Restart Change Increased Crashes | FMCSA Safety Incentives

Restart Study Released

Shift To Daytime Driving Increases Crashes

A study of the July, 2013, restart provision changes has just been released by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI). The intent was to study the effects of adding two periods of rest from 1am to 5am to the restart requirements. FMCSA made this change to ensure that night drivers received adequate “restorative rest”. However, ATRI found that the larger impact was to shift “…truck travel to a new time of day paradigm.”

The study’s findings reinforce previous anecdotal information that large truck traffic has been moved from relatively low traffic periods to high density periods. This has brought about a corresponding increase in crashes.

Statistically night time driving has been safer than more congested daytime hours. The Large Truck Crash Causation study found that only 28% of the crashes occurred from 6pm to 6am and those crashes had the fewest critical factors assigned to the truck driver. A 2008 Virginia Tech study found that incident rates were the lowest at night and the highest during the afternoon rush hour.

One outcome of the changes is that 40% of the drivers reported going back to the rolling recap rather than taking a restart. The original intent of the restart was to provided drivers with a defined time period that would allow restorative rest.

As part of the temporary rollback of this requirement, Congress mandated a field study which is currently underway. The results will be used to measure any difference between drivers required to take two 1 — 5am breaks and others who resume driving after 34 hours. Meanwhile, the September deadline for the temporary rollback of the regulation to expire is getting closer.

Beyond Compliance — New FMCSA Program

Agency Asking for Comments

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking comments on its proposed Beyond Compliance program. This program would offer incentives to motor carriers that implement safety initiatives that exceed regulatory requirements.

What types of safety initiatives would be included in the Beyond Compliance program? That’s one of the key factors that FMCSA wants to discuss. The main thrust of those initiatives must be to:

…improve the safety of commercial
motor vehicles and drivers…by reducing the number and severity of crashes.

It seems likely that truck-based technologies such as lane departure warning systems and roll stability control systems will be eligible under Beyond Compliance. Another technology mentioned by FMCSA is an Employer Notification System that provides nearly real-time notification that a driver has been issued a citation, conviction or license disqualification. This exceeds the regulatory requirement that motor carriers perform an annual motor vehicle record check.

During the development of CSA, the Agency agreed that an incentive-based approach to improving carrier safety would be a more effective tool than a penalty-based system. Just what incentives the Agency would offer have yet to be determined. Here are some potential incentives:

• Reduction in Inspection Selection System (ISS) score

• Credit on appropriate SMS scores

• Reduction in roadside inspection frequency

In addition to determining what the incentives will be, the program must also define under what conditions the incentives should be removed. Also, there would need to be an effective monitoring system in place to verify that the motor carrier was implementing and sustaining the new technologies.

This is only the beginning of a very long process. Once the comments are received FMCSA can begin to develop a pilot program which may run for several years. After that the results will be compiled and the standard rulemaking process can begin. Although the idea of an incentive based program seems appealing, we may not see the results for nearly a decade.

CVSA Roadcheck 2015

Special Emphasis Is Cargo Securement

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 28th annual Roadcheck will take place from June 2nd through the 4th across North America. It’s expected that nearly 10,000 inspectors will participated and inspect, on average, 17 commercial vehicles every minute.

This year’s special emphasis is cargo securement. CVSA is reminding everyone that for many types of loads, particularly those that are not sealed or otherwise inaccessible to the driver, regulations require the driver to stop within the first 50 miles of a trip and recheck the tie downs and other load securing equipment. Inspectors will primarily be conducting Level I inspections which is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of both the driver and vehicle. In addition to load securement other items such as the braking system, lights, and tire condition will also be closely inspected.

Be certain to have your log current, your seat belt fastened and your truck in proper mechanical condition.

2015 Size & Weight Guide

Provided Free By Xtra Lease

In addition to size and weight information the Guide provides current information about registration, fuel taxes, oversize/overweight permits, and contact information for state trucking associations.

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