Safety

We don’t have to tell you that trucking businesses face a lot of risks. The roads aren’t always the safest place, and that’s why it’s so important to take steps to emphasize and improve safety at your truck business. While this is beneficial because it will lessen the chance of your drivers and employees getting hurt, safety can also help you avoid truck insurance claims. In turn, that can help your truck insurance rates.

The following articles give suggestions and tips for improving different areas of safety at your business. Take some time to check out the various topics that we explore in the articles. We’ll explain the dangers of distracted driving, the importance of pre-trip vehicle inspections and preventive maintenance, why you should always wear a seatbelt, and more. Safety is an ongoing process, so it’s important to always be looking for ways to make your business a little safer. The following articles might help you think of ways to do that.

Brake Safety Inspection Week Blitz is September 15 to 21

Brake Safety Inspection Week

Every year since 1998, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has sponsored Brake Safety Inspection week in September. This year’s event, which takes place between Sunday, September 15 and Saturday, September 21, will feature random roadside inspections on commercial vehicles located throughout North America. The CVSA works in close association with law enforcement officials to conduct approximately 30,000 surprise inspections each year during Brake Safety Inspection Week.

Read moreBrake Safety Inspection Week Blitz is September 15 to 21

How do I request a trucking medical exemption or waiver?

How can you get a medical exemption?

As part of its commitment to keep America’s roadways safe, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all drivers to submit to regular physical exams. Those with a known condition such as diabetes or vision problems that could impact safety must carry a medical card from the Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT operates an exemption program for drivers who typically drive interstate, which means they travel outside of their state of origin and potentially out of the country.

Read moreHow do I request a trucking medical exemption or waiver?

What does the FMCSA do?

What does the FMCSA do?

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) established the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on January 1, 2000. This was in response to passage of the 1999 Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act. Prior to the 1999 legislation, the FMCSA was one division of the Federal Highway Administration. The primary purpose of the FMCSA is to prevent injuries and fatalities caused by commercial drivers. It employs approximately 1,000 people and maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Read moreWhat does the FMCSA do?

What is my Company Snapshot?

Company Snapshot

Your business’s safety record plays a huge role in everything from the way customers see your business to the way you manage risk. Being able to tell where you stand at a glance can help you spot the early signs of trouble, or give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are on the right track. Your Company Snapshot is designed to do just that – to give you the details you need to understand where you stand and what you’re doing right (and what you can improve).

Read moreWhat is my Company Snapshot?

What is the MCMIS? (Motor Carrier Management Information System)

MCMIS

Regulations surrounding safety increase in complexity and number every year; any time a new regulation is introduced, the data needs to be collected and stored in a way that makes it accessible to authorized parties. Safety data, inspection details, and other information need to be stored in a secure, easy to access location. To accomplish this, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration uses a variety of databases and systems – such as the MCMIS.

Read moreWhat is the MCMIS? (Motor Carrier Management Information System)

What do I do when my medical certificate and/or variance is about to expire?

Medical certificate/variance

As part of its requirements for the Driver Fitness portion of its Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC) program, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers to undergo a medical examination to prove fitness for duty. Drivers must then present a copy of the medical certificate to the State Driver License Agency (SDLA) in the state where they received their commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Read moreWhat do I do when my medical certificate and/or variance is about to expire?

How can a carrier improve in the Driver Fitness BASIC?

Improve in the Drive Fitness BASIC

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains seven categories in its Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) program to provide standards in which to evaluate driver safety. Driver Fitness is one of the seven BASICs. Inspectors rank drivers who have a similar number of safety events such as crashes, violations, or lack of proper recordkeeping, against each other to determine a percentile rank.

Read moreHow can a carrier improve in the Driver Fitness BASIC?

What is a Cooperative Safety Plan (CSP) and are motor carriers required to develop one?

Find out what a Cooperative Safety Plan is.

A cooperative safety plan (CSP) is a voluntary structured plan that motor carriers file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The purpose of the plan is for the motor carrier to address any underlying issues that have or could potentially lead to safety issues and improve its performance.

Read moreWhat is a Cooperative Safety Plan (CSP) and are motor carriers required to develop one?

How can a carrier improve in the Crash Indicator BASIC?

It's important to understand your Crash Indicator BASIC.

Crash Indicator is one of the seven factors that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) considers when ranking driver safety relative to other drivers who have experienced a similar number of crashes, failed inspections, violations, and related events. It is part of the BASIC program, which stands for Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category. Currently, the FMCSA allows only law enforcement officials, trucking company management, and the drivers themselves to see Crash Indicator data when logging into its system and searching under the driver’s safety profile.

Read moreHow can a carrier improve in the Crash Indicator BASIC?