Truck Driver Training

Hi!  My name is Chelle Micklin.  I'm a marketing contributor at Driver Solutions. I'll be using this blog to talk about all things trucking, especially topics that include truck driver training and trucking schools.  My goal is to offer helpful knowledge for readers that are considering trucking careers.  After the recession we've all experienced, I had the opportunity to talk with a lot of people considering CDL training to start a new career.  I hope my blog can help folks make informed, educated decisions about attending a truck driving school.  

Thanks for checking out my blog!
 

All across the country, CDL training schools have experienced a major increase in truck driving school applicants. With the country’s economy in its current state, many unemployed or underemployed Americans are turning to one of the most stable & best paying careers out there – Truck Driving!

A career as a truck driver has been one of the most sought after professions ever since the recession became a clear reality. The biggest mistake people make is not checking out the job opportunities before they enroll in CDL training school. They just don’t understand that it’s still difficult to get a job in the trucking industry, unless you go through a company program. Many trucking companies want you to attend one of their approved training facilities before you go to work for them. So just going out, getting your CDL, & then trying to find a driving job is not the way to go. If you find a company that you would like to work for, see if they have certain requirements for hiring inexperienced drivers.

Driver Solutions, a truck driver recruiting company, works with P.A.M. Transport & USA Truck to train and hire inexperienced truck drivers. And they have a network of CDL training schools approved by both trucking companies, so you won’t have to worry about them accepting your education. Driver Solutions will qualify your application with one of their companies before you even attend the truck driver training school. Not only that, but they’ll sponsor the upfront costs for your tuition. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

So, just do some research and find out if the trucking industry & a new career as a professional truck driver is right for you!

Early last month, I told you about the eGears Class A Pre-Trip Inspections Demonstration DVD and how it’s complete, thorough, & best of all…affordable. Well now you can get an extended look at how detailed it is & how easy it will be to learn everything you need to know to pass the pre-trip inspection skills test the first time!

This eGears DVD walks you through the entire inspection, demonstrating the techniques needed to perform a pre-trip inspection. And CDL Instructor Phil reviews a complete pre-trip inspection from the front of the truck to the rear of the trailer, and all points in between.

The eGears Class A CDL Pre-Trip Inspection DVD covers all portions of the pre-trip inspection, which includes:

• Tractor & Trailer Exterior Inspection
• In-Cab Inspection
• Engine Compartment Inspection
• 4-Point Brake Inspection

After watching a bit of this DVD, I think I could even pass the pre-trip inspection the first time!

What’s happening in the upcoming year for truck drivers and trucking companies? One of the biggest and most entertaining events of the year is the place to find out. The Mid-America Trucking Show is taking place March 25th through the 27th, and is the largest trucking show in the country. Last year, there were more than 935 exhibitors and over 70,000 attendees. It was a great conference & everyone had a great time.

There are so many things to do at the Mid-America Trucking Show, but one of the favorites is the truck ‘beauty contest’. The Truck Beauty Championship is named in honor of Paul K. Young, the founder of The Mid-America Trucking Show. Now in its 20th year, the 2010 event is always a major crowd pleaser. The Truck Beauty Championship showcases some of the most breathtaking trucks in the country, competing in more than 20 classes to determine who will win the coveted Best of Show title. So spit-shine your baby up & enter it into the contest…you just might win!

In addition to the beauty contest, there is some serious business to be had, as well. If you are a truck driver looking for work, you can visit the Mid-America's driver recruitment center, a gathering of more than 100 of trucking's elite fleets looking for new drivers. These companies can provide employment opportunities for those drivers interested in advancing their career in the trucking industry. This specialized area of the show is sponsored by Over-The-Road and Pro-Trucker Magazines.

Also of great interest is the Internet and Technology Center, where they showcase the most innovative technology available to the trucking industry in one centralized location, including:

• Advanced internet systems
• Internet load posting
• On-line recruiting, truck and trailer sales, road condition, mapping systems, & other resources
• Global positioning & freight tracking software
• Network systems & hardware
• Personal computers & laptops
• In-cab & handheld CE devices
• Advanced office systems, specifically designed for fleets & owner/operators
• Truck & engine maintenance systems
• Technology seminars
• Prizes, giveaways, & much more!

Tickets are free if you order them online, & only $5 if you purchase them at the door. Remember…the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky begins March 25th, 2010 & runs through the 27th. Make sure you check it out!

