Hours of service regulations are designed to keep the roadways safe for all parties, from motorcycles to big rigs, and to help drivers stay healthy and alert. Hours of service rules are defined by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and must be adhered to in all 50 states.
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.
Important things to know about drug and alcohol testing for truck drivers
There are many protocols and procedures in place that can help to assure the safety of commercial drivers and all other people on the road. One of those categories of procedures involves drug and alcohol testing. Here is what you need to know about that type of testing for commercial drivers.
What is a truck inspection like?
The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all commercial vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds to undergo an annual truck inspection. This is to ensure that all equipment on the commercial vehicle works as it should to help improve public safety. The DOT conducts inspections at six different levels.
Three reasons to keep an eye on your CSA Score
Your CSA score is a measure of how well your business is complying with safety requirements mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This program is designed to review a carrier’s safety events and records and compare how well they align with industry standards and best practices.
4 common reasons for truck accidents
Truck drivers go through extensive training in order to do their jobs. Getting a CDL and operating a big rig isn’t easy. Of course, truck drivers get paid to, well, drive, so they put a lot of time and effort into getting trained to drive such a large vehicle. But even the most experienced, well-trained truck driver can be involved in an accident.
What is the FMCSA’s Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP)?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) keeps driver safety records contained within a program it calls the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). The data contains the safety record of each individual commercial driver, industry service provider, and carrier. Anyone with the proper credentials can access the MCMIS website 24 hours a day.
5 Safety Tips for Lowboy Trailers
If you’re hauling on lowboys, you know that no type of equipment, machinery, or industrial vehicle you haul is ever quite the same. You’re naturally a problem solver. Every day, you have to put your knowledge of synthetic webbing, winches, ratchets, friction mats and more to work so that you can make sure every load safely reaches its destination. You recognize that it’s not only the cargo at stake – it’s also the safety of everyone on the road and your business’s reputation.
7 Safe Winter Driving Tips for Truck Drivers
According to the Department of Transportation, bad weather causes 21% of vehicle accidents. A DOT study shows that heavy snow can slow freeway traffic down by 5-40%, and even light snow can decrease speeds by as much as 13%, increasing your drivers’ risks of having an accident. Taking steps to prepare your drivers for the increased challenges of winter will help keep your drivers safe and deliveries reaching their destinations on schedule.