CSA Impacts on Drivers Explored in New ATRI Research

Interested in know how the Compliance, Safety and Accountability is progressing. We found this report available with three year’s of research.

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization, today released Compliance, Safety Accountability: Assessing the New Safety Measurement System and Its Implications – 2013 Update.  This is the first in a new series of ATRI white papers covering a multitude of research topics critical to the trucking industry.

This white paper expands on ATRI’s previous CSA impacts research among commercial drivers and enforcement personnel.  Approximately 7,800 driver responses were analyzed over a three-year period examining perceptions, attitudes and knowledge of CSA.  In addition, ATRI partnered with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to obtain a baseline level of enforcement personnel knowledge of CSA.

On average, drivers responded to the CSA knowledge test with 42.4 percent accuracy, suggesting that after three years of implementation drivers do not have a clear understanding of CSA.  However, on a more positive note carrier-provided CSA training has increased steadily since 2011.  Furthermore, driver job security concerns due to CSA have decreased by almost 10 percent over the three-year period.

Among enforcement personnel, respondents performed with 66.5 percent accuracy on the CSA knowledge test. 

ATRI is expanding on this study’s findings by investigating driver CSA training content and frequency and the relationship these variables have to CSA knowledge.  In addition, the enforcement personnel results provide a platform for further evaluation of enforcement personnel CSA knowledge and the potential impacts this may have on enforcement activities. 

A copy of this report is available from ATRI by clicking here.

ATRI is the trucking industry’s 501(c)(3) not-for-profit research organization. It is engaged in critical research relating to freight transportation’s essential role in maintaining a safe, secure and efficient transportation system.

SOURCE American Transportation Research Institute

Kenworth, Freightliner issue recalls for some ’13, ’14 model trucks

Paccar — parent company of Kenworth and Peterbilt — has issued a recall for 2014 year model Kenworth T170, T270, T370, T440, T470, T660, T680, T700, T800, T880, C500 and W900 trucks that were built between July 1, 2013, and Sept. 17, due to potential defect that can cause stop/tail/turn lights to not work.

The recall was issued Dec. 5.

The potential problem stems from the plastic housing of the stop/tail/turn lamp, as it can shrink and the bulb can fall out of its retention ring, the recall says, which can increase crash risk.

Kenworth will notify truck owners and dealers can replace the lamps with new ones. The recall will begin this month. Truck owners can contact Kenworth at 425-468-7400.

Daimler Trucks North America — parent company of Freightliner — also issued a recall in December, for 2013 and 2014 Freightliner Cascadia trucks built between Dec. 11, 2012,  and Nov. 27, 2013. The trucks are equipped with a Meritor Wabco electronically controlled air suspension, for which the wiring harness could be reversed.

The reverse connection could adjust the suspension axle hight incorrectly, the recall says, which would reduce driving traction or parking brake effectiveness.

Daimler will be notifying truck owners, and dealers can inspect the wiring and correct free of charge, the recall notes. The recall campaign will likely begin Feb. 16. Truck owners can contact Freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.

Trucking Calls on Washington to Have a Productive 2014

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — With Congress returning to Washington this week, leaders of American Trucking Associations called on lawmakers and policymakers in Washington to take several steps to improve the nation’s economy and make our highways safer.

“This time of year is a good one for self-reflection and analysis,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “We hope our leaders in Washington will take the necessary steps to make our roads safer and improve the flow of goods in our economy.”

ATA’s list includes:

• Identify sustainable, efficient and reliable funding for our nation’s roads and bridges rather than seeking out the “easy money” of tolls and privatization;
• Advance important safety technology rules, including ones that limit the speed of commercial vehicles and electronically record drivers’ hours-of-service;
• Be more precise in defining “large trucks” and in looking at crash accountability so the trucking industry’s safety record can be more accurately measured and understood;
• Analyze the first phase of the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for large trucks before hastily moving ahead with a second phase;
• Review and reconsider the recently changed hours-of-service rules – particularly the restart provision;
• Use data and science, rather than emotions, when reviewing and establishing truck size and weight regulations;
• Create a long-overdue clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results;
• Improve government data and databases, from CSA to security screenings and background checks to completing the long-overdue Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey;
• Work with state agencies to place far greater focus on commercial and noncommercial vehicle traffic enforcement rather than the current trend of more roadside vehicle inspections.