Truck driving schools have been getting a bad rap lately thanks to bloggers like Jason Cox, and newscasters like Dan Rather.

Rather recently aired a piece on "Dan Rather Reports," his show on HDNet, about truck driver training schools & their "lack" of real training. In "Queen of the Road", he interviewed a 45-year-old single mom who got into trucking only two years ago. She took a three week course on truck driving and got a job with a major carrier, but felt she wasn’t trained well enough to be out on the road by herself. She told Rather that in the three weeks of training, she only drove on the street twice.

Obviously there are truck driving schools out there that promise the moon, and yet don’t deliver the goods. There might be a couple of bad apples out there, but Driver Solutions isn’t one of them. We’re not a ‘CDL mill’ as many people like to call them. It benefits no one to pass a driver through a CDL training course so they can fail on the road. That’s unsafe for everyone!

At Driver Solutions, we take pride in the fact that we have a very intense driver training course. We make it clear that truck driving isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s a difficult job, and students should think long & hard before making the commitment to start a truck driving career.

Driver Solutions wants to put truck drivers on the road who are prepared and educated. Our three week course includes a week of classroom training, where the students learn the basics about the road and the truck. The second week is practical training on a range course with an instructor. And the third week is spent driving on the open road, again with an instructor, who can guide the student and answer any questions he or she might have. Our students are put through the ringer in a short period of time, but in the end, everyone must pass a Department of Transportation certification test.

At Driver Solutions, we work with a network of trucking companies to train and place their new truck drivers. If we produce poorly-trained drivers, our customers would stop working with us, and our reputation will be damaged. And with 100% job placement, it's obviously within our interest to produce drivers who actually know how to drive.

Not all truck driving schools are the same, as Rather might suggest. There are always exceptions to the rule, and he found one of them. Most truck driver training schools want to put safe drivers on the road because, well…that’s their job.

The bottom line is not what’s in the bank account. We make no promises that a student will triple their money in the first few weeks. The bottom line is the safety of the drivers we put on the road…it has to be since we’re all driving on the same roads with these newbie truck drivers.

Mark your calendars, lady truck drivers…you are about to be saluted by Women in Trucking. WIT has scheduled their salute to women truck drivers for March 27th, 2010 in conjunction with the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The event is being sponsored by Walmart, Daimler Truck, and Frito-Lay North America.

“We are extremely proud to partner with WIT to sponsor this event in honor of female truck drivers all across the U.S.” says Ed Parrish, Senior Director of Human Resources for the Walmart Private Fleet.

The Salute to Women Behind the Wheel is a fantastic way to highlight the truck driving careers that are available to women in the trucking industry, as well as to recognize the outstanding truck driving careers of so many women who have been a part of the trucking industry for so many years.

Truck driving has long been a male-dominated career choice, but many women are finding that it is a highly enjoyable job for them. Women who are single and find themselves with an empty nest find camaraderie on the road, as well as respect from other truck drivers who know what kinds of hoops they had to jump through to become a truck driver. Women who consider a career in the truck driving industry often find they are the only females in the CDL training classes. They also find that many men do not consider truck driving a career option for women. That old boys’ network is still firmly rooted in the trucking industry. But for the women who successfully complete the CDL training course, they find that their male colleagues have nothing but respect for them, even if they are still a bit threatened by women in the truck driving industry.

There are obstacles in truck driving of course, but women with drive and ambition find it to be a most enjoyable career. One of the more high profile woman drivers is a trucker named Desiree.

Desiree started blogging about her experience in the truck driving industry back in 2008. You can read all about Desiree’s experiences with truck driving school and her adaptation to the road on AsktheTrucker.com. Desiree is a woman who chose to be a truck driver after her children had grown. She had no experience in the trucking industry, but she knew she wanted the freedom and flexibility that a truck driving career offered and she was determined to reach her goal, no matter the hardships. She recounts the obstacles and stopping blocks with humor and grace. Be sure to follow her on Twitter – @TruckerDesiree, to get her updates from the road, as well as her dog’s!

It's women like Desiree who are being saluted by WIT at the Mid-America Trucking Show and frankly…it’s about time.

Dupre Logistics has been trying something a little different than the trucking industry norm. They are paying their truck drivers by the hour instead of by the mile. This is an unheard-of practice in the truck driving world and many companies are paying close attention to see how it pans out for Dupre Logistics.

