News

ATA’s Share the Road Highway Safety Program Offers Tips, Video Demo to Motorists

Arlington, Va. – Today, American Trucking Associations and ATA’s Share the Road highway safety program released life-saving driving tips to motorists ahead of what is being billed as one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.  “With more families out on the road this week, we all need to take a few extra precautions in order to make sure we all get to the Thanksgiving dinner table safely,” said Share the Road professional truck driver Scott Woodrome, of FedEx Freight. “Many of the truck drivers you see on the highway this week are making last minute deliveries to grocery stores, giving folks