The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) is rolling out a new program called Clearinghouse, and it will usher in some big changes for truckers. It’s going to be operational in January 2020, and that’s going to be here before we know it.
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.
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.
What is my 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.
What is the MCMIS? (Motor Carrier Management Information System)
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.
What do I do when my medical certificate and/or variance is about to expire?
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.
How can a carrier improve in the Driver 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.
What is a Cooperative Safety Plan (CSP) and are motor carriers required to develop one?
A cooperative safety plan (CSP) is a voluntary structured plan that motor carriers file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
How can a carrier improve in the 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.
How can a carrier improve in the HOS (Hours of Service) Compliance BASIC?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains a program called Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category (BASIC) that ranks drivers in seven categories. One of these is Hours of Service compliance.