There are very few truck driving companies, especially in this economy, who pay their truck drivers by the hour, but Dupre Logistics has had some amazing benefits by doing just that. Dupre says that the alternative pay structure produces better schedules and safer drivers. It also attracts higher quality drivers that want to stay with the company, something that may give Dupre a leg up once the economy recovers. Dupre Logistics, which is based in Louisiana, has found that their new payment method is paying off in terms of retention, safety, and efficiency.

By paying drivers for all they do, including pre-trip inspections, wait time, and unloading, Dupre is telling their drivers that they’re appreciated and valued. This has altered the turnover rate for Dupre considerably. When they first started the hourly pay rate, their turnover rate was 45% - pretty standard in the trucking industry. After just three years of this new plan, Dupre’s turnover rate is down to an unprecedented 27%. With the average cost to recruit a new driver at about $3000, this new method is saving Dupre a substantial amount of money.

In addition to the savings found by reducing recruiting costs, Dupre Logistics has cut its risk management costs by 34% due to the fact that truckers take their time, are safer on the road and better rested than drivers who are paid for each mile. Drivers who are paid by the mile often hurry to complete a delivery so that they can start another one as soon as possible. Some might argue that drivers will take their time and milk the hourly system, but if the driver is going the speed limit, he is less likely to get into an accident which increases the costs for the trucking company and puts other drivers at risk.

Most drivers don’t want to spend more time than necessary away from their family. Most drivers want to take the time to be safe. And most drivers don’t want to hop from one company to another for a few extra cents per mile. Dupre Logistics has an interesting and unique idea and it’s making all the difference in their bottom line.

The Driver Solutions Network trucking companies, along with most in the trucking industry, pay their truck drivers per mile. What do you think about pay by the hour vs. per mile? As a truck driver, would you rather get paid the Dupre way? What are the benefits to the average truck driver?

Jason Cox, from Truck Drivers News, has stated that he thinks truck driving schools get by teaching the bare minimum. In a recent piece on the website, he says:

Students have been rushed through the CDL schools and some are only really taught how to shift gears and back up. A lot of schools last from two to four weeks, after which the students are rushed into the industry at companies without enough existing drivers qualified to mentor and further train the newcomers.

Some trucking companies only require a truck driver to have six months total driving experience in a commercial vehicle in order to become a truck driver trainer and begin training new drivers. Six months is simply not enough experience to be considered qualified to train new truck drivers.

I can't help but disagree. He himself went to a truck driving school, so I don't know why he's so against them now. And we do so much more than simply train a new truck driver to shift gears and back up...

Driver Solutions’ students are trained the basics in a classroom for one week, are on the driving range for another week, and then are on the road, with a trainer, for yet another week before they get their CDL license. After the student gets their Class A CDL license, they drive with a company driver trainer for another four to six weeks.

At Driver Solutions, we train our students to enter the highway with confidence, how to properly perform a pre-trip inspection, how to use the technology in the truck, as well as the common sense that goes with using new technology.

It serves no one to be a CDL mill, rushing students through the training just so they can get their CDL license. Driver Solutions provides students with superior CDL training & provides trucking companies with well-trained, quality truck drivers.

Going green isn’t just about recycling & growing organic foods. The trucking industry is leading the way with new initiatives to help companies not only reduce their carbon footprint, but to help them reduce costs of operations along the way.

While there are many ways to go green, a lot of the ideas floating around out there are not feasible for everyone just yet. But companies are trying different ideas to see which ones help their bottom line the most. And as more people try this, the ideas and technology will only get better.

FedEx Freight has been experimenting with hybrid technology for two years now and while they don’t think this generation of hybrid cells is the final answer, they can see the technology improving in the coming years. FedEx also plans on having a class 8 truck in use by the end of the year that operates on a hydrogen fuel cell. FedEx says the new fuel cells will lose 40 horsepower, but gain torque, and the only emission is water. They have also found that by putting solar panels on the tops of their trucks, they can actually generate power to put back into the power grid. That’s a great step in the right direction.

Other truck driving companies, such as Con-way Freight, have reduced their speed limit from 65 mph to 62 mph. This small change made a 3.8 percent reduction in fuel usage and has saved the company $11 million per year since they began the speed limit reduction in 2007. At US Express, the owners believe that tires and aerodynamic designs have incredible potential to reduce fuel costs. Another innovative idea they've been experimenting with has been idling time.

