2010 Member News
2010
FMCSA issued the following press release this morning, announcing the Administration’s proposed rule on Hours-of-Service requirements for commercial truck drivers. For additional information, a copy of the proposed rule, as well as Frequently Asked Questions, are available on FMCSA’s website at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/HOS. The rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register on December 29. The public will have 60 days from that date to comment.
FMCSA Issues Proposed Rule on Hours-of-Service Requirements for Commercial Truck Drivers
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today issued a regulatory proposal that would revise hours-of-service (HOS) requirements for commercial truck drivers.
“A fatigued driver has no place behind the wheel of a large commercial truck,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We are committed to an hours-of-service rule that will help create an environment where commercial truck drivers are rested, alert and focused on safety while on the job.”
The publication of this proposed rule coincides with the timeframe established in a court settlement agreement that requires FMCSA to publish a final HOS rule by July 26, 2011.
This new HOS proposal would retain the “34-hour restart” provision allowing drivers to restart the clock on their weekly 60 or 70 hours by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty. However, the restart period would have to include two consecutive off-duty periods from midnight to 6:00 a.m. Drivers would be allowed to use this restart only once during a seven-day period.
Additionally the proposal would require commercial truck drivers to complete all driving within a 14-hour workday, and to complete all on-duty work-related activities within 13 hours to allow for at least a one hour break. It also leaves open for comment whether drivers should be limited to 10 or 11 hours of daily driving time, although FMCSA currently favors a 10-hour limit.
“In January, we began this rulemaking process by hosting five public listening sessions with stakeholders across the country,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “This proposed rule provides another opportunity for the public to weigh in on a safety issue that impacts everyone on our roadways.”
Driving hours are regulated by federal HOS rules, which are designed to prevent commercial vehicle-related crashes and fatalities by prescribing on-duty and rest periods for drivers.
Commercial truck drivers who violate this proposed rule would face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense. Trucking companies that allow their drivers to violate the proposal’s driving limits would face penalties of up to $11,000 for each offense.
Other key provisions include the option of extending a driver’s daily shift to 16 hours twice a week to accommodate for issues such as loading and unloading at terminals or ports, and allowing drivers to count some time spent parked in their trucks toward off-duty hours.
A copy of the rulemaking proposal is available on FMCSA’s Web site at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/HOS. The rulemaking will be published in the Federal Register on December 29 and the public will then have 60 days to comment. Information on how to submit comments and evidentiary material is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/HOS.
2010
Register Now for CVSA’s 2011 COHMED Conference in Tampa
It's time to register for the annual COHMED conference. COHMED (the Cooperative Hazardous Materials Enforcement Development Program) is an intergovernmental/industry partnership serving as a focal point for information sharing on hazardous materials transportation issues and delivery of services. Through education and training, the states and local governments are provided with information and resources to enhance existing programs and develop new ones to improve hazardous materials safety.
This year's conference is sure to be of interest and is packed with highly informative sessions including: An implementation update on CSA 2010 by FMCSA's Senior Transportation Specialist Bryan Price who will discuss trends and lessons learned to date; Inspections of Industrial and Home Medical Use Cylinders, presented by Tony Parente, Praxair, Inc. and Guy Dalton, Linde Gas; and, multiple area-specific Training Sessions including: U.S. / Canadian Safety Marks - Differences and Similarities: Motorcoaches and HazMat Transportation; Class 7 (RAM) Packaging Standards; Hazardous Materials Transportation Chemistry for Dummies and many more.
To find out more, click here to download the 2011 COHMED Conference Onsite Program.
Register Now!
Register Now for the conference by clicking here and downloading the necessary forms.
Make Your Hotel Reservations
A block of rooms have been reserved for January 29, 2011 - February 5, 2011. The special room rate will be available until January 9th or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. This rate will be offered three days before and three days after the event dates, based on hotel availability.
Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport
4500 W. Cypress Street
Tampa, FL 33607
Phone: 813-879-4800
Fax: 813-873-1832
We look forward to seeing you at COHMED!
2010
CVSA Extends International Safety Team Program Nomination Deadline to July 31, 2010
In an effort to give everyone more time to apply, CVSA is extending the deadline to submit a nomination for the International Safety Team award to July 31, 2010. This is a new award program created to recognize the efforts of these dedicated government and law enforcement personnel from across North America, who go above and beyond the call of duty of their normal responsibilities and have such a significant impact on CMV safety, highway safety, and an overall reduction in crashes and fatalities.
If you haven’t done so already, please consider nominating a candidate from your state, province or jurisdiction by July 31, 2010. Click on the hyperlinks provided here to submit a nomination or review the requirements.
Thank you for your time and participation in the International Safety Team program!
2010
CVSA Announces New Chairs to Driver-Traffic Enforcement, Size & Weight Committees
CVSA welcomes two new committee chairs, Capt. Daniel D. Meyer of the Kansas Highway Patrol to CVSA’s Driver-Traffic Enforcement Committee, and Capt. Jay Thompson of the Arkansas Highway Police, to CVSA’s Size & Weight Committee.
Capt. Meyer joined the Kansas Highway Patrol on June 18, 1989, originally stationed in Meade County, KS. He worked the road until August of 1996, when he became an assistant Forensic Mapper, assisting the current members of the Critical Highway Accident Response Team, (C.H.A.R.T.). Capt. Meyer worked as an assistant until August of 1997 when he became a full-time member of the CHART team. He received his Basic and Advanced Collision Investigation training from the Kansas Highway Patrol. He also completed the Accident Reconstruction course from the Institute of Police Technology and Management in Jacksonville, Florida and was trained in Forensic Mapping and Advanced Commercial Vehicle Collision Investigation through Texas A&M. Capt. Meyer became an Accredited Accident Reconstructionist through the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction (A.C.T.A.R.), in 1999 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
Capt Meyer became certified to conduct CVSA North American Standard Level I inspections in 1992. He also received training in the commercial vehicle areas of Hazardous Materials, Cargo Tank, and Other Bulk Packages. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in 2002, in charge of metropolitan field zone operations in the Kansas City Metro area and was reallocated to Lieutenant in 2003. In 2004, he was promoted to the rank of Captain and transferred to Troop I, in charge of administering the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) for the state of Kansas. In addition, Capt. Meyer is the Law Enforcement representative to the National Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) Implementation committee.
