2006 Member News
2006
CVSA Changing the Structure of Our Two Major (Spring and Fall) Meetings Starting in 2007
As many of you are already aware, CVSA is changing the structure of our two major (Spring and Fall) meetings starting in 2007. The most significant change is that we are partnering with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at the CVSA Spring meeting in order to accommodate FMCSA's annual Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Leadership Conference, as well as their Regional MCSAP Planning Meetings.
Starting with the 2007 Atlanta Annual Conference, each Spring meeting will feature FMCSA and CVSA co-locating these events. This is being done in an effort to improve coordination of activities at the local, state, federal, and international levels, as well as to help minimize the resources dedicated to travel.
At the Spring meeting, CVSA will still have its full range of activities including committee meetings, informational sessions, and the exhibit hall. Also, we will increase the amount of time dedicated to our informational sessions available to members, industry and non-MCSAP enforcement jurisdictions.
Starting in 2008, the CVSA Annual Conference which is currently held in the Spring, will be moved to the Fall. The Fall Workshop will be moved to the Spring. This change is being made to accommodate the nature of the work being completed at the revamped Spring meeting, to help in the administration of the North American Standard (NAS) Out-of-Service Criteria, as well as to work with the National Training Center in facilitating changes to the NAS inspection procedures and training programs.
Other than changing from the Spring to Fall, the structure of the CVSA Annual Conference will be minimally impacted by this change.
In early to mid-December you will be receiving the Atlanta Program Announcement. In it, you will see how we plan to accommodate these changes for the Atlanta conference. However, due to contractual requirements that were already in place when the agreement with FMCSA was made, the schedule for Atlanta may not necessarily be the approach taken for 2008 and beyond. For 2008, we have a clean slate from which to work.
Due to this change in meetings, the CVSA Bylaws are affected. Specifically, this will impact the terms of office for several officers extending their term by approximately six months. John Harrison (incoming President), Darren Christle (incoming Vice President) and Francis "Buzzy" France (incoming Secretary/Treasurer) will each serve for 18 months in their respective positions.
The Fall 2007 Workshop will still take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- The 2008 Annual Conference will take place in the Fall of 2008 in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- The exact dates and hotel location for the Spring 2008 Workshop have yet to be determined
For the U.S., FMCSA has informed us that participation in both the Spring and Fall CVSA meetings are eligible for reimbursement under the MCSAP.
We are excited about this change, as it will undoubtedly enhance our collective ability to develop and deliver programs that will enhance partnerships and, most importantly, save lives.
2006
FMCSA to Hold Public Listening Session November 16 on its CSA 2010 Program
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is holding a public listening session to obtain feedback on the Agency's Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 initiative (CSA 2010), a comprehensive review and analysis of FMCSA's current commercial motor carrier safety and enforcement programs. FMCSA will use the upcoming listening session to inform the public on the conceptual direction and progress of CSA 2010, and obtain feedback from its partners and stakeholders.
DATES: The Public Listening Session will be held on November 16, 2006 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Written comments must be received by December 18, 2006. LOCATION: The Public Listening Session will be held at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20001. The telephone number is (202) 737-1234.
To facilitate the upcoming listening session, FMCSA has included in the Federal Register notice a number of questions that commenters are invited to address. To find out more details, go to the US DOT Docket Management System and search on Docket Number FMCSA-2004-18898-31.
2006
Commercial Vehicle Brake Safety Symposium Event Reminder
Commercial Vehicle Brake Safety Symposium
Imparting Knowledge and Providing Direction
Sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
Event Date: December 5-7, 2006
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis at State Capitol
One South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
The Commercial Vehicle Brake Safety Symposium organized by CVSA is coming up very soon. Here are some quick reminders to help you with your planning:
Attendee Registration
Early registration ends on November 20th, late registration rates apply after this date. All cancellations must be made by November 20th.
Exhibitor Registration
Exhibitors will be displaying their products and safety information throughout the entire event. Early registration ends on November 20th, late registration rates apply after this date. All cancellations must be made by November 20th.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Contact Iris Leonard, irisl@cvsa.org, for sponsorship opportunities that are still available.
