ready For The ELD Mandate December 2019?

The Texas ELD mandate is coming December 19, 2019. Texas commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) driving intrastate must make sure that their fleet is in sync with the new requirements to remain compliant. Texas has updated their Hours of Service (HOS) code with a ruling that follows the guidelines put in place by the Federal Motor Carrier[…]

Final Driver Training Rule Has Been Delayed For 2 Years

The Final Ruling that will set the standard of training for drivers applying for a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) has been delayed for 2 years. Despite the delay, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) insists the new curriculum and training will still take effect on February 7, 2020. Driver Trainers and State Driver Licensing[…]

Hours-Of-Service Proposed Rule Set To Debut July 31

After much delay, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has reset the projected date of publication for the new and improved “flexible” Hours-of-Service (HOS) Rule to July 31, 2019. This date was released by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in the June 2019 Significant Rulemaking Report. The proposed driver’s HOS Ruling was set to debut[…]

Gorilla Safety Offers Asset Tracking For ANY Business With Advanced GPS

Ever feel like you can’t find your trucks or trailers? Tired of not knowing what’s going on around your business? You can’t leave yourself in the position of not knowing where your $160,000 truck and $75,000 trailer are. Gorilla Safety has you covered. With Advanced GPS Tracking, you know where your company’s assets are at[…]

House passes Funding Bill that bars the DOT from eliminating the 30-minute Break Rule

On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2020 government funding bill. Stipulations were placed on this bill that requires motor carrier’s ratings with the DOT’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program to be made public within 6 months. The stipulations placed on this bill, H.R. 3055, were fought by the House Rules[…]

Brake Safety Inspection Week 2019

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced that this year’s Brake Safety Week is scheduled for September 15-21, 2019. Although inspections happen all year long, there are several inspection blitzes a year focusing on different aspects of commercial motor vehicles (CMV). While checking brake systems is always part of the North American Standard Inspection Program,[…]

U.S. DOT launches program to help Veterans and Reservists find jobs in the Trucking Industry

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced Monday, June 17, 2019, that they are accepting applications for a pilot program to permit younger drivers between the ages of 18 to 21 with the U.S. Military’s equivalent of a commercial drivers license (CDL) to operate large trucks in interstate commerce. During the pilot program, which is[…]

USDA Clarifies the Rules Regulating Hemp Transport After Drivers Arrest

There has been a lot of confusion about hemp’s legal status due to a recent high-profile arrest of a driver hauling industrial grade hemp from Oregon to Colorado. When driver Denis Palmurchuk was arrested by Idaho State Police for transporting 7,000 pounds of industrial hemp and charged with smuggling marijuana, the U.S. Department of Agriculture[…]

FMCSA Seeking Data on Detention Times When Loading & Unloading

Driver detention times have long been an issue in the transportation industry affecting driver pay and increasing the risk of accidents. According to results from research done on Driver Detention Times in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations, “drivers experienced detention time during approximately 1 in every 10 stops for an average duration of 1.4 hours. This represents[…]

The ELD Mandate: Improving Safety Through Technology

The ELD Mandate goes into effect when the AOBRD grandfather provision expires, December 16, 2019. At this point, Phase 3 of the ELD Rule begins. Drivers and Motor Carriers subject to the ELD Rule must use ELDs registered with the FMCSA to remain compliant. How do ELDs Work? ELDs synch with the CMV engine to automatically record:[…]

2019 International Roadcheck: What to Expect During a Level I Inspection

With the International Roadcheck Inspection going on this week, June 4-6, CVSA-certified inspectors will be conducting numerous Level I – North American Standard Inspections. An average of 17 commercial vehicles are inspected every minute during this 72-hour blitz. Every year, during the CVSA’s Roadside Inspection spree, inspectors focus on a specific category of violations. This year,[…]

Houston Bus Company Fined by DOJ for Hiring H-2B Foreign Workers over Americans

On May 29, 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement against a Houston transportation company, El Expreso Bus Company. El Expreso has been charged with hiring imported foreign workers on the H-2B visa over eligible Americans. The H-2B Program The H-2B program allows US employers to import and hire up to 66,000 foreign[…]

AOBRD vs. ELD: Do you know the difference?

