Peek Usaility Test of Our Home Page

http://peek.usertesting.com/ is a cool tool to help you asses the usability of your websites. It is a free service. All I can say is "Points taken. Thank you very much". Check out our site for yourself http://safetyasaservice.com

LCV Regulation Clarified-Again

Don't feel bad if this LCV Regulation stumps you. It stumps me at times too. Here is more clarification from our previous post.

Your experienced driver can teach and certify the skills portion. They could have written this regulation much better.

Any driver that has more than 2 years experience (with a similar type of vehicle) can teach and certify if they meet the requirements of 380.111(b).

A driver with less than 2 years experience can teach and certify if they have experience teaching the operation of an LCV within the last 2 years. That is the waiver in 380.303 (b). 

Essentially, A driver with more than 2 years experience can teach. A driver with less than 2 years can teach if they have taught. Figure out that logic.

You can use safetyasaservice.com to satisfy the classroom portion of the regulation and obtain the docs required.

LCV Skills Instructor Requirements Reg. Subpart Requirements 380.301 c Valid Class A Doubles/Triples Endorsement More Than 2 Years operating similar vehicle. 380.303 b Waived if: -1 Meets 380.111(b) -2 Operated a similar type of vehicle within the previous 2 Years -3 Has taught the operation of an LCV within the previous 2 years. 380.111 b An individual must certify that, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of application for a Certificate of Grandfathering, he/she had: -1 A valid Class A CDL with a “double/triple trailers” endorsement; -2 No more than one driver's license; -3 No suspension, revocation, or cancellation of his/her CDL; -4 No convictions for a major offense while operating a CMV as defined in § 383.51(b) of this subchapter; -5 No convictions for a railroad-highway grade crossing offense while operating a CMV as defined in § 383.51(d) of this subchapter; -6 No convictions for violating an out-of-service order as defined in § 383.51(e) of this subchapter; -7 No more than one conviction for a serious traffic violation, as defined in § 383.5 of this subchapter, while operating a CMV; and -8 No convictions for a violation of State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control arising in connection with any traffic crash while operating a CMV.

Two easy ways to improve your company's safety rating

As you may know, the safety of a trucking company is tracked on the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Safety Measurement System (SMS).  Performance is divided into Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC) scores, which inform the DOT if intervention is necessary.  It is important that companies actively manage their BASIC scores to avoid attracting unwanted attention from the DOT.  Watching and improving BASIC scores can also result in lower insurance costs, but how can a company improve these scores?

                The vehicle maintenance and driver fitness BASICs are two of the easiest areas to improve.  Most of the violations that a company will receive in the driver fitness category are for drivers having expired DOT cards.  Make sure that someone is keeping a running list of medical card expiration dates.  Sure drivers should be responsible for keeping their DOT cards up to date but, it becomes the company’s problem when driver’s medical cards expire.  Now let’s talk about vehicle maintenance. 

                There is the old saying that “a camel is just a horse made by committee,” but committees can be helpful.  Creating a maintenance committee that is comprised of drivers, dispatchers, and the head of maintenance could help improving the company’s vehicle maintenance BASIC.  Allowing employees to identify and solve maintenance issues will give them more ownership of maintenance.  One note of caution about committees is that they can become a forum for complaints and morale killing, so it is important that management be present to steer the clear of becoming counter-productive.

Safety as a Service in Action

Watch http://safetyasservice.com in action. This video will show you the basics. You can hire drivers, manage drivers and provide training all from one place.




Give Safety as a Service a try today for Free. No Credit Card Needed!

Safety as a Service Rolls Out A New Look

Safety as a Service is proud to roll out a new user interface. The site is now a responsive website. It adjusts itself to match the screen it is being viewed on. It is easier to navigate and find information faster. The new design matches our desire to help with all aspects of the driver. From hiring a driver to training to compliance, Safety as a Service has it all.

How would you like to manage your drivers online and in one place? By managing we mean having a place to login and see a list of all of your drivers and being able to view important data on each driver, perform tasks, and keep track of every aspect of their day - to - day activities. 

Raise your hand if you need a driver! How would you like to have a place to go every time you needed a driver without having to place ads and without having to collect paper applications?

 

How about seeing a list of all your driver applications in an easy to use and sort-able list?







How would you like to be featured in our job board that goes out to a massive list of potential drivers that are literally looking right now? And work with a company that is constantly combing the land for new drivers so you don't have to?







How would you like to keep track of your driver's applications, drug test's, accidents, and training all in one place and accessible anywhere you can log in with a computer? On a team? Wouldn't it be great if your team members could have access to all that data as well without having to ask you for it?

Give it a spin today with a free trial (no credit card needed). Free Trial

Lawsuit Against a Trucking Company. Part 2

This is the continuation of part 1.  It starts to heat up in post 2. We have a new shocking revelation.  Read on:

22             Q. Sir, I’m going to hand you what's been marked as

23      Defendants' — excuse me, Plaintiffs Exhibit 1, and can you

24      tell me if that is the personnel file or the driver

25      qualification file?

Page 7

1             A. It looks like a combination of both. It has his

2       W-4 and wages and wage assignment. It looks like it's

3       combined.

4              Q. Is that file kept in the ordinary course of

5       business at Skyways Delivery?

6              A. Yes.

7              Q. Who is the person charged with maintaining that

8       file at that business?

