2011 Press Releases
2011
S.1950 COULD PAVE WAY FOR SIGNIFICANT STRIDES IN CMV SAFETY CVSA Seeks to Ensure Adequate Resources Available to Target Efforts on Saving Lives
WASHINGTON, DC (December 21, 2011) — The Senate Commerce Committee’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2011, S.1950, will have a significant impact on commercial motor vehicle safety; as long as funding and flexibility is there to support them, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). S. 1950 includes provisions addressing critical matters, such as maintenance of effort (MOE); flexibility in motor carrier safety grants to states; stronger registration and new entrant requirements.
“The language in the S. 1950 bill represents a huge step forward in preserving the priority we place on commercial vehicle safety. More work remains to be done, however, particularly regarding the grant funding levels, administration and distribution, matching requirements and the takedowns for training,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s executive director. “The safety and enforcement activities delivered by grant recipients under the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) have been shown through research and performance statistics to have a positive impact on commercial vehicle safety, and we need to ensure adequate resources continue to be available at targeting efforts on saving lives.”
Specifically, the bill addresses the MOE issue by adjusting the benchmark years (2004/2005), making them static and providing for waivers when necessary. S. 1950 provides additional flexibility in motor carrier safety grants and creates stronger registration and new entrant requirements to help address the chameleon carrier threat. Finally, S. 1950 incorporates stronger provisions for bus safety; increases fine limits; tightens CDL and driver training requirements.
In addition, CVSA is pleased to see the bill contains many items its members have been calling for as part of the reauthorization. S. 1950 addresses the requirements for inclusion of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs); the requirement for safety rating reciprocity with Canada; and language regarding development of a drug and alcohol clearinghouse.
Finally, the inclusion of a comprehensive truck size and weight study and an analysis of the impact to safety and the existing regulatory framework are two critical items that will help guide future commercial vehicle policy.
“CVSA and its members look forward to working with FHWA, FMCSA and the Secretary on those items going forward,” said Keppler. “CVSA will continue to work with the Congress to further improve language in the bill regarding critical issues, such as funding for program delivery, training and grant flexibility, to ensure that States’ needs are adequately met.”
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
For more information contact:
Laura Zabriskie, Director, Communications & Marketing
lauraz@cvsa.org
301-830-6152
2011
BRAKE SAFETY WEEK CAPTURES SNAPSHOT OF INDUSTRY’S COMPLIANCE RATE Brake Adjustment, Component Out-of-Service Defects Drop, Overall OOS Rate for Brakes Up
WASHINGTON, DC (November 16, 2011) – For the second year in a row, commercial vehicle inspectors conducted a record number of inspections during Operation Air Brake’s “Brake Safety Week”. Each year enforcement data gathered from across the continent provides a snapshot of industry’s rate of compliance while highlighting areas that need continued focus with regards to brake safety regulations and relevant maintenance practices. This year, although the number of out-of-service (OOS) defects for both brake adjustment and brake components are down slightly, the overall OOS rate for brakes rose.
“Brakes continue to be the number one OOS defect and Brake Safety Week is a reminder of the critical importance they serve in the safe operation of commercial vehicles,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s executive director. “The Operation Air Brake campaign remains the premier joint effort among federal, state, and local commercial vehicle enforcement and industry to promote commercial vehicle brake safety.”
Brake Safety Week is a prominent event of the Operation Air Brake campaign, an ongoing, international effort dedicated to improving truck and bus brake safety throughout North America. Brake Safety Week took place this year, September 11-17. Its importance is underscored by the fact that brakes were cited in 29.4 percent of crashes as an associate factor in the crash, according to the Large Crash Causation study conducted in 2006.
Overall results show:
- 30,872 vehicles inspected in 2011. This exceeds the 2010 mark of 30,472 vehicles, the previous record inspected, since the program started in 1998.
- 2,605 or 8.4% of vehicles were placed OOS for brake adjustment (8.9% in 2010, 9.0% in 2009).
- 2,453 (or 7.9%) of vehicles were placed OOS for brake components (8.0% in 2010, 9.2% in 2009).
- 4,385 (or 14.2%) of vehicles were placed OOS for brakes overall (13.5% in 2010, 15.1% in 2009).
The Operation Air Brake campaign exists, in part, to reduce the out-of-service rate for brake-related defects. This Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) model has been used successfully in other areas of traffic safety, and is being employed throughout North America to focus on the very important issue of brake safety and regulatory compliance. The Operation Air Brake Campaign was developed and initiated by Canada in 1998.
The OOS rates for Canada were again lower than in the U.S. for 2011. This year, 8.7% of vehicles inspected in the U.S. during Brake Safety Week were placed OOS for poor brake adjustment, compared to 3.7% in Canada. Inspections in Canada resulted in 7.3% of vehicles being placed out of service for brakes, compared to 4.4% in 2010.
“FMCSA once again applauds Operation Air Brake for saving lives by preventing continued operation of trucks and buses with serious brake problems that place the safety of the traveling public at risk,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.
