Owner-Operator’s First Alcohol & Drug Clearinghouse Query Deadline Approaching

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse rule requires employers to monitor employees’ drug and alcohol violations. Employers must have drug and alcohol violation queries pulled from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse by Jan. 6, 2021. The rule applies to employers and commercial driver’s license (CDL) drivers. The FMCSA considers owner-operators…

Preventing Rear-End Crashes

Of the various causes of accidents, rear-end crashes are some of the most common and dangerous. According to the FMCSA, 400,000 trucks are involved in motor vehicle crashes each year, and 18% involve rear-end crashes. Rear-end crashes can occur for a variety of reasons, including poor driving conditions (e.g., low visibility, slippery roads or traffic…

Fall Driving Hazards

Driving in the fall creates a new set of seasonal risks for drivers. From shorter days to increased road obstacles, drivers need to be on guard for fall-related hazards and know how to prevent a crash. REDUCED VISIBILITY The fall season brings shorter days and reduced visibility while driving. This can affect your depth perception,…

Increase in FMCSA Offsite Compliance Reviews

The federal government issued pandemic-related regulatory guidance that allows offsite audits to determine carriers safety ratings — Satisfactory, Conditional or Unsatisfactory. Previously, regulations required FMCSA to conduct an onsite compliance review to issue an Unsatisfactory rating. That change has allowed the agency to conduct comprehensive safety reviews of fleets remotely instead of in-person, leading to…

FMCSA Updates/Extensions

New Hours of Service Changes take effect September 29th On June 1st, FMCSA published changes to truck driver hours of service rules in the Federal Register. The new changes – outlined below – become effective September 29, 2020. Short-Haul Operations Extends drivers’ maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours. Extends the air-mile radius within…