The ELD Mandate is less than a year away and there have been a lot of questions from drivers and enforcement personnel concerning the difference between grandfathered automatic onboard recording devices (AOBRDs) and electronic logging devices (ELDs). With AOBRDs still in use until December, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two devices. What’s[…]

Automated Driving Vehicles Under Review

The US Department of Transportation is taking a look into the necessary steps required to test Automated Driving Systems (ADS) Technologies. The FMCSA released an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) on May 22 requesting public comment on the questions regarding the regulations that surround human operators and how they may differ for ADS.[…]

motivated truck driver

Updated Driver Training Regulations Cuts the Cost by $18 Million Annually

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the Final Rule updating driver training regulations and saving an estimated cost of $18 million annually. Entry-Level Driver Training The Final Rule updates the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) Regulations put in place December of 2016. This rule implements a new Class A CDL theory instruction that reduces[…]

FMCSA Seeking Public Comment on 18-21 Year Old Drivers and the New HOS Rule

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is currently seeking public comments on the 2nd Pilot Program under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act that will allow 18 – 21 year old non-military drivers to operate commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. Subsequently, there will be a new Hours of Service (HOS) Rule debuting[…]

Falcon Transport Closes Abruptly Leaving Hundreds Unemployed

On April 27, 2019 employees of Falcon Transport, a trucking company from Youngstown, Ohio, received emails stating that the company was shut down – effective immediately. "All Falcon Employees, We regret to inform you that Falcon Transport Co. is not able to continue operations and will be shutting down effective today. Please stop any work[…]

$900 Million Available in Infrastructure Grant Funds through BUILD

On April 22, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, Elaine L. Chao, announced the availability of $900 million in Infrastructure Grant Funds. The Department of Transportation’s announcement was a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for funding through BUILD Transportation Discretionary Grants program. To view the Notice of Funding Opportunity, click here. BUILD stands for the[…]

5 Things You Need to Know About the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse

On January 6, 2020, the FMCSA and DOT will implement the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse will help to monitor drivers that are not legally permitted to operate a Commercial Motor Vehicle due to drug or alcohol violations. The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will be used to enforce the rules already in place regarding[…]

5 year Exemption granted to Agricultural Haulers by the FMCSA

On April 15, 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted the Agricultural and Food Transporters an exemption allowing for new cargo securement methods to be implemented until 2024. The FMCSA partners with industry, safety advocates, and state and local governments to keep our roadways safe and improve CMV safety. What does the 5 year[…]

The ELD Mandate: Don’t wait to transition from AOBRD to ELD

This is an important time in the trucking industry and compliance is vital. Phase 3 of the ELD Rule being implemented is fast approaching and the AOBRD grandfather provision will expire. On December 16, 2019, Drivers and Motor Carriers subject to the ELD Rule must use self-certified ELD’s registered with the FMCSA. Self-Certification is the[…]

National Work Zone Awareness Week

On average, over 700 fatalities occur in work zones each year determined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). 2019 National Work Zone Awareness Week In an effort to protect our drivers and workers, the FMCSA created National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW). NWZAW is an annual event bringing awareness to work zone safety[…]

a trucker preparing for the CVSA's annual inspection blitz

CVSA Announces Annual Inspection Blitz

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced two annual events to improve road safety among commercial vehicles. The first is the International Roadcheck set for June 5 through June 7, a 72-hour blitz across North America to check driver and commercial vehicle compliance. The second is the annual Operation Safe Driver Week set for July[…]

truck driver marijuana

The Impact of Legalized Marijuana on the Trucking Industry

  Right now, four states and Washington D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana usage. Other states allow medical marijuana for the treatment of certain illnesses, diseases, and disorders. While legalization has not taken place at the federal level and there are plenty of drivers who don’t live in states where it is legal, it’s still having[…]

a very tired trucker

Why Are Truckers So Tired?

When an accident happens involving a trucker, fatigue is often one of the reasons listed. The 2014 accident involving Tracy Morgan made national headlines, but it’s not an uncommon story. Unfortunately, a lot of truckers are tired. The question that people don’t always ask is, “Why?” Time Spent Behind the Wheel The 14 hour drive[…]

intake form for a truck driver that needs to improve his health

Improving Truck Driver Health

Since 2010, 70,000 drivers have been pulled from the roads due to new regulations about driver health by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These drivers didn’t have a hangnail or a simple cough. Many of them were diagnosed with serious diseases like uncontrolled high blood pressure, advanced diabetes, sleep apnea, and obesity. The[…]

an iphone filled with apps for truckers to use while on the road.

Top Apps for Truckers

A 2013 survey of truck drivers showed that almost 80% use a smartphone and more than 90% download apps to their phone. There’s no doubt that number has grown over the last few years. Even though we use our phones for personal things like email, texting our family, and playing games while we’re in waiting[…]

millennial truck driver

Millennial Truck Drivers?

The idea of a 20-something driving a tractor-trailer down a busy highway may sound unlikely but with a serious driver shortage, Millennials may be exactly what the trucking industry needs. Is the transportation industry doing enough to capture the attention the attention of the Millennial generation? The answer is that yes and no. Understanding the[…]