"We have committed more than $400,000 in incentives for leading idle-reducing drivers," Pat Quinn, co-chairman and president of U.S. Xpress Enterprises said in an article on TruckingInfo.com. "In our first month of that program, we have seen a 15 percent reduction in idle time. We have made the case to our drivers that the money we save on idle reduction gives us strength in an extremely challenging marketplace."

By being proactive and initiating & experimenting with new ideas for a greener fleet, trucking companies can find what works best before the government gets involved and makes them adopt certain changes. By taking an active role in discovering what works and doesn’t work, the trucking companies can contribute significantly to reducing fuel costs and their carbon footprint on our precious Earth.

Texting while driving is dangerous. By now everyone has gotten the message that distraction due to texting on a cell phone can have dire consequences. This concept is so readily accepted and understood that both the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) are in agreement: truck drivers who text while driving are a huge danger on the road.

But some bureaucrats aren't happy with just banning texting. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood would like to reduce driver distractions as much as possible, including onboard computers and hands-free cell phones. Research has shown that talking on a cell phone can be a mental distraction to both regular soccer mom type drivers and truck drivers, even if the driver is using a hands free device such as a BlueTooth headset. However, research among truck drivers has shown that talking on cell phones can actually improve safety. Driving a truck can be a monotonous job & the long stretch of highways can begin to look the same causing drivers to mentally drift. A short, hands free, conversation with the boss or a loved one can “distract” the truck driver into a more alert mental state.

Banning texting while driving any vehicle is a no-brainer, but banning GPS systems and onboard computers is taking things too far. It isn’t as if a truck driver is playing a game of solitaire on his laptop while steering the truck & driving down the road. Onboard computers are not like everyday personal laptop computers.

Truck drivers who are equipped with onboard computers use them as GPS systems, which alert the driver to detours in the road, and they keep the lines of communication open between the truck driver and dispatch. If there is a change to the shipment address or the date of delivery, the truck driver can be easily informed by way of the onboard computer. This can save numerous hours on the road alone.

Let’s also remember that no one can ‘vote’ away carelessness. If a truck driver has been poorly trained or makes a poor decision, all the laws in the world won’t change bad behavior. Ultimately, the trucking carriers need to educate their truck drivers and train them to use the technology wisely and properly.

Who do you agree with? Do you think the Transportation Secretary is taking things a little too far?

Trucking carriers registered 38.7 percent fewer new trucks in the third quarter of this year than they did in 2008, according to the September issue of Polk Commercial Vehicle Solutions' Commercial Vehicle Market Intelligence Report. The report forecasts activity in the trucking industry. This downward trend has been attributed to the poor economy.

Independent truck drivers and truck driving companies are trying to make their trucks last longer to avoid the expense of new vehicles. A truck that would usually be replaced after five or six years is now being repaired so it can stay on the road for another year or two.

The flip side of this news is that used truck sales have skyrocketed due to the same poor economy. Used commercial vehicle registrations for the third quarter were up 46.5 percent from 2008, and used truck activity accounted for 68 percent of commercial vehicle transactions in the third quarter, compared to 49 percent in the same period last year. Truck driving companies and independent truck drivers still need to buy new or newer vehicles. A truck that is only a year or two old is still going to be more efficient than an older truck, it will need fewer and less costly repairs than a new truck, and payments are going to be less than a new truck. It makes sense to upgrade older fleets with newer vehicles rather than buying brand new at this point in the downtrodden economy.

Interestingly and surprisingly, orders for commercial trailers rose 80 percent from September to October, a 124 percent boost from October of last year, according to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers by ACT Research. Trailers can’t last as long as a truck, so when it comes time for replacement, there isn’t much repair that can be done and new ones are needed. A possible reason there is such a large uptake in the demand for trailers is that truck driving companies had been holding off on the purchase of new trailers and costs may be down due to the hard economic times, making the last few months a great time to buy.

While the increase in both used trucks and trailers has increased, there needs to be a significant increase in new vehicle registrations before the market can return to a more normal level. Do you agree? Do we need new truck sales to increase before the trucking industry & the economy starts to recover?