9              A. Currently, it's Stephanie Molly.

10             Q. And who was responsible for keeping that file in

11      the year 2000?

12             A. Jean Hicks.

13             Q. And is that a true and correct copy of both the

14      personnel file and the driver qualification file for Mr.

15      Bennington that was kept at Sky Ways Transportation?

16             A. Yes.

17             Q. And is that a copy of the entire file?

18             A. Yes.

19             Q. Now, who was it that hired Mr. Bennington?

20              A. Mike Robinson.

21              Q. And that's your father?

22              A. Uncle.

23              Q. Your uncle. And what was his job there then?

24              A. Owner/vice president.

25              Q. Who are the other owners?

Page 8

1            A. Mike  Robinson, Larry Robinson, Joe Robinson; and at the time,

2      that was it.

3             Q. Do your records indicate whether you did any

4      background checks on Mr. Bennington at the time you hired him?

5            A. Yes.

6             Q. Okay. What background check did you do on him?

7             A. Motor vehicle, his driving record, and we pulled

8      his motor vehicle report. We have a statement of his

9      violations within the previous year.

10            Q. Is there any information in that driver's

11     qualification file from previous employers?

12            A. There is a list of previous employers.

13            Q. And did you make any inquiry with them as to Mr.

14     Bennington's character or qualifications as a driver?

15            A. I do not see a written record of that.

16            Q. Do you know if that's one of the requirements of

17     the federal motor carrier safety regulations?

118 A. Three years prior is required.

19            Q. And can you tell me from that file what efforts

20      were made to inquire for the three years prior regarding Mr.

21      Bennington at the time you hired him?

22            A. I don't see any written documentation.

23            Q. When did you first learn that Mr. Bennington was a

24      convicted methamphetamine dealer?

25            A. Yesterday.

Part 3 is coming soon.

LCV Trainer or Instructor Requirements

The first thing to consider is the type of LCV instructor.


 


 There are two types of LCV instructors; classroom and skills.

 1. A classroom instructor may administer only instruction that does not involve the operation of an LCV or one of its components. Our training courses at http://safetyasaservice.com will assist you with the classroom portion.

 2. A skills instructor may administer behind-the-wheel training but they must meet the specific requirements. To qualify as an LCV skills instructor, a person shall:

 (1) Provide evidence of successful completion of an LCV Driver-Training Program requirements. The Driver-Training Program must be for the operation of CMVs representative of the subject matter that he/she will teach. CDL College can help you with this portion.
(2) Possess a valid Class A CDL with all endorsements necessary to operate an LCV Doubles and/or LCV Triples.
(3) Have at least 2 years' driving experience, in the same type of vehicle, that you will be teaching.
(4) If the driver has less than 2 years operating a representative vehicle: Has taught the operation of an LCV within the previous 2 years.

Edit: More Clarification is Here.

The driving requirements are easy enough to fulfill. The trouble comes with the teaching requirements in number 4.

FMCSA does not define what that teaching experience means. The teaching requirement is over a two year period. You can make the determination, as to, what constitutes teaching. The train-trainer course at CDL College  will afford you some training, by default, to other people.

And the last requirements have to do with your motor vehicle record. An individual must certify that, during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of application for a Certificate of Grandfathering, he/she had:

(1) A valid Class A CDL with a “double/triple trailers” endorsement;
(2) No more than one driver's license;
(3) No suspension, revocation, or cancellation of his/her CDL;
(4) No convictions for a major offense while operating a CMV as defined in §383.51(b) of this subchapter; (5) No convictions for a railroad-highway grade crossing offense while operating a CMV as defined in §383.51(d) of this subchapter;
(6) No convictions for violating an out-of-service order as defined in §383.51(e) of this subchapter;
(7) No more than one conviction for a serious traffic violation, as defined in §383.5 of this subchapter, while operating a CMV; and
(8) No convictions for a violation of State or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control arising in connection with any traffic crash while operating a CMV.
(9) An individual must certify and provide evidence that he/she:
   (a) Is regularly employed in a job requiring the operation of a CMV that requires a CDL with a double/triple trailers endorsement; and
  (b) Has operated, during the 2 years immediately preceding the date of application for a Certificate of Grandfathering, vehicles representative of the type of LCV that he/she seeks to continue operating.

D.O.T and FMCSA Compliance Course

Small carriers, owner-operators, and even the big guys, need to follow FMCSA and D.O.T. compliance rules. Small carrier’s struggle to piece together the information required to stay compliant.

This Free on line course will guide you through the Steps to Safety and FMCSA compliance.

The below video will give you a nice overview of the course.


This course has 5 sections and is an interactive guide to kick-start your safety efforts.

• Driver Qualification File
• Hours of Service
• Drug and Alcohol Compliance
• Maintenance, Accidents, and Financial Responsibilities
• Glossary of Terms

You need every piece of this puzzle to stay compliant. Work on one section at a time. Leave this guide on your computer until you have mastered the system.

• Click on Driver Qualification……… Read about the general rules…
• Now, click on number 2…………… The rules regarding the Employment Application will appear……
• Click on the number 391.21. It will link you to the FMCSA rule which has additional information.
• Follow through the numbers, complete the tasks, and you will have one complete Driver Qualification File.
• Repeat the same procedure for the other categories.

In addition to online training courses, www.safetyasaservice.com has all the tools needed to make D.O.T and FMCSA Compliance easier.