The objective of this symposium is to improve the knowledge and education of drivers, technicians, government regulators, enforcement officers, safety directors, engineers, crash investigators and others on commercial vehicle brake-related issues. Attacking this problem and providing solutions holds tremendous promise as the most important vehicle-based improvement to the safe operation of commercial vehicles.
This symposium will bring together vehicle and component manufacturers, carriers, fleet managers, technicians, law enforcement, crash investigators, regulators, academics, drivers and driver trainers in a multi-disciplinary forum and non-confrontational environment to impart knowledge and to develop strategies to bring about improvements.
For the complete agenda and registration package, please visit the CVSA website at www.cvsa.org.
We look forward to seeing you in Indianapolis!
2006
President's Message
This message is sent to all CVSA members with regards to the "Commercial Vehicle Awareness Training" and the train-the-trainer workshops being conducted by IACP. The purpose of this training is to train state commercial vehicle enforcement officers and others involved in traffic enforcement functions to present the training for officers of state, county and local agencies in their jurisdictions.
This training was developed by the IACP, in cooperation with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and with the support of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in response to requests from several state and local law enforcement agencies. "Commercial Vehicle Awareness Training" is designed to inform uniformed patrol officers of the requirements for entry of commercial vehicles into the US from Canada and Mexico, and to provide them with information on required driver and vehicle documentation as well as resources available to them from state and federal commercial vehicle enforcement agencies.
The IACP will be conducting a series of four, one-day, train-the-trainer workshops. All instructors attending the training session will receive copies of all training materials, as well as a CD with print-ready files of all instructor and student materials. We have been advised by the FMCSA that travel and per diem expenses for this training are reimbursable through MCSAP funding.
The train-the-trainer workshops are scheduled to take place at the following dates and locations:
- October 24, 2006: Denver, Colorado
- November 14, 2006: Dallas, Texas
- November 28, 2006: Columbus, Ohio
- December 12, 2006: Baltimore, MD
We are hopeful that Alliance members will participate in the train-the-trainer workshops. We feel this training will not only help local and state law enforcement officers, who are not commercial vehicle inspectors, who may encounter foreign-based commercial vehicles and drivers in the course of their duties, but also to provide those agencies with the appropriate contact information for those agencies who's duties include the inspection of commercial vehicles and their drivers.
Additional information regarding the training program or the scheduled workshops is needed; please feel free to contact John Grant at (800) 843-4227, ext. 215, or via email at grantjc@theiacp.org.
2006
Updated Driver Log Application Now Available
The CVSA eight-day "Driver Log Application" has been updated to improve functionality. These new program features will add to an instructor's tool box to make an inspector's hours of service learning experience much more interactive. The application requires Windows to operate and specific download instructions are required to be followed in order to download the program successfully.
Click here to Download the Driver Log Application
The Driver Log Application User Guide includes the following information:
- Installation Instructions
- System Requirements
- Creating a New Driver Log
- Updated Driver Log Functionality
- Adding/Modifing Comments
- Viewing Comments
- Opening/Modifing an Existing Driver Log
- Printing a Driver Log
- Exporting Options - Exporting to a JPG Image File
If you have comments or questions regarding the Driver Log Application, please contact Collin Mooney at 202-775-1623, ext. 108 or by email at collinm@cvsa.org.
2006
Introduction of New "Wetlines" Brochure from PHMSA
The Office of Hazardous Materials Initiatives and Training (PHH50) announces a new Hazardous Materials Transportation Safety brochure on cargo tank "Wetlines". The "Wetlines" brochure was developed in partnership with the National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc., the National Association of State Fire Marshals, and the International Association of Fire Chiefs to provide awareness of and improve emergency responder safety regarding wetlines. Wetlines are external pipes located beneath a cargo tank used for loading and unloading. Wetlines are designed as a safeguard to break off in the event of an accident to prevent larger spills from the cargo tank.