Unified Carrier Registration fees may increase up to 122% in 2010. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is in the process of finalizing the structure of the Unified Carrier Registration fee which replaces the Single State Registration System (SSRS).

From the OperatingAuthority.com website:

Each company is required to pay the UCR fee to a participating state. Currently, not all states are participating including Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Wyoming. If your base state is not participating, you must still pay the UCR fee by registering with a state that is participating.

One of the most notable changes to the proposed UCR fee structure is that it only applies to commercial motor vehicle (CMV) power units only. Trailers, which were included in the CMV power units in previous years, are no longer counted. This will reduce the size of many motor carrier’s fleets considerably which will result in lower annual fees.

At first glance the increase looks substantial, but when all things are considered, the fee may actually be less than in previous years. Do you think this new fee structure is a good or bad thing for trucking carriers & the trucking industry? Sound off below.

Since November 8, 2009, the Florida Turnpike has been switching over to a cashless toll system or ‘Toll-by-Plate’ system. The new toll way system uses high-speed and high-resolution cameras to capture a picture of the vehicle’s license plate and then sends a bill to the registered owner for the toll amount. The conversion began on a 26 mile stretch in Miami-Dade County and tollbooth removal is expected to be completed by February of 2011.

Truck drivers and their carriers, not to mention regular drivers, are excited about the Toll-by-Plate system because it means they can coast through the area without waiting in traffic that gets backed up by people stopping to pay tolls. The conversion to a cashless system will likely save truck drivers a considerable amount of time, money, and fuel since they will no longer have to stop in the 26 mile section of Miami-Dade County.

One has to wonder if there are going to be any bugs in the system that need to be worked out before all vehicles are running smoothly on the turnpike. When a system is automated, it can save the state money. The cost of the tollbooth operator salaries’ alone will be a substantial savings. But will that savings in salaries end up costing the county more in administrative costs?

What happens when the camera shoots a picture of a license plate that is obscured by a cover? Can the system read it properly to ensure that the bill is sent to the right person? What about people who unlawfully try to obscure their license plate or worse remove it through the tolls? Will the county have to have extra patrols on the road to make sure that drivers aren’t unlawfully removing or hiding their plates? It would be wonderful if traffic could flow more smoothly, but if plates are being misread or not read at all, revenue could actually be lost in lost tolls and increased administrative costs due to fixing errors when plates are misread.

I'm cautiously optimistic about the new system, and hope that the Florida DOT has considered these questions and are able to prevent the abuses of the system. But this could be an unbelievable breakthrough for truck drivers, trucking carriers, & the trucking industry in general, so I hope it all works out & other states follow the same path.

Only time will tell with regard to these questions but it will certainly be interesting to see how the new Toll-by-Plate system works. Once the bugs are out of the new system the drive through the Florida Turnpike could become a pleasure rather than a pain. What do you think about this new cashless toll system? Think it will work?

Driver Solutions, the leader in truck driver training, is trying to lead in other ways to serve the community.  We're doing things a little differently this holiday season. Instead of just helping out those in need in our own community, we’re helping those in need halfway around the world by holding a winter clothing drive. With the help of an organization called ServLife International, all donations that we receive from our employees will go to Northern India & Nepal to keep children & orphans a little warmer this winter. But Driver Solutions is still here to help out our own community…for every item of clothing donated, we’re donating $5 to Riley Kids, an organization we’ve supported over the years who helps children & families of children dealing with life debilitating conditions & diseases.

And during the holidays isn’t the only time Driver Solutions likes to help others. Throughout the year, we host at least 3 blood drives benefiting the Indiana Blood Center. And for each blood donor that participates, Driver Solutions makes a donation to another charitable organization, such as the Humane Society of Indianapolis & Riley Children’s Hospital. We also hold canned food drives to help out Gleaner’s Food Bank in Indianapolis from time to time. Also, a little something Driver Solutions does for its employees is a volunteer program where the employee is allowed 8 hours per year to participate in a volunteer event or activity of their choice & the company pays them to do it! So they basically get paid to go out and try to make a difference in our community.

Hear how some of our employees feel about working for a company like Driver Solutions & how it impacts them personally. (Don't make fun, but I'm in this video!!)