To learn more about Operation Air Brake and Brake Safety Week, visit www.operationairbrake.com.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
For more information contact:
Laura Zabriskie, Director, Communications & Marketing
lauraz@cvsa.org
301-830-6152
2011
CVSA Calls on Drivers to End Senseless Deaths by Defeating Distracted Driving Now Operation Safe Driver Campaign Educates Drivers How to Steer Clear of Tragedy
WASHINGTON, DC (September 12, 2011) – A killer is stalking North America’s roadways and is claiming 14 lives every day in the United States alone. Aggressive and unsafe driving behaviors by truck and bus drivers, as well as the passenger car drivers operating unsafely around them, are primary factors in more deaths on our roadways than a 737 airplane crashing every other week. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is calling on all drivers to make a difference, reduce aggressive and distracted driving and save lives across North America with its annual Operation Safe Driver campaign mobilization week October 16-22, 2011.
“Each year more than 36,000 people die on the roadways throughout North America – about 4,000 of which are related to large trucks and buses,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s executive director. “Many of these deaths are the direct result of unsafe and aggressive driving practices by both passenger and commercial vehicle drivers.”
During the week of October 16-22, 2011 law enforcement across North America will respond by actively targeting these drivers during ‘Operation Safe Driver,’ a program sponsored by CVSA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as well as strategic partners including American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, American Trucking Associations, American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials, American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association, FedEx Corp., Governors Highway Safety Association, National District Attorneys Association and United Motorcoach Association. CVSA will hold a media conference October 13, 2011 in Memphis, TN, with FMCSA, Tennessee Highway Patrol, FedEx and members of the Southwind High School Student’s Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.) chapter. The event will highlight the importance of driving without distractions.
“We are asking all drivers to join us in providing solutions to this pandemic and to fight back against aggressive and unsafe driving practices, especially distracted driving,” said Keppler. “We need the public’s help in putting a face on safety within our communities and spheres of influence. As an individual, a company or association, there are many things you can do to make a difference. It starts with educating your own employees about the dangers of aggressive and unsafe driving. In addition, you can become an active supporter to stop these senseless deaths that occur daily and affect each and every one of us.”
Operation Safe Driver will take place across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its aim is to increase activities related to commercial vehicle and non-commercial vehicle traffic enforcement; safety belt enforcement; driver roadside safety inspections; driver regulatory compliance; implementation of commercial driver educational and awareness programs to the motor carrier population; and, raising awareness to the motoring public about safe operations around trucks and buses.
Operation Safe Driver continues to build on a highly successful series of educational outreach programs geared to specific audiences and issues. The Teens & Trucks Training Program was created and launched in collaboration with CVSA, Arizona Trucking Association, Arizona Department of Public Safety and American Trucking Associations in 2009-2010. Together CVSA and its partners developed this program to help educate young drivers about safe driving practices around commercial vehicles that has been shown to hundreds of thousands of teens across the continent and continues to grow.
This year, the same partnership is releasing Defeating Distracted Driving, a new educational program for motor carriers about the dangers of distracted driving for use by fleets, driving schools and other outlets. The program is directed at commercial vehicle drivers and its goal is to raise awareness of the risks associated with texting, emailing, using portable electronic devices, and other distractions while driving and to reduce crashes attributable to distracted driving.
"This week's Operation Safe Driver campaign sends a strong message to all drivers to think safety. In particular, it demonstrates just how serious we are about catching bus or truck drivers who are doing anything less and will make our roads safer and save lives by removing thousands of unsafe truck, bus and car drivers them from the road," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. "We will not rest until all drivers are thinking safety first, every trip, every time. The Operation Safe Driver Campaign moves us closer to achieving our safety goals."
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org or www.operationsafedriver.org.
For more information contact:
Laura Zabriskie, Director, Communications & Marketing
lauraz@cvsa.org
301-830-6152
2011
BRAKE ADJUSTMENT AREA OF CONCERN DURING CVSA’S BRAKE SAFETY WEEK
CVSA Targets Drivers, Mechanics on Proper Brake Inspection, Maintenance, Operation
WASHINGTON, DC (September 8, 2011) – More than 50 percent of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) out-of-service violations cited during roadside inspections were for brake-related violations, according to Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Roadcheck 2011 data -- indicating much more education and awareness is needed to reduce the number of highway crashes caused each year by poorly maintained braking systems on commercial vehicles. CVSA is working with drivers, mechanics and others during the week of September 11-17, 2011, Brake Safety Week, to enhance knowledge, regulatory compliance and performance of CMV braking systems.
“Ultimately, brakes are a major factor in being able to operate a commercial vehicle safely, yet they continue to be cited as one of the leading factors in crashes due to defects and improper maintenance and adjustment,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s executive director. “One of the major goals of Brake Safety Week is to educate drivers, mechanics and others on the importance of proper adjustment, maintenance, and operation to ensure every commercial vehicle is operating safely, and, ultimately, to save lives.”
During Brake Safety Week CVSA-Certified Inspectors, brake suppliers, and industry partners conduct enforcement and education activities with drivers and mechanics at truck stops, weigh stations and other locations. This week-long campaign is part of the ongoing CVSA effort, called Operation Air Brake, dedicated to improving inspection, compliance, maintenance, and performance of commercial vehicle braking systems throughout North America. It is conducted with, and supported in part by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
“FMCSA’s strong partnership with law enforcement nationwide is about raising the bar for safer trucks and buses. To do that, FMCSA proudly joins with our state law enforcement partners to conduct Brake Safety Week," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.
