Exciting things are happening here at CAB. We hope that you have taken the time to check out the new enhancements to the Premium section of our Subscriber web site. Is it a chameleon carrier™? Is its location really an apartment building? CAB is here to answer those and many other questions about your accounts. We would love your feedback and comments on the new changes and we look forward to further enhancements in the coming year.
We also published our annual review of the industry with an eye toward coming events in 2012. If you have not had a chance to check it out, you can view it here.
And big news! We will be moving to an upgraded facility very soon. CAB is moving to the Jersey Shore! Once we get ourselves set up visits are welcome!
This month we report:
CSA FACTSHEETS – The CSA now provides 7 separate factsheets on the makeup of the seven basics. The factsheets, which can be viewed here, provide information on what steps a carrier can take to minimize scores and can assist underwriters in understanding the reasons for the scores that you are viewing on our website.
REVISED HOUSEHOLD GOODS REGULATIONS – The Surface Transportation Bureau has issued revised rulings for valuation limitations for household goods carriers. The first change will require moving companies to provide certain information on the written estimate (a) a disclosure statement explaining that customers may select either replacement value (full-value protection) for lost or damaged goods or, for a lower rate, a lesser level of protection; and (b) an estimate of the cost of a move under full-value protection. In addition, $6.00 will be the new per-pound value to be used to ascertain the value of a shipment when the consumer selects full-value protection and either does not write in a total value for the shipment or writes in a total value that is below the floor. The ultimate total value for the shipment will be deemed to be either $6.00 times the weight of the shipment in pounds or $6,000, whichever is higher. A complete copy of the rulemaking can be viewed here.
TRUCKING INVESTIGATION – Results were released of a computer-assisted investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation using heavy truck inspection data from 2003 to 2008 in Northwest Indiana. The numbers are expected to be reflective of trends throughout the country. Of the 8,929 trucks inspected, more than 1 in 4 were found to have out of service violations. Drive book violations were high, as well as driver fatigue, with more than 1,400 violations for hours of service violations.
FMCSA AUTHORITY GLITCH – Computer glitches hit everyone. This month a technical upgrade to the FMCSA licensing and insurance information system was supposed to have brought the system up to regulatory compliance on mandatory cargo liability insurance reporting. Instead, some motor carriers are erroneously receiving notices regarding authority. A notice sent out by the Department of Transportation states that the glitch could affect 4,000 carriers nationwide, and it immediately affected 136 carriers. We are still trying to get to the bottom of this as it appears that the DOT is still revoking the authority of some contract carriers of household goods who do not have cargo filings, even though the regulation indicates that they do not need the filing.
FMCSA STATE OF THE UNION – As is customary in the month of January, government agencies tout their coming plans for the year. The FMCSA has indicated that it will publish rules of medical examiners, a drug and alcohol clearing house, mandatory EORB rules and will make some more changes to CSA.