In the New Year, Driver Solutions hopes to be able to give more & reach others throughout our community & beyond, and we challenge everyone else out there to do the same. Also, if you know of a charity or a volunteer program that needs a little help, let us know! We’re always ready to help out those in need.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, and at Driver Solutions, we like to give gifts just like everyone else! Because there are many people ready to get into a new truck driving career, but want to wait until after the holidays to begin their CDL training, Driver Solutions is offering a little incentive to get started early…$200 to be exact!

So here’s the deal: You start your truck driver training on Monday, December 21st & Driver Solutions will give you $200 when you successfully graduate from the CDL training course. Pretty easy, huh? And even though you’ll be starting training school the week of Christmas, you’ll still be able to spend the holidays with your family. Our network truck driving schools are giving all students & employees the last half of Christmas Eve & all of Christmas day off! You won’t have to miss out on any of the holiday fun, you’ll get started in your new truck driving career earlier (which means you’ll start making the good money quicker), & you’ll earn some extra cash. It’s a no-brainer!

Now who out there couldn’t use an extra $200? I know I could! Just apply online with Driver Solutions today and we’ll get you set up with company sponsored CDL training & a great new career as a professional truck driver, plus a little extra green to start the new year off on the right foot!

$200 Christmas bonus is only good for students starting truck driver training school with Driver Solutions on Monday, December 21, 2009.

Are you getting ready to take your CDL skills test? Starting your CDL training? We’ve found a great new product for truck drivers that need help preparing for the CDL pre-trip inspection. It’s the eGears CDL Pre-Trip Inspection Demonstration DVD, and it’s complete, thorough, & best of all…affordable!

Just take a look at this introduction video to see what eGears is & why the eGears Pre-Trip Inspection Demonstration DVD is the newest, easiest way to study for & pass the CDL pre-trip inspection.

There has been a lot of talk lately, especially when diesel fuel prices top the $3 mark, that rail-based intermodal shipping will outpace truck driving as the favored mode of transportation in the future. Some have even speculated that rail shipping is the wave of the future.

In my opinion, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I believe trucking will continue to be the preferred mode of transportation for most logistics companies & shippers.

Shipping by rail, or train, has been touted as the “greener” way to ship due to the savings in fuel. It's also plugged as eco-friendly, for the supposedly reduced pollution trains cause. Trains can indeed carry a substantial amount of freight a long way and shipping by rail works in cities like Dallas or Chicago, where there are established railways. However, many cities no longer have railways that make frequent stops, and most small towns don’t even have train stops at all. The 90% of freight shippers who ship exclusively by truck don’t have the option to ship by rail. If they do ship by rail, they still have to use a truck to deliver the freight from the rail station to its final destination.

Railways are hard-pressed to compete with the flexibility of shipment by truck. Trucking companies work with distributors to ensure that the delivery is made at a convenient time for all involved. Trains are on a fixed schedule and simply don’t have the ability to make adjustments. When shipping by train, the freight must wait until someone comes along and picks it up, most likely in a truck.

While there aren’t many, there are occasional railway accidents. If a train derails or is otherwise delayed, the whole shipment is delayed; not just one container, but all of them. It’s possible that hundreds of containers cannot reach their destination on time because of a railway accident. Conversely, if a truck is stalled, has an accident, or a flat tire, only that truck and its shipment is delayed.

There was a time when the railways ruled shipping, a time before we had highways, freeways, and interstates. However, that time has passed and trucking has proved it is the winner in the transportation industry. Rail transportation simply can’t compete with the flexibility that trucking has to offer. Even the railway is dependent on trucks to ensure that the freight they are carrying makes it to its destination.

Do you think the railway industry still has a chance of taking over trucking in the future? If so, why?

CSA 2010 goes into effect next July. CSA 2010, Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce commercial motor vehicle (CMV)-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities. This means, among other things, that truck driving companies have about eight months to begin screening their applicants for higher fitness levels.

Currently the Comprehensive Safety Analysis applies to any road side inspection, but up until now it has not rated the fitness of the truck driver. What this might mean for carriers is that some of their drivers might not be qualified to drive a truck due to poor health habits. In a profession which tends to be rather sedentary, this can potentially exclude many prospects as well as force current drivers to get into better shape. This will also mean that new drivers attending truck driving school may be sent home if they don't meet the CSA standards when they receive their first physical.

Knowing this change is coming in the next several months, there are many things carriers can do to educate their drivers on living better to improve their health. Carriers should encourage not only getting proper rest while on the road, but also a better diet, encouraging them away from greasy spoons and getting plenty of exercise when taking a break.