The new "Wetlines" brochure is scheduled to be in stock and ready for shipment by October 6, 2006. The brochure can be downloaded from our webpage http://hazmat.dot.gov/training/training.htm - scroll down to and click on "Wetlines Awareness for Emergency Responders". The direct link to the PDF file is http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs/wetlines_final.pdf.
If you would like to order a printed copy, please send an e-mail request to Training@dot.gov or call (202) 366-2301.
2006
National Preparedness Month
CVSA is pleased to announce that we are supporting a coordinated effort to encourage businesses, individuals and families to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. We encourage CVSA Members and Associate Members to join in this effort.
In the United States, September is National Preparedness Month, and we are joining a wide variety of national, state and local organizations including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in educating the public about preparing for emergencies. When unexpected emergencies occur, whether they are naturally occurring or man-made, our greatest individual defense is preparedness. Getting an emergency supply kit, making an emergency plan, and identifying preparedness and response resources within our communities are several things we can do to prepare ourselves.
We are taking steps as an organization to become educated, trained and better prepared, and we urge you to take time this month to do the same in your workplace and at home. There are simple steps you can take to better prepare your business, yourself and your family.
For more information on this initiative, tools and assistance please visit http://www.ready.gov.
2006
Large Truck Crash Data Now Available Online
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has posted online the database from its long awaited Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS). Industry researchers and analysts now have access to unprecedented detail about the events surrounding truck crashes that are not available anywhere else. The study is based on a three-year data collection project conducted by FMCSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). LTCCS is the first-ever national study to attempt to determine the critical events and associated factors that contribute to serious large truck crashes allowing DOT and others to implement effective countermeasures to reduce the occurrence and severity of these crashes.
FMCSA will conduct its own analysis as well as sponsor non-governmental organizations who are interested in analyzing the study results. The data from the study, along with the original report to Congress, data tables, and other study information, may be downloaded in several formats from the FMCSA website (www.fmcsa.dot.gov).
2006
CVSA Fall Workshop September 23-28, 2006
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The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will hold its Fall Workshop
September 23-28, 2006 at The Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Several hundred Members and Associate Members are expected to attend and more than 30 exhibitors will be displaying a wide range of wares and information regarding commercial vehicle safety. The Fall Workshop provides excellent opportunities for industry to network with the enforcement communities.
The 12 CVSA Committees will be addressing issues such as the Safety Belt and Data Quality initiatives, transportation security issues, as well as developing new enforcement services and best practices. For the complete agenda, please click on the picture above.
To register and for more information please visit us online at www.cvsa.org or contact us at 202-775-1623.
We look forward to seeing you in Toronto!
2006
North American Inspectors Championship Event Registration
The 14th annual North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) is fast approaching. Our online event registration system is available for all attendees and contestants. This year's championship event is scheduled for August 14th - 20th in New Orleans in conjunction with the American Trucking Associations' National Truck Driving Championship.
Event Registration
There are no registration fees to participate in this event. However, participants should please note that as a result of the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina last September, CVSA has an emergency evacuation plan in place to remove all NAIC registered contestants & attendees in the event of a hurricane. In order to ensure adequate transportation, it is imperative that we have an accurate count of all persons traveling to New Orleans for NAIC (including friends & family members that may require evacuation). So, each person traveling to New Orleans should have an individual registration confirmation number.
All online registrations for contestants and attendees must be submitted by Sunday July 16th.
Hotel Reservation
The championship host hotel in New Orleans will be the Marriott at the Convention Center. Contestants and attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. In order to take advantage of special room rates ($119 single/double plus applicable taxes) your room reservation must be made online or by contacting the hotel directly at 504-613-2888 before Wednesday July 19th. Be sure to mention or enter group code NAINAIA.
New Orleans Marriott at the Convention Center
859 Convention Center Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504-613-2888
Fax: 504-613-2860
If travel information was unavailable at the time of registration, please email your itinerary (driving, flying or renting a car) to collinm@cvsa.org as soon as possible.
