Safety as a Service FAQ

I am collecting and posting faq questions about Safety as a Service.

Are your training courses available via the Qualcomm MCP200?

Yes, our courses work on Qualcomm devices as long as the Qualcomm device can get internet access and play flash video content(Which most can).  There is two ways to activate the courses to play on Qualcomm.  1. If all of your drivers will be taking the courses on Qualcomm then after you get logged in, click on the Edit Company Info link in the blue link bar at the top of the page.  From there, you can read the description and activate the Qualcomm version of the courses for everyone.  2. If only a few drivers will be taking their courses on Qualcomm, then you just click on the drivers name to access their account info and then activate Qualcomm for each driver individually.

Is it possible to pick and choose courses that fit our needs, and does each course have a certificate upon completion?

Yes, the system is setup for you to group which courses you feel your drivers need and assign them to your drivers and track their progress.  All you have to do is click on the Driver Training tab after you log in and after you have added your drivers to the system that you want to train, then just click on the assign courses link in the blue link bar at the top.  From there you can preview courses and add only the ones you want to assign to your drivers.  It's a great system and extremely flexible.

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.

Bloodborne Pathogen Training

Bloodborne disease affects millions of Americans, and may do not know that they have a disease in their blood.  We have all heard of HIV and know that it is the disease that causes AIDS, but this is just one example of a bloodborne disease.  Hepatitis B is the most common bloodborne illness, and between 800,000 and 1.4 million people have this virus in the United States.  OSHA requires some employers to provide training on bloodborne illness, and Now Safety as a Service offers a quick and informative class on the subject.  Check it out at safetyasaservice.com 

Back and Spine Safety

According to the Bureau of labor statistics back injuries accounted for almost 19% of all work related injuries in the United States in 2012.  Workers with back injuries missed an average of 7 days of work due to their injury.  OSHA estimates that treatment of back injuries cost $50 billion annually.  The bottom line is that back injuries are not only frequent but costly to employers.  Make sure that you are discussing the importance of back safety with your employees.  Safety as a Service now offers an engaging course on the subject of back safety that provides tips on proper lifting techniques, and treatment methods.  Check the course out at www.safetyasaservice.com

Making a reasonable suspicion determination

Making a reasonable suspicion determination is never fun.  Make sure to document the date and time as well as the observed behavior or cause for the reasonable suspicion test.  Using a standardized form can ensure that all the correct steps are followed.  Approaching an employee who may be under the influence needs to be done in a way that shows concern for the employee. 

                 First and foremost do not show anger, and do not accuse the employee.  A positive drug or alcohol test can be a career ending event for a driver, and if you show anger towards the employee it could escalate the situation.  Let the employee know what you have observed (slurred speech, odor, motor skill problems) and ask if there could be another explanation for what you observed.  Tell the employee that they are going to be sent for a drug and/or alcohol test just to rule substances out as a possible cause. 

                Never have the employee drive themselves to the testing location, because if they cause an accident on the way the company could be liable for damages.  If you made the reasonable suspicion determination try to have someone else drive them to the testing site.  The employee will be less likely to get violent if they are not alone with the person who is having them sent for the test.  Remember that this you only have a suspicion that the employee is under the influence. 

                Sometimes suspicions can be wrong, so it is important that you are polite and respectful towards employees who are sent for reasonable suspicions. Being kind and professional saves face and avoids an awkward work relationship if the employee does not test positive.  Finally make sure that only supervisors that have taken a supervisor training course are making reasonable suspicion determinations.  Safety as aService offers an online training course for supervisors. 

Driver Instructions for Safety as a Service.com

Print this guide and give it to your driver. It will walk them through signing in and taking the courses.

1. Go to www.safetyasaservice.com

2. Login with the E-Mail and Password supplied by your company. Your company might not have known your email address when they signed you up. Your personal email address may not work. Make sure you get the email address from the company. You can change it to your personal email address after you sign in.

3.  You will end up at the overview page after you sign in. You will see the courses assigned to you. Click "View".

4. The course will open in a new window. The Overview Page will still be in it's existing window. Make sure to leave the over page open while you watch the course.

5. Watch the course all of the way through. Take all of the quizzes. Close the window when you are complete.

6. Closing the course window after completing the class triggers the Overview Page (that you left open). This action will tell the system your status.