While the new policy set to go into effect in July may indeed affect the carrier’s safety rating, having healthier drivers is good for everyone, on and off the road.

This holiday season at Driver Solutions, we’re all thankful for many different things…some of us have children, some of us are recently married, and some of us just bought our first homes. Regardless of what else is going on in our lives, we’re all thankful that we have a job & that that job is with a great company.

Here’s what some of our employees had to say about what they’re thankful for:

• “I’m thankful for having family and friends to spend the holidays with.”
• “I am thankful for my children being healthy.”
• “I am thankful for my house, truck, and my job.”
• “I’m thankful that my children are healthy, and that I have a job to provide them with the things they need. I am thankful for having a wonderful family.”
• “I am thankful for my health, my wife, and my loveable kids.”
• “I am thankful that I have a job with a great company!”
• “I am thankful that my children always want me to play with them, whether it be a board game, something on the Wii, or the computer, because that means they love spending time with me.”
• “I’m thankful for the leaves we’ve had to rake multiple times this season because it means that in the spring, the trees will looks really beautiful.”
• “I am thankful that my husband loves me enough to not flip out when I insist that the curtain rod is crooked and ask him to fix it.”
• “I am thankful that I get up at 5:30 every morning to have enough time to get the kids ready, listen to why they don’t want cereal and why marshmallows are a good choice, rush to take a shower and get everybody ready so that I am at work at 8am (okay maybe 8:05) because it means that I have a job to go to even in these tough economic times.”

As for me, mine differs a bit from the rest because I don’t have any children…but I’m still thankful for my brother’s children! They’re the best, cutest niece & nephew anyone could ask for! And it works out because when they start crying, I can just hand them back. But I, just like others here at Driver Solutions that don’t have children, am thankful for my animals. They’re the best companions anyone could ever ask for. I put a pic of my little man at the top of this post. Isn’t he adorable???

So what are all of you thankful for? Anyway, I hope everyone out there has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! And to the truck drivers out there that are working on this holiday, thank you. For everything you do & the sacrifices you make, thank you. If it weren’t for all of you, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the holidays the way we do. So stay safe out there & have a good one!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I’m hearing a lot about the hours of service (HOS) rules for truck driving. The current HOS rules state that truck drivers can drive for up to 11 hours, but then must rest or be off the road for at least 10 consecutive hours. The old HOS allowed drivers to be on the road for 10 hours and off for eight, which is what is being proposed again.

The way I see it, any rule that encourages truck drivers to get more sleep is going to have an impact on both road safety and profitability. Mandating truck drivers to stay off the road for ten hours not only encourages them to rest completely before heading back on the road, but also allows them ample time to fit in a little exercise, which might benefit them when the CSA 2010 goes into effect next July (We'll talk about that in another post).

Figures from the Department of Transportation (DOT) demonstrate that the trucking industry is now the safest it has been since they started keeping track of driving statistics in 1975. The number of truck-involved fatalities on our highways has decreased by 19% since the current HOS rules took effect. The number of injuries has decreased by 13% since 2004. This is noteworthy considering that the number of registered truck drivers has grown by tens of thousands and the miles driven by large trucking companies has increased by more than 2 million. In short, the current HOS rules are working, so why try to fix something that isn’t broken? Why go back to old ways when the new ways are better?

Even though drivers have increased their on the road time by one hour, they are also increasing their off the road time by two hours. Truck drivers can get a full eight hours of sleep and still have time to eat a balanced meal, read the paper, check their email, and talk to loved ones before having to rush back into the cab and start driving.

There is a reason that the trucking industry was callously referred to as sweatshops on wheels…the truck drivers were not encouraged to get ample sleep. “Drive, drive, drive! Make money!” is what they were told. With the current HOS rules, they are not only encouraged, but are forced to rest for a longer period of time. Not only does this new rule protect the safety of the truck drivers, it protects the safety of all the other drivers on the road with them.

So, this is just my opinion. From the research I’ve done, I think it would be crazy to go back to the ‘on 10, off 8’ hours of service. But I’m not a truck driver that has to deal with this. Here’s where you come in…what are your thoughts? Do you like the way things are, or are you hoping they pass the bill to go back to the way things were before? Let me know!