Additional NAIC event information, such as the final onsite program of events, will be posted to the NAIC web pages on the CVSA web site at www.cvsa.org when it becomes available.
On behalf of the NAIC 2006 organizing committee, we thank you in advance for your continued support. If you have comments or questions regarding the North American Inspectors Championship, please contact Collin Mooney at 202-775-1623, ext. 108 or by email at collinm@cvsa.org.
We look forward to seeing you in New Orleans, LA!
2006
FMCSA Administrator Nominee, John Hill, Testifies Twice Before Congress
John Hill, currently FMCSA's Acting Administrator and nominee for the Administrator's post, testified twice before Congress last week.
On Wednesday, June 7, Hill presented testimony before the House Subcommittee on Highways, Transit, and Pipelines at a hearing on implementation of SAFETEA-LU legislation. He reported on recent actions in the areas of medical oversight of truck and bus drivers, improving the CDL program, hours-of-service rules, household goods consumer protection, and the establishment of the Unified Carrier System Plan and Agreement.
With respect to the SAFETEA-LU provision providing several self-executing hours-of-service exemptions, he reported that FMCSA had issued enforcement policy memoranda to the states providing guidance on how to apply the exemptions. In response to a question from Congressman Jerry Moran,(-R-KS), on whether the policy memoranda had the force of law at roadside, Hill responded that they did. However, he did say that FMCSA would issue an omnibus rule next year covering the hours-of-service exemptions and other issues mandated by SAFETEA-LU. The issue of policy enforcement memoranda is one CVSA will be further discussing with FMCSA.
The following day, Hill appeared before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation at a hearing held on his nomination to be Administrator of FMCSA, along with other nominees to other posts within the Department of Transportation. When questioned about what his areas of emphasis would be as the new Administrator, he responded that he would remain dedicated to safety as he has been throughout his career, that he would provide strong leadership in rulemaking, and that he would work to strengthen FMCSA's relationship with the states who deliver FMCSA's safety programs nationwide. His nomination is expected to be voted on by the Senate in the near future.
2006
CVSA Continues Working with Coalition Seeking a Delay in the Uniform Carrier Registration System Implementation Date
As reported in our May 19 Update, CVSA is working with AAMVA, NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Commissioners), and the NCSA (National Conference of State Legislatures) to seek a one-year delay in the repeal of the Single State Registration System (SSRS) on January 1, 2007 and its replacement with a new Unified Carrier Registration Agreement (UCRA). If the one year delay is not achieved, SSRS will be repealed at that time with the likelihood that a new UCRA will not be in place at that time providing SSRS replacement revenues to the states.
In May, the DOT completed its appointments to the new UCR Board that SAFETEA-LU created to develop a new registration and fee system. The first meeting of the UCR Board is being held today in Birmingham, Alabama. It is expected that one of the first issues the Board will address will be the timetable for completing its work in developing a new plan.
We will keep you informed on actions taken by the UCR Board as well as on efforts to seek a legislative delay. Key Congressional Committee staff in the Senate are working to determine a legislative process to resolve this problem within the remainder of the session for the 109th Congress.
2006
Commercial Vehicle Counterterrorism Instructor Training Program
The following is information (logistics and the syllabus) regarding the upcoming Transportation Security Administration (TSA)/Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Train-The Trainer Course on Commercial Vehicle Antiterrorism. The course is being held June 12-15, 2006 at FLETC's location in Cheltenham, Maryland (outside of Washington, DC). Please respond to this e-mail if you are intersted in sending any of your trainers to the course, and if so, their names and contact information. CVSA will forward this information on to TSA and FLETC. There are 30 slots for the course and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. There will be 2 additional TTT courses being offered in Sacramento, CA (7/18 - 7/21) and St. Louis, MO (Jefferson City) (8/7 - 8/10). As more details come available on these courses, we will pass them along.