“January is a time when we take stock of where we stand and set goals for the coming year,” said ATA Chairman Phil Byrd, president of Bulldog Hiway Express, “and we sincerely hope that our government leaders will take some time to reflect and to take these common sense, and in some cases, long delayed actions to improve highway safety, the environment and the efficiency of our economy.”

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation’s freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It! 

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

Happy New Year

Be safe out there!

Happy Thanksgiving to Those Still on the Road

Let’s remember not everyone is home for the holidays. Many are working today whether driving, or providing trucking services, such as this truck stop attendant at ‘The World’s Largest Truckstop’ in Walcott, Iowa.

Mobile communications technology stands to transform the way truck inspections take place

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Intermodal Association of North America will demonstrate its paperless Driver Vehicle Examination Report Notification Service Nov. 18 at the Intermodal Expo next week in Houston, Texas.

Mobile communications technology stands to transform the way truck inspections take place, with big implications for the CSA program and owner-operator businesses.‘Wireless Roadside Inspection’ inches closer to reality

The technology provides intermodal equipment providers and motor carriers with paperless DVER access, retrieval and storage. The association collaborated with agency officials on the program, which it expects to modernize the process of obtaining IEP provider reports.

The new DVER service will notify IEPs and carriers when a DVER has been issued. It also provides a paper copy of the IEP provider report, which concerns intermodal chassis violations, and emails a IEP report copies to the carrier and the IEP. A dedicated web portal manages and stores the reports.

More information is available at www.intermodal.org

Troops2Truckers Helps Vets Become Professional Truck Drivers

  During 2013 and 2014, the United States Armed Forces will return nearly 30,000 troops from the Middle East, mostly from Afghanistan, back to the United States. As these men and women return, what we do know is that they return with a “new normal” that will impact where they go, how they live, and what type of jobs they will be more successful at.
       The goal of the Veteran Resource Network’s CDL training for veterans is to leverage as many existing resources as necessary in offering services to veterans. The Troops to Truckers program will further this goal but utilizing existing training, Veterans Affairs, veteran organizations, and other connections so that the only new elements created to provide these training opportunities are created to facilitate the breaking down of barriers to opportunity.
       Find out more at  http://troops2truckers.net/

NATIONAL FALLEN TRUCKERS MEMORIAL DAY

On behalf of Remembering Fallen Truckers group, I’m inviting all to join us on Nov 1st, this Friday for our 1st Annual “National Fallen Truckers Memorial Day”. Our day set aside to let the families know there is a great many of us fellow truckers and their families who wish to show our support for them during their time of loss and great sorrow. The reason for the date also is with the holiday season coming, many will not be home for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year and it can be very hard for the family.
Thanks. Dave L.

Don’t let cold weather make you blue!

It is that time of year again and the weather is changing. There are going to be some gorgeous places across the country as the leaves change color. But, that only means snow and ice are soon to follow. The mountains can be a beautiful place in the fall. And quite scary in the winter if you are  not prepared in advance.

Vehicle preparation takes on a whole new dynamic when cold weather sets in. Preparation is key. Your vehicle inspections demand a little closer focus.

Make sure your tires will meet the challenge. Its no time to take the risk with low tread. Make sure your coolant is fresh. And by all means this is no place to cut corners. You get what you pay for no matter what color those gallon jugs are. Stick with proven formulas and products. It’s not worth taking the chance. Fifty per cent mix is common, but if you are traveling a lot in the frigid north feel free to take it up to sixty per cent. Don’t forget your windshield washer fluid as well. Avoid the surprise of have your tank freeze up. And finally, check your batteries SOC (state of charging). It is a good idea to check them with a digital voltmeter. And if they are over three years old, you may want to make a switch headed into the winter season.

Be safe, and keep the thermos full.

– Ross Farris, Tennessee

Be Careful Out There

This just in…Driver robbed at Gunpoint in Texas.

At approximately 6:50 a.m., on Sunday morning, a truck driver who was parked at a Sunmart Truck Stop in Hill County, Texas, awoke to the sound of knocking at this truck door.

The driver got out of the bunk and went to the door to find two men asking for the driver’s help.

When the driver exited the truck to help the men, they pushed him agains the truck and pulled out a gun.  The men took the driver’s wallet.

Later in the day, police arrested three men in connection with the robbery.  The incident remains under investigation.  No further details have been released.