Capt. Jay Thompson holds a degree in criminal justice, is a certified professional instructor through the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, and serves as an associate staff instructor for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations’ National Training Center.
He has been a certified Law Enforcement Officer in the state of Arkansas for 20 years, with the past 18 years working for the Arkansas Highway Police. Capt. Thompson is currently the Commander of the Arkansas Highway Police oversize and/or overweight Permit Section.
Capt. Thompson first became involved with CVSA when he competed in the North American Inspector Challenge of 2003, and was awarded the John Youngblood Award of Excellence. He is responsible for the development of Arkansas’s state inspector challenge which continues to grow and make a significant impact on motor carrier safety training, knowledge, and uniformity throughout Arkansas. A member of the Arkansas Highway Police Special Services Division, Capt. Thompson serves as the lead instructor on size and weight laws, and oversize/overweight permit regulations. He has served as the Vice-Chair of CVSA’s size and weight committee since 2008.
Both Capt. Gerry Krolikowski, of CVSA’s Driver-Traffic Enforcement Committee, and Capt. Gary Albus, of CVSA’s Size & Weight Committee, served several years in their positions as chairpersons and provided valuable leadership to those committees. “CVSA’s entire executive committee extends its greatest appreciation to both outgoing and incoming members for serving in these leadership roles on our committees,” said Buzzy France, CVSA’s President. “It is because of members that are actively involved in fostering a culture of uniformity, reciprocity, collaboration and are committed to excellence across all areas of commercial vehicle safety that we are making a difference each and every day in saving lives.”
2010
CVSA International Safety Team Awards Program information is now available
Calling on the managers of all commercial vehicle safety inspectors, investigators and auditors!
Information on the brand new in 2010 CVSA International Safety Team Awards Program is now available. We have included a summary below but please visit /programs/ist.php for detailed program and application requirements.
The purpose of the CVSA International Safety Team award is to annually recognize the efforts of the dedicated government and enforcement personnel whose efforts go above and beyond the call of duty of their normal responsibilities to ensure compliance with safety regulations and to assist with promoting education and awareness of safe commercial vehicle operations and with the general public about operating safely around commercial motor vehicles. It is to officially recognize individuals whose efforts such as these that have a significant impact on CMV safety, highway safety, and a reduction in crashes and fatalities.
Please make sure to send in your nominee submissions -- they are due July 15, 2010 to CVSA.
Send all completed applications by the deadline to:
CVSA International Safety Team
c/o Steve Keppler, Interim Executive Director
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
6303 Ivy Lane, Suite 310
Greenbelt, MD 20770
Tel: (301) 830-6143
Fax: (301) 830-6144
Email: SteveK@cvsa.org
Each of the five CVSA Regions will select a regional winner that collectively will form the CVSA International Safety Team – our “Fab Five.” The principal goals of the International Safety Team Award Program is two fold:
- to honor motor carrier safety professionals for their work in the furtherance of motor carrier safety and,
- to use those selected from each Region to further the message of commercial vehicle safety and public awareness throughout the year.
Members of the team will be selected annually, one representing each CVSA Region. In addition to the winner a first alternate from each region will also be selected who will take the place of the primary person in the event they cannot fulfill the term. The winners will be announced at CVSA’s Annual Meeting in Anaheim.
Please see the information we have included below (available at /programs/ist.php) requirements, eligibility and the application process. If you have any questions about the program or process, please do not hesitate to contact CVSA’s Interim Executive Director, Steve Keppler.
REQUIREMENTS
To qualify, recipients must demonstrate expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections
- Compliance Reviews (or equivalent)
- New Entrant Safety Audits (or equivalent)
- Education
- Public Outreach
- Traffic Enforcement
ELIGIBILITY
- Candidates must have worked for an agency during the current year and that is participating in an eligible Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program activity (or equivalent in Canada or Mexico) and has been conducting work in at least one of the areas outlined above.
- Exceptional achievement, either on-duty or off-duty work.
- Candidates must work for an agency that is currently a CVSA member in good standing.
- Candidates must be capable of conducting some travel throughout their annual appointment as a member of the International Safety Team, both within their Region and potentially to national/ international conferences. CVSA will be able to provide some funding to assist with this travel.
Please see our web site, again located at /programs/ist.php where you will find the application and additional information regarding the CVSA International Safety Team Award.
2010
CVSA Seeking Executive Director
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is actively seeking an executive director to continue and expand upon the Alliance’s activities to date. The Executive Director is responsible for implementation of policies set by the Executive Committee as well as annual goals and objectives, and financial, program, and administrative management of the Alliance. Experience with highway safety programs in either a public or private sector is encouraged as is a demonstrated broad knowledge of and contacts within the highway safety community. We appreciate your assistance with this effort so please feel free to forward this job posting to qualified candidates.
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their previous 10 years work history and all applicable education, training and experience related to the mission of CVSA to selectioncommittee@cvsa.org. Deadline for applications is June 18, 2010.
For more information see the job announcement and position description at /contactus/employment.php. Questions, please email selectioncommittee@cvsa.org.
