Three Tips for Best Practices in DVIR Compliance

mySOAR Driver app eInspection for DVIRs.

A lot of focus has been on ELDs and HOS compliance. Yet, drivers and carriers are also responsible for DVIR compliance to make sure the equipment on the road is in safe operating condition. We complied three tips for managing your DVIRs. 

Build Strong Inspection Habits

DVIRs are required once every 24 hours when a tractor, truck or trailer are moved. It gives the driver flexibility to perform inspections throughout their shift and for carriers to set procedures. 

Final US ELD Mandate Key Dates Published

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published the Electronic Logging Devices and Hours of Service Supporting Documents Final Rule with the effective date of February 16, 2016.

When the rule was announced on December 10, 2016, FMCSA said carriers and drivers would have two years from the effective date to comply.  In the final ELD rule the compliance date is December 18, 2017.  So technically, the compliance window is two years from December 18, 2015.

It is important to note that petitions for reconsideration can be submitted until January 15, 2016.

Final Electronic Logging Device Rule in the US is Now a Reality

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced on December 10, 2015 that the electronic logging device (ELD) regulation for hours of service (HOS) and record of duty status (RODS) is final.

The ELD Rule covers the following four key areas:

1. Mandates ELDs for drivers currently using RODS and a two-year adoption period;
2. New supporting document requirements for carriers and drivers to comply with HOS regulations;
3. Procedures and provisions to protect drivers from harassment resulting from ELD information; and
4. Technology specifications for ELD performance and design requirements to ensure manufacturers are able to produce compliant devices and systems.

34-hour Restart Rule Suspension Debate Continues

The 34-hour restart rules were back in the news again earlier this month as New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker announced his plans to restore the 34-hour restart rule that was suspended on December 16, 2014.

FMCSA Updates ELD and HOS Proposed Final Rule Date

On February 27, 2015 the FMCSA released a supplement to their February 2015 monthly report. The report included a clerical correction to the ELD and HOS supporting documents proposed final rule publication date.

The projected date for the final rule has been moved from November 9, 2015 to September 30, 2015.

Two Paperwork Must Dos To Comply with Canada Transportation Dangerous Goods Act

On December 31, 2014, the Canada Gazette published the latest amendments to the Canada Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act.   According to Volume 148, No. 27, Amendment 26, 3.5 Information on a Shipping Document will be changed to standardize the order of information when completing the description of the dangerous good.

Spring Weight Restrictions Canadian Provinces and Territories

The spring road weight restrictions for Canadian provinces and territories can be found at the links below.

Do you agree with the FMCSA Published 34-Hour Reset Field Study?

The recently published 34-hour reset field study on the FMCSA website.  The press release highlights their key conclusions based on a sample of 106 drivers (44 local, 26 regional, and 36 over-the-road).
Scientific inferences being promoted as conclusions from the study include:

• Less fatigue, 
• Deviated from their lane less, and
• Fewer accidents and injuries.

While the study is interesting, the sample size is quite small and controlled, representing less that 0.001% of the registered commercial vehicles in the U.S.  Additionally, the  conclusions are more inference than fact based.  As we read through the 52-page study, the language became less definitive and more opinion than fact.

We feel that broader and more independent studies need to be conducted that are not sponsored by the FMCSA as a public relations strategy to validate the claims used to promote the 34-hour reset rule decision.

US Hours of Service Example: Drivers Final Rule for 34-Hour Reset Rules

The FMCSA has published its final rule regarding driver hours of service effective July 1, 2013. To help our customers navigate the new 34-hour reset rules, SOAR Solutions has created the example below in table format as a reference guide.

Three Tips to Successfully Integrate Canadian Customs eManifest (ACI) into Your Operations

This blog entry discusses a topic relevant to our trucking customers; the benefits of an early adoption of the Canadian Customs eManifest also known as Advanced Commercial Information (ACI). Although the ACI program extends beyond just Canada and U.S. truck shipments, we will focus on that aspect for this blog entry.