For specific questions, please contact Todd Wise of DHS/FLETC, he is the POC:
Todd.Wise@dhs.gov
(912) 267-2272
History and Purpose of the Commercial Vehicle Counterterrorism Instructor Training Program
The Commercial Vehicle Counterterrorism Instructor Training Program (CVCITP) was developed at the request of the Transportation Security Administration in October 2005. A Curriculum Development Conference was conducted in December 2005 in Arlington, Virginia. The program is designed to meet the needs of law enforcement officers responsible for the enforcement of commercial vehicles traveling on the Nation's highways.
The CVCITP is unique in its design, recognizing that security of our highways is accomplished by a cooperative effort of Federal, State, and Local officers. This program is conducted as a Center Advanced Export Training Program.
Qualifications for Attendance
Attendance is open to Federal, State and Local law enforcement officers and agents who are assigned duties related to the enforcement of commercial vehicles.
Length of Program
The Commercial Vehicle Counterterrorism Instructor Training Program consists of four training days with a total of 29 hours.
2006
Inspection Bulletin 2006-01 Camshaft Bushings
This Inspection Bulletin 2006-01 Camshaft Bushings is intended to clarify the inspection of the brake camshaft and camshaft bushings during a roadside inspection and provides guidance when a power unit or trailer is in violation and/or in an out-of-service (OOS) condition. Member jurisdictions are encouraged to provide this information to all certified inspectors.
If you have comments, questions, or concerns, please contact Collin Mooney at 202-775-1623, ext. 108 or by email at collinm@cvsa.org.
2006
CVSA Annual Charity Fundraiser
Have some fun while raising money for a worthy cause at the CVSA Annual Charity Fundraiser during the Annual Conference in Hartford, CT this April.
This year we are raising money for a very worthy cause - the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation. This organization is dedicated to promoting increased independence to men and women who are blind by providing them with the highest quality guide dogs. Fidelco is a non-profit organization that relies solely on donations. Previous CVSA fundraisers have provided more than $5,000 for various causes, but this year I want to raise the bar by surpassing the proceeds from the 2005 CVSA Fundraiser. To do this, I'll need your support and participation.
Last year, more than 100 companies donated in excess of 125 individual items including valuable die cast cars and trucks. Please do what you can to contribute model trucks, model cars or any other appropriate items that best represent your organization or company.
The prizes will be on display throughout the week of the conference with winning tickets being drawn during breaks and receptions. Also, we have made special storage arrangements for the donations. Please send them no later than April 7, 2006 to the following address:
Commercial Vehicle Safety Division
60 State Street, Room 263
Wethersfield, CT 06161
ATTN: Lt. Supina
Ph: 860-263-5446
I'm counting on you to help make the 2006 CVSA Charity Fundraiser a huge success!
2006
North American Cargo Securement Harmonization Meeting
February 2, 2006
The North American Cargo Securement Harmonization Committee is scheduled to meet on Sunday, April 23rd from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and continuing on Monday, April 24th from 1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott Hartford Downtown & Connecticut Convention Center during the CVSA 2006 Annual Conference.
2006 Annual Conference
April 22-27, 2006
Marriott Hartford Downtown & Connecticut Convention Center
200 Columbus Blvd
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-249-8000
Fax: 860-249-8181
Hotel Reservation
Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. For the CVSA Annual Conference room rate of $149.00 single/double please enter group code RACRACA.
Conference Registration
If attending ONLY the North American Cargo Securement Harmonization Committee meeting on Sunday and/or Monday, registration and payment of the Annual Conference are not required. However, if participating in any of the other scheduled Conference events, registration and payment are required.
Annual Conference early registration must be made no later than April 7, 2006. Late registration will be received until April 14, 2006. Also, on-site registrations will be available in Hartford, CT.
If you have comments, questions, concerns or would like to submit agenda items to the North American Cargo Securement Harmonization Committee, please contact Collin Mooney at 202-775-1623, ext. 108 or by email at collinm@cvsa.org prior to March 15, 2006.
We look forward to seeing you in Hartford, CT !
