Summer is coming to a close once again and we will all start gearing up for the fall.  Back to school, back to work, back to the grind.  August was a fairly quiet month overall as the industry slowed down for a few quick breaths.  Have a wonderful Labor Day Holiday. This month we report:

CSA ATTTACK – A coalition of 10 industry groups has asked the DOT to prohibit public access to CSA safety ratings. The coalition is made up of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association; American Trucking Associations; American Bus Association; American Moving and Storage Association; National Private Truck Council; National School Transportation Association; National Tank Truck Carriers; Specialized Carriers and Rigging; Truckload Carriers Association; and the United Motor Coach Association. The coalition contends that removing the scores from public view will spare motor carriers from erroneous scores and will also prevent the public from being lulled into a false sense of security that they are hiring a safe motor carrier.

In other CSA news, the FMCSA announced the implementation of changes to allow the states to reflect the results of adjudicated citations related to roadside inspection violation data collected in the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). The policy on recording results of adjudicated citations in FMCSA data systems only applies to citations issued during roadside inspections occurring on or after Aug. 23, 2014. MCMIS has been modified to accept adjudication results showing that a citation was dismissed or resulted in a finding of not guilty; resulted in a conviction of a different charge; or, resulted in conviction of the original charge.

ATRI STUDY – The ATRI released its study, “Evaluating the Impact of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Disparities on Carrier Safety Performance”.  The report contends that carrier safety performance as represented by BASIC scores can be dramatically impacted by where a carrier operates.  The state’s varying enforcement priorities preclude uniformity in enforcement and can lead to an incorrect analysis of the true safety of the carrier.

FMCSA LEADER – T.F. “Scott” Darling has been designated the acting administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration effective Monday, August. 25. Darling will replace Anne Ferro.  Prior to his appointment to the FMCSA by President Obama in 2012, Darling served as deputy chief of staff and chief counsel for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

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Once again I am sitting hear at the base of the Green Mountains writing my July bits and pieces.  I will make this short so that I can head out for a hike.  We are settling in to our new space in Lakewood.  If you are passing by stop in and eat some of the candy that is everywhere you look thanks to Shuie.  Our reception area now has an information highway traveled by small trucks.  Thanks to those of you who have sent us your logo embossed trucks to join the information highway.  All are welcome to be displayed!  Send them over – we would love to add you to our information highway and show that you have the CABadvantage.  We will post pictures as we get the road filled.

This month we report:

ANNE FERRO RESIGNS – The administrator of the FMCSA, Anne Ferro, announced her resignation.  She will be become CEO and President of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. She has headed the FMCSA since 2009 and was the longest-serving administrator

ELECTRONIC LOGS – The FMCSA has agreed that it will begin accepting electronic logs as evidence of compliance with HOS regulations. Previously, drivers who prepared their logs on a computer and transmitted digitally signed copies of the log to their motor carrier were not in compliance with the regulations. The regulations stated that the logs must be in the drivers’ “own handwriting.” Drivers will be permitted to maintain electronic logs on their computers, tablets or smartphones and consider the driver in compliance with the regulations if an electronic signature is used. Drivers will be required to have the prior seven days of electronically signed logs available to be viewed on the device’s screen during an inspection. Law enforcement can request printed copies of the logs, and the driver must be given an opportunity to print the current and prior seven days.  If an electronic signature is not used, the driver will be required to print the electronic logs and manually sign them daily. Drivers will also be required to retain the prior seven days of manually signed logs.

NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS – The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a list of recommendations following its investigation into the collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River in Washington state.  The NTSB has recommended that states certify pilot car operators, ban unauthorized use of cell phones for pilot car operators, and require CDL holders to obtain endorsements on their licenses before they can haul oversized loads.

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