During Brake Safety Week in addition to conducting roadside inspections, enforcement will be deploying Performance-Based Brake Testers in several participating jurisdictions and at a number of inspection locations. During the course of this year, as part of Operation Air Brake, CVSA developed two portable brake adjustment demonstration models that have been used throughout the year at industry events to demonstrate and illustrate the importance of proper brake adjustment. There are many other educational components that are part of the Operation Air Brake Campaign, to include a web-based training program geared toward drivers and technicians, as well as instructional guides and handbooks. The campaign exists principally to reduce the out-of-service rate for brake-related defects. This Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) model has been used successfully in other areas of traffic safety concerns (most notably seat belt usage), and is being employed throughout North America to focus on the very important issue of brake safety and regulatory compliance. It was developed and initiated by Canada in 1998. To learn more about the campaign, visit www.operationairbrake.com.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
For more information contact:
Laura Zabriskie, Director, Communications & Marketing
lauraz@cvsa.org
301-830-6152
2011
NAIC RECOGNIZES INSPECTORS’ DEDICATION TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY
Commercial Vehicle Inspectors Inspire Others to Achieve Professional Excellence to Save Lives
WASHINGTON, DC (August 15, 2011) – Fifty-four roadside inspectors representing jurisdictions across North America convened this year in Orlando, FL -- August 8-13, 2011 to compete in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC). This year, John Sova, a CVSA-certified North American Standard inspector from North Dakota, was awarded the Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award for his combined performances in six competition elements including the North American Standard Level I Inspection, North American Standard HazMat/Transportation of Dangerous Goods Inspection, and North American Standard Level I Motorcoach Inspection.
“We are proud to recognize and reward each of our 54 roadside inspectors from across North America who not only demonstrate their professional excellence and dedication to highway safety but inspire others to do the same,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s Executive Director. “Their enthusiasm and passion goes a long way in advancing commercial vehicle safety and saving lives due to the information, techniques and experiences they will share with others in furtherance of improving uniformity in the enforcement of highway safety standards across the continent.”
“I applaud all the competitors who came from far and wide to be a part of this extraordinary contest. Their dedication to doing the best job possible helps us set the safety bar high for all inspectors and keeps trucks and buses operating safely on our highways,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Their tireless commitment to safety is not only inspiring to us all, it saves lives every day.”
NAIC is managed by CVSA; funded in part by FMCSA and is successful due to strong industry participation and sponsorship. NAIC has been recognized by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) as an event that “Advances America.”
In addition to the Grand Champion award, the following additional awards were presented:
- High Points United States: John Sova, North Dakota
- High Points Canada: Erik Eustace, Ontario
- High Points Mexico: Armando Garcia, Mexico
- North American Standard Level I Inspection: 1. John Sova, North Dakota; 2. Robert Iman, Maryland; 3.Derek Canard, Arkansas.
- North American Standard Level V Passenger Vehicle (Motorcoach) Inspection: 1. John Sova, North Dakota; 2. Erik Eustace, Ontario; 3. Robert Iman, Maryland.
- North American Standard Hazardous Materials/Transportation of Dangerous Goods and Cargo Tank/Bulk Packagings Inspection: 1. Benjamin Schropfer, Nebraska; 2. John Sova, North Dakota; 3. Derek Canard, Arkansas.
- John Youngblood Award of Excellence is a special award NAIC contestants bestow on a fellow NAIC inspector who exemplifies the high standards and unwavering dedication to the profession. This year one contestant overcame great personal loss when a tornado, that ripped through Kansas in May 2011, destroyed his family’s home and everything they owned and yet still managed to represent his jurisdiction at this year’s NAIC. The award this year goes to Tpr. Jeffrey Norling of the Kansas Highway Patrol.
- Team Award: Blue Team: Team Leader – Diana Morales; Michael Rogers, Alaska; Chad Bernbeck, Colorado; Joseph Colman, Iowa; Robert Iman, Maryland; Benjamin Schropfer, Nebraska; John Sova, North Dakota; Ned Norita, Northern Mariana Islands; Erik Eustace, Ontario; Garland Sponburgh, Jr., Washington.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
For more information contact:
Laura Zabriskie, Director, Communications & Marketing
lauraz@cvsa.org
301-830-6152
2011
NAIC DEVELOPS LEADERS, STRENGTHENS ENFORCEMENT, INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP
Championship Ensures Quality, Uniformity, Reciprocity of Inspections Across Continent
WASHINGTON, DC (July 22, 2011) – Commercial vehicle inspectors representing nearly every jurisdiction in North America each year train and prepare for what in the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement industry is the equivalent of the Super Bowl – a once in a lifetime opportunity to win a coveted trophy and be named champion in the North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC). This year, candidates from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will convene in Orlando, FL, August 8-13 to compete.
“It is the job that these enforcement officers perform each and every day that save countless lives, making our country a safer place for everyone,” said Capt. Steve Dowling, CVSA’s president. “NAIC gives back to these inspectors an invaluable experience that broadens their understanding and, in many cases, deepens their passion for ensuring highway safety.”
Since its inception, CVSA actively focuses on enhancing the development and training programs available to roadside inspectors. Roadside inspectors are highly-trained professionals who save lives every day by keeping unsafe CMVs and drivers off the roads. The work of a commercial vehicle inspector is not easy but it is one of the most vital in public safety. Each year, CVSA recognizes the best of the best by inviting member jurisdictions throughout North America to participate in NAIC.
NAIC develops future leaders, strengthens industry and enforcement partnerships and promotes camaraderie between inspectors, jurisdictions and countries. This in turn, ensures the quality, uniformity and reciprocity of the more than four-million roadside inspections conducted each year across North America. NAIC gives inspectors the chance to compete for top honors in individual event categories in pursuit of the Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award. The events sharpen their skills and provide a snapshot of the current roadside inspection environment as well as a forum to evaluate both successes and areas for improvement. Not only does NAIC recognize the best of the best CMV inspectors, it also provides member jurisdictions with a better understanding of the strengths and weakness of their CMV safety program.
NAIC is managed by CVSA; funded in part by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and is successful due to strong industry participation and sponsorship. NAIC has been recognized by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) as an event that “Advances America.”
“Congratulations to all of the competitors,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Their inspection skill and dedication to safety sets the bar high for inspectors nationwide and keeps trucks and buses operating safely on our highways.”
NAIC’s purpose is to recognize the inspector for demonstrating inspector excellence. NAIC contestants are evaluated in the following six categories: 1. North American Standard Level I Inspection; 2. North American Standard Level I Inspection Procedures; 3. North American Standard HazMat/Transportation of Dangerous Goods Inspection; 4. North American Standard Cargo Tank/Other Bulk Packagings Inspection; 5. North American Standard Level V Passenger Vehicle (Motorcoach) Inspection; and, 6. North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Exam.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
For more information contact:
Laura Zabriskie, Director, Communications & Marketing
lauraz@cvsa.org
301-830-6152
2011
CVSA’S ROADCHECK KEEPS COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY IN CHECK
Inspections Emphasize Importance of Vehicle, Driver Compliance to Drive Down Highway Deaths
WASHINGTON, DC (July 7, 2011) – Results from Roadcheck 2011, the three-day, commercial vehicle safety enforcement and education campaign organized annually by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), reveal that the commercial motor carrier and motor coach industries continue to improve the maintenance and safety of their operations, with overall out-of-service (OOS) rates being the lowest since Roadcheck began in 1988.
“Although overall out-of-service rates are at record lows, there is room for improvement until the roads are free from vehicle and driver violations,” said CVSA’s Executive Director Stephen A. Keppler. “Events that focus on ensuring vehicles and drivers are complying with the law, like Roadcheck and all roadside inspections, draw critical attention to out-of-service rates and are shown to also impact crash reductions.”
Nearly 8,000 CVSA and FMCSA certified inspectors at 2,550 locations across North America performed 70,712 truck and bus inspections in 72 hours. Inspectors focused on the North American Standard (NAS) Level I inspection, motorcoach inspections, hours of service logbooks, and household goods (HHG) carriers.
Once again, hours of service logbook violations lead overwhelmingly as a percentage of all driver violations cited (52.5 percent of all driver out-of-service violations). The hours of service rules are designed to reduce driver fatigue which may be a contributing factor in large truck and bus crashes. Inspectors also queried drivers of their use of electronic logging devices; 14 percent were using them.
An additional emphasis was placed on identifying carriers of household goods (HHG) operating “under-the-radar” by using improperly marked rental vehicles and/or operating as a for-hire property carrier rather than HHG carrier. The twelve states that participated in the HHG focus activity identified 32 carriers that required enforcement action.
During Roadcheck 2011 approximately 16 trucks or buses were inspected, on average, every minute for the 72 hours of the event, from June 7-9, occurring from Canada to Mexico. Drivers were pulled over or directed into weigh stations or other inspection locations and asked to show their commercial driver’s license, medical examiner’s certificate and record of duty status. Brakes, tires, lights and every major safety component of the truck or bus, plus proper load securement were also examined during Roadcheck. While Roadcheck has taken place every year since 1988, it is important to note that roadside inspections occur every day across North America, to the tune of more than 3.9 million in 2010.
CVSA sponsors Roadcheck each year with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).
“Roadcheck is about law enforcement partners throughout North America working together for greater truck and bus safety,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “The fact is, federal, state, and provincial safety inspectors across the continent are on the job every day vigorously enforcing commercial vehicle and driver safety regulations. For all of us, that is our year-round mission and passion.”
Roadcheck data from 2011 show the overall vehicle compliance rate at 80.7 percent (80.0 percent in 2010), with an overall driver compliance rate of 95.8 percent (95.6 percent from last year). For NAS Level I inspections, the compliance rates were up to 77.2 percent for vehicles (76.7 percent in 2010) and 96.3 percent for drivers (unchanged from 2010). In addition, there were 296 fewer safety belt violations in 2011 (863 vs. 1,159 in 2010).