 7. The main trouble shooting step is with your company. Get with the person that assigned you the course they can help you trouble shoot any logging-in errors. Logging-in errors are usually a mis-typed email address.

Lawsuit Against a Trucking Company. A First Hand Account. Part 1

I was a manager at a trucking company when a lawsuit landed on my desk. 2 years prior, a group of college kids, traveling between rival schools hit the back of our trailer. The driver was putting on snow chains. The lawsuit, and subsequent deposition, taught me a lot about following procedures and record keeping; specifically the Driver Qualification File.

The lawsuit against the trucking company was 15 years ago.
I have continued my management career in the trucking industry. I have shared the deposition with every new safety manager that I hire. No matter how much experience they have: they always come back wide-eyed.  I want to share the transcripts from the deposition.

Reading these posts will bring the Driver Qualification File to life. You get to see it in action. It is not merely a checklist or a file sitting in a cabinet.

I have disguised the names of companies and individuals. I hope that you learn something. The deposition is long. I will split the submissions into several posts.

Page 1
1.WHEREUPON, the following proceedings were taken
2.pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure.
3. *****
4.LAWRENCE ROBINSON,
5.having been first duly sworn to state the whole truth,
6.testified as follows:
7.EXAMINATION
8.BY MR.CHAPMAN:
9.Q:Would you tell us your name and address, please,
10.sir.
11.A: Lawrence— excuse me — Robinson, 12985 Baker Dr.
12.Kansas City, MO
13.Q: Mr. Robinson, I understand you've been elected to serve as a 30(b)(6) witness or a witness 14.that's familiar with and able to testify about certain matters that we have identified that we want to 15.talk to you about.
16.A: Correct.
18.Q:Have you read or reviewed anything in preparation for today's deposition?
19.A:I've reviewed with Katherine.
20.Q:Well, okay. Tell me what materials you've reviewed.
21.A:The list of questions.
22.Q: Okay. Did you look at any documents or files?
23.A:I looked at the driver qualification file.
24.Q:Is that the same as a personnel file?
25.A:The DOT -- there's two separate files you have to maintain. One's driving — driver qualification 26.and personnel file. They're two separate things. personnel file.
27.Q: Okay. And we asked you to prepare yourself to come here to talk about Mr. Bennington's 28.personnel file. First of all, do you know Mr. Bennington?
29.A:Yes, I do.
30.Q:And how do you know Mr. Bennington?
31.A:He was employed with Sky Ways Transportation, and 11.I was operations manager at the time.
32.Q Is that a company that your family owns?
33.A: Yes.
35.Q:When you say you're operations manager, were you
36..then Mr. Bennington's immediate supervisor?
37.A: Yes.
38.Q: So did you dispatch the vehicles, then?
39.A:Yes.
40.Q: And did you maintain two files with respect to Mr.
41.Bennington, then, that you just talked about, a driver
42..qualification file and a personnel file?
43.A:Correct.
44.Q: And have you provided both of those files to us in
45.discovery?
46.A:I don't know which files you have. Personnel file
47.was just payroll records and maintenance, and the driver
48.qualification file is laid out by the federal motor carrier
49.safety, and it's with respect to his qualifications.
50.Q: By "his," you mean Mr. Bennington's?
51.A: Correct. .
52.Q: Okay. And so as we sit here today, do you know if
53.you've provided us with both the driver's qualification file
54.and Mr. Bennington's personnel file?
55.A:I don't know what we're --I looked at the driver
56.qualification file.
57.MS. HARVEY: If I could interject, we have
58.provided both those files, or he gave them to us to give to
59.you.
60.Q:(BY MR. CHAPMAN) Okay. Well, let's - in my
61.request for production No. 10,I asked you to produce the
62.entire personnel file of Defendant Bennington and — including
63.but not limited to a certain list of things, and what you
64.provided us was identified as being Bates-stamp Nos. CD 20
65.through CD 237, and I'm going to have that marked by the
66.reporter now.
67.(Deposition Exhibit 1 was marked.)
68.Q:Sir, I’m going to hand you what's been marked as
69.Defendants' — excuse me, Plaintiffs Exhibit 1, and can you
70.tell me if that is the personnel file or the driver
71.qualification file?

This is the end of today's deposition. Check out part 2 to continue.