Inspections of passenger carrying vehicles found a vehicle compliance rate of 91.3 percent in 2011 vs. 91.0 percent in 2010. The motorcoach driver compliance rate was 97.4 percent -- in 2010 it was 96.4 percent. Hazardous materials inspections resulted in a vehicle compliance rate of 82.1 percent (83.7 percent in 2010) and driver compliance rate of 97.5 percent (unchanged from previous year). There were 29,609 CVSA Decals issued to vehicles that passed the inspection, up from the number issued in 2010 (26,605).
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with commercial motor vehicle crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
# # #
ROADCHECK 2011 FACT SHEET
Driver results for the vehicle types were as follows:
- All inspections: 95.8 percent of drivers passed, and 4.2 percent were placed out of service (4.4 percent were out of service in 2010).
- All Level I inspections: 96.3 percent of drivers passed, and 3.7 percent were placed out of service (3.7 percent were out of service in 2010).
- HazMat: 97.5 percent of drivers passed, and 2.5 percent were placed out of service (2.5 percent were out of service in 2010).
- Passenger carrying vehicles: 97.4 percent of drivers passed, and 2.6 percent were placed out of service in 2011 (3.6 percent were placed out of service in 2010).
Vehicle results were as follows:
- All inspections: 80.7 percent of vehicles passed, and 19.3 percent were placed out of service (20.0 percent were out of service in 2010).
- All Level I inspections: 77.2 percent of vehicles passed, and 22.8 percent were placed out of service (23.3 percent were out of service in 2010).
- HazMat: 82.1 percent of vehicles passed the inspection, and 17.9 percent were placed out of service (16.3 percent were out of service in 2010).
- Passenger carrying vehicles: 91.3 percent of vehicles passed the inspection, and 8.7 percent were placed out of service (9.0 percent were out of service in 2010).
Other observations:
- The motor coach emphasis for 2011 resulted in the second highest number of inspections—1,217 conducted on buses.
- Drivers were surveyed on logbook type. Eighty-six percent of drivers use paper log books in the U.S. in 2011.
- Vehicle out-of-service rates from Level I inspections were the second lowest on record for Roadcheck, at 22.8 percent.
The specific Out-of-Service (OOS) violation percentage distributions (numbers indicate a percentage of the total OOS violations discovered) from 2009-11 are shown below:
2011
CVSA URGES CONGRESS TO LIFT BAN ON ENROUTE ROADSIDE BUS INSPECTIONS
Pledges Aggressive, Immediate Infusion of Enforcement Activity to Enhance Bus, Highway Safety
WASHINGTON, DC (June 14, 2011) – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) today urged Congress to lift the current restriction in the law that prohibits enroute bus inspections and pledged to immediately encourage all state members to take aggressive enforcement action when warranted.
“SAFETEA-LU enacted this restriction, which has removed a critical tool designed to immediately identify driver and mechanical safety issues, hampering enforcement’s efforts,” said CVSA’s Vice President David Palmer in his testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on How to Improve Bus Safety on Our Nation’s Highways. “We are firm believers that many more lives could be saved and injuries avoided if enroute roadside inspections were once again permitted to allow states to conduct these inspections when and where necessary.”
All states have bus safety and enforcement programs in place ensuring the safety of passengers which reflect their differing needs. For example, many states on the east coast need to target “curbside” operators, those that do not typically operate out of a fixed location or terminal. Therefore enroute inspections are often the most effective way to inspect them. Another big challenge in the industry is “chameleon” carriers, those that frequently change names and DOT numbers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), working cooperatively with states, must be given the authority to transfer past safety performance activity from one carrier to another when it’s discovered they are substantially the same operation.
CVSA recommended that FMCSA be given more authority over brokers and that companies that purchase transportation for a customer or customers need to be held accountable for not conducting the proper due diligence for safety. Brokers who are discovered not doing the proper due diligence and are hiring unsafe operators need to be shut down, said CVSA.
Unlike trucking companies, inter-city passenger carriers have been exempt from any hours-of-service changes in recent years. Since driver fatigue seems to have been a contributing factor in a number of recent bus crashes, CVSA recommended FMCSA study whether the current hours of service rules for bus drivers are adequate, and if warranted based on data and analysis, propose necessary changes.
“If Congress chooses to once again enable enroute bus inspections, CVSA will commit to assisting the states and FMCSA by immediately conducting enroute bus inspections, as well as continuing strike forces and other enforcement activities throughout the country,” said Palmer. “We believe this is the most appropriate and effective response to immediately impact bus safety.”
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA visit www.cvsa.org.
2011
With “Teens and Trucks,” the Roadmap this Summer is on Safety
Staying Out of a Truck’s “No Zone” and “No Texting Promise” Take Aim at Teen Driving Safety
BETHESDA, MD (June 2, 2011) – Teenagers from the National Capital region today pledged to make this summer safer for all drivers by giving large trucks plenty of room, avoiding their blind spots and signing a “No Texting Promise” during a truck safety demonstration organized by national safety officials and families of distracted driving crash victims.
Standing beside a 53-foot long tractor trailer in front of Walt Whitman High School, officials representing the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) spoke to students from Maryland and the District of Columbia about the critical importance of driving safely around big trucks. A fully loaded tractor trailer requires roughly twice the distance to stop that a passenger vehicle requires. In addition, tractor trailers have sizeable blind spots, otherwise known as “No Zones,” areas that motorist must avoid.
“We want everyone to be safe, but as newer drivers, teens must adhere to a few simple rules,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “They are: buckle up, don’t drink and drive; don’t speed, don’t text or use your phone, and steer clear of a truck’s blind spots.”
The latest data from U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System show that the deadliest days of the year for teens ages 15-19 are in the months of May, June, July and August. During these four months, nearly twice as many teens died on the roads each day as compared to the rest of the year – for an average of nearly 16 deaths per day (15.9) – compared to an average of nearly nine deaths (8.8) per day during the year as a whole.
Individuals in the 16 to 24 age group have the highest traffic crash death rate in the county. Between 2005 and 2009 (the most recent year for which data are available), nearly 4,000 people from this age group were killed in crashes involving large trucks .
"Prom, graduation, and summer are fantastic times for youth to celebrate and enjoy. However, with these fun times come unfortunate tragedies,” said Sandy Spavone, President of the National Organization for Youth Safety (NOYS). “Through education, enforcement, and legislation lives can be saved and injuries prevented."
“Do not expect that having a driver's license is a right that comes without responsibility or risk,” said Steve Keppler, Executive Director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). “Be accountable for your actions, spread the word to your friends and parents, and help create a culture of safety. Most importantly, take the driving task seriously. You never know the impact you can have that ultimately could save your life or someone else's."
During the presentation, the students also heard stories of personal tragedies from distracted driving crash victims.
On the day of her graduation from Muhlenberg College in May 2008, Jacy Good of White Plains, New York, was involved in a crash on a Berks County, Pennsylvania, road that was caused by an 18-year-old driver who was on his cell phone and failed to observe a red light. Good was severely injured in the crash; both of her parents, Jean and Jay Good, were killed.
Laurie Kelly of Takoma Park, Maryland, spoke of her 23-year-old son, Dan Woldtvedt, who died on his way to his first job after college. He was using his cell phone at the time of the crash that occurred in Colorado.
Following the presentation by the speakers, students were given a demonstration of the tractor-trailer’s “No Zones” by a member of the Maryland State Police. Students also signed a “No Texting Promise” poster.
The “Teens and Trucks” educational tool kit, including radio and television public service spots, is available for downloading free of charge at www.cvsa.org/programs/teens_and_trucks_toolkit.aspx or at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
2011
CVSA TRUCK, BUS INSPECTORS CONDUCT SAFETY CHECK DURING ANNUAL EVENT
Program Educates Drivers on Importance of Driving Without Distractions, Logbook Enforcement
WASHINGTON, DC (May 25, 2011) – Truck and bus safety inspectors will be on the job night and day during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 72-hour International Roadcheck June 7-9, 2011 checking vehicles and their drivers at inspection sites along major highways across North America. In addition, roving patrols will inspect vehicles and drivers traveling other roadways.
“Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspectors work diligently every day to ensure that the commercial vehicles using our highways do so as safely as possible,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s executive director. “While a significant majority of vehicle operators are highly responsible, conscientious, and safe; a few in the minority are less so. CMV inspectors provide a vital service to check driver and vehicle safety fitness to help keep our roads safe and clear from preventable crashes, backups, and a needless loss of lives.”
Since its inception in 1988, the roadside inspections conducted during the annual Roadcheck have numbered over one million, resulting in more than 234 lives saved and 4,293 injuries avoided. It has also provided for the distribution of countless pieces of educational literature and safety events to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and the roadside inspection program.
Although actual percentage estimates vary, it is widely acknowledged that driver fatigue is a factor in many commercial truck and bus crashes. For this reason, Federal regulations limit the number of both consecutive and cumulative hours a commercial driver may operate his or her vehicle without an off-duty rest period. Enforcement of these limits (which are currently under revision by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation) is essential to ensuring compliance and combating driver fatigue. With the recent increased attention being made relative to driver hours of service and electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs), Roadcheck will emphasize checking driver logbooks and underscore to drivers the importance of maintaining their logbooks, taking breaks, preventing fatigue, and driving without distractions.
This year, Roadcheck 2011 will include added emphasis on finding carriers of household goods (HHG) who may be operating “under-the-radar” by using improperly marked rental vehicles and/or operating as a property carrier rather than HHG carrier. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has noticed a disproportionate drop in HHG carrier registrations and believes some HHG carriers are commercially moving household goods either in unmarked rental or leased vehicles or in vans/trailers that are marked but with improper authority. As a result, CVSA inspectors will put a sharper focus on this activity and take any necessary enforcement action.
“Expanding this year’s Roadcheck to include household goods movers, along with trucks and buses, reflects our strong commitment to stepping up commercial vehicle safety enforcement and saving lives on our nation’s roadways,” said Anne S. Ferro, administrator for FMCSA. “We want every commercial motor carrier and driver to embrace safety as their number one priority. Roadcheck drives home this lifesaving message.”
As with each annual Roadcheck, passenger carrying vehicles also are included in inspections. In light of recent, highly-publicized fatal bus crashes, CVSA inspectors will continue their emphasis in 2011, to ensure passenger carriers operate safely.
CVSA will hold its international press conference June 7, 2011 in Virginia at the Dumfries Scalehouse on I-95 North (mile marker 152) at 10:00 a.m. which will include speakers from FMCSA and local agencies, safety organizations and industry partners. In addition, the Virginia State Police will be pulling commercial motor vehicles, including unoccupied motor coaches off the Interstate and screening vehicles that need to be inspected.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA visit www.cvsa.org.
2011
CVSA URGES USE OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL SHIPMENTS
Technologies Would Benefit Safety, Security, Inspections, Tracking of DOE HazMat Shipments
WASHINGTON, DC (May 13, 2011) – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is recommending that the Department of Energy (DOE) choose the most reliable and promising technologies for future use and pay special attention to shipment security and tracking. CVSA presented the findings of its report titled “Safety and Security Technologies for Radioactive Material Shipments” earlier this week at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management’s National Transportation Stakeholders Forum in Denver, CO.
“The technologies that were examined during this study are changing on a constant basis,” said Larry Stern, CVSA’s Director of the Level VI Program. “Specific technologies that are currently available and that CVSA recommends for the safety and security of radioactive material shipments are RFID, GPS, biometrics, seals and locks. These technologies have been tested, in operation for some time, and have good performance records.”
The report, published in April 2011, recommends DOE: Involve the regional state government groups in the overall process; Address all five technology application areas presented in the report; Pay special attention to shipment security and tracking indicating that stakeholders are especially interested in tracking not just the tractors, but the trailers and shipping casks as well; Make a special effort to involve stakeholders from states who currently do en route inspections due to state laws or policies; Upgrade TRANSCOM to report in real time the dose rate measurements of the package; and, follow the progress of the Hazardous Materials Cooperative Research Program (HMCRP) Project report studying electronic shipping papers and obtain a copy of the final report for review and possible implementation.
As part of the report process, CVSA reviewed current technologies considered important to the safety and security of radioactive material shipments then reviewed nine emerging technologies identified by the Transportation Research Board project report with respect to the five technology applications areas important to the safety and security of radioactive material shipments. .
CVSA also examined several current and emerging technologies that have potential to benefit the safety and security of DOE radioactive material shipments. The technologies were evaluated for relevance to one or more of five application areas considered to have importance to the safety and security of radioactive material shipments. The conclusions address each of the five application areas are as follows: Inspection Technologies; Security Technologies (Driver, Power Unit, Trailer and, Shipping Casks); Radioactive Material Dose Rate Measurement and Isotope Quantification Technologies; Shipment and Tracking Technologies (tractor, trailer, and individual casks); and, Electronic Shipping Paper Technologies.
To view the complete report visit www.cvsa.org, click on Programs, then click on the Level VI Program, then “Report updates.”
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA visit www.cvsa.org.
2011
CVSA JOINS WORLD PARTNERS IN SUPPORT OF U.N. DECADE OF ACTION
Urges All Road Users to Actively Engage in Highway Safety
WASHINGTON, DC (May 11, 2011) – With traffic-related deaths and injuries reaching epidemic proportions worldwide, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) stands in support the United Nation’s Decade for Action for Road Safety campaign to increase the public’s awareness of this problem and urges all stakeholders to take action to save lives and prevent deaths and injuries.
Nearly 1.3 million people worldwide die as a result of road traffic collisions every year, making road traffic injuries the tenth leading cause of death globally. That number is projected to increase to 1.9 million by the year 2020. The Decade of Action for Road Safety has a goal of stabilizing and then reducing the level of worldwide road fatalities by bringing more attention to safety at regional, national, and global levels.
“CVSA shares the U.N.’s concern that road traffic deaths and injuries have reached epidemic proportions and need to be addressed urgently by all people who use public roads,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s executive director. “CVSA and its partners work tirelessly to prevent large truck and bus-related crashes. And while the commercial vehicle industry has made significant progress, clearly much more can be done to see that not one additional life is put at risk. We appreciate the U.N. and World Health Organization for raising the global awareness of this issue.”
The Decade of Action will launch on May 11, with ceremonies held throughout the world, including New York City and Washington, D.C.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA visit www.cvsa.org.
2011
CUTTING FUNDING BELOW CURRENT LEVELS WILL WEAKEN CMV ENFORCEMENT
Flexible Grants Key to Enhancing Enforcement’s Ability to Remove Unsafe CMV Operators from Road
WASHINGTON, DC (March 31, 2011) – The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) warned Congress that funding commercial motor vehicle safety programs at lower than current levels would weaken state enforcement efforts. As a result, enforcement would be unable to maintain the progress that has been made and large truck-related injuries and deaths could tick upwards.
“We are finally heading in the right direction with a downward trend in heavy truck fatalities. With the economy picking up and highway traffic increasing, I don’t believe we could continue that trend if the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) and state safety grant funds are cut,” said Capt. Steve Dowling, president of CVSA. Dowling was speaking before the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, during a two-day hearing on March 29-30, 2011 on the reauthorization of the nation’s surface transportation programs.
CVSA urged Congress to continue to focus funds on enhancing the MCSAP, as there is FMCSA data indicating that roadside inspections and traffic enforcement have a clear and substantial safety benefit, and are providing a tremendous return on the investment of tax dollars.
“Through targeted investments we can improve upon our successes and provide the necessary tools for enhancing enforcement’s ability to remove the unsafe operators from the road,” said Dowling. “We recommend making the safety grant programs more flexible and streamlining the administrative and delivery processes to reflect the reality of today.”
Dowling outlined a number of areas to enhance motor carrier safety and recommendations for streamlining and providing a razor focus to programs. These recommendations included: Flexibility and Streamlining of Motor Carrier Safety Grant Programs; Maintenance of Effort (MOE); Bus Safety; Carrier Exemptions from Motor Carrier Safety Regulations; Truck Size and Weight; Motor Carrier Safety Technologies; and, Carrier Registration, Credentialing and Data Integrity.
Approximately 75 percent of all large truck fatalities are multi-vehicle crashes between cars and large trucks, and flexibility in the use of funds is critical to effectively targeting the problems.
Some regions need to focus on the crashes caused by drivers following too closely, speeding, and unsafe lane changes by both the car and the truck or bus. In rural areas, the crash picture is heavily influenced by fatigued driving. States should have the flexibility that would allow them to focus the necessary resources on what problems they are experiencing. Tying into this is the MOE requirement for MCSAP, a formula provided for in SAFETEA-LU which currently operates as a disincentive to states to expand existing programs and create new and innovative approaches to motor carrier safety. CVSA recommended the MOE formula be tied to a stationary period, specifically three fiscal periods preceding the enactment of the Motor Carrier Improvement Act of 1999 and indexed for inflation.
To address the number of recent, high-profile bus-related crashes, CVSA recommends the removal of the current restriction in SAFETEA-LU prohibiting roadside bus inspections except in the case of an imminent or obvious safety hazard. States need the ability to inspect buses randomly just as they do trucks, which currently they are not able to do. Lifting this prohibition alone could avert many potential crashes by allowing enforcement to be more proactive. FMCSA also should study whether the current hours-of-service rules for motorcoach operators are adequate, and, if warranted, propose changes for motorcoach operations.
Uniformity in enforcement is key to successfully driving down CMV-related deaths. Whether it is a bus or a utility service truck, uniform and consistent inspections need to be reinforced. Increasingly, however, more exemptions are being enacted through the statutory and regulatory processes. For example, SAFETEA-LU provided HOS exemptions for utility service drivers and agricultural transporters. Data from FMCSA indicates that in these two sectors their safety performance has declined, and this cannot be tolerated.
CVSA realizes there is an interest in improving truck productivity and the first step should be to conduct a comprehensive truck size and weight study. Increasing productivity should not come at the expense of safety and bridge and infrastructure protection.
Advancements in crashworthiness and passenger protection systems need to be accelerated to the market. Providing a tax credit is the quickest way to promote wider usage of these technologies such as collision avoidance, lane departure warning, stability control, and brake stroke monitoring. All are effective and have been proven to save lives and reduce injuries by carriers and do not need further study.
To read CVSA’s entire comments to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, click here.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with CMV crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
2011
CVSA EMPHASIZES PROPOSED HOS REGULATION CHANGES MUST BE SIMPLE, ENFORCEABLE
Proposed Changes are Overly Complex, Opens Door to Falsification, Enforcement Challenges
WASHINGTON, DC (March 7, 2011) – In recently submitted comments on FMCSA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Hours Of Service (HOS) for commercial drivers, CVSA indicated if implemented the proposed rules could have the unintended consequence of reducing overall CMV and motorist safety. According to CVSA, the changes could make roadside enforcement more complex and open the door toward more drivers falsifying their records.
“Each year, CVSA certified inspectors conduct nearly four million inspections all across North America which provides CVSA with an unmatched level of real-world experience in commercial driver and vehicle safety,” said CVSA’s Executive Director Stephen A. Keppler. “The consensus from our state & jurisdictional enforcement members regarding these proposed rules is that they are confusing and not easily understood. The proposed rules, in our view, will be more difficult to enforce roadside than the rules in place today.”
As CMV crash rates have declined significantly while the current HOS rules have been in effect, CVSA contends the Agency’s proposal does not appear to substantiate the need for the proposed regulatory changes. Instead, CVSA encourages enabling more tools for enhancing enforcement and additional exploration of the effect between HOS, fatigue and performance before considering any drastic changes to the current rules.
CVSA cited enforceability as the most challenging portion of these proposed changes. With no current regulation requiring supporting documents for drivers to maintain on the vehicle, inspectors will have a more difficult time checking the validity of record of duty status (RODS) entries. Additionally, falsification is a major concern as in some cases fueling, loading, unloading, and other forms of on-duty time will be listed on the RODS as resting in, or upon, a parked vehicle.
The NPRMs for both HOS and Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBRs) also provide no funding provisions for the training of enforcement personnel and technology upgrades that will be necessary. With no additional funding provided to enforcement entities already stretched thin by limited resources, further enforcement needs could go unmet. As a result, uniformity may degrade under the proposal as compared to the current set of rules.
CVSA also recommended that FMCSA facilitate and promote the implementation of Fatigue Management Programs and Driver Health and Wellness Programs in the industry.
To read CVSA’s submitted comments, click here.
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial, and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. The Alliance actively monitors, evaluates, and identifies solutions to potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures related to driver and vehicle safety requirements most often associated with CMV crashes. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA, visit www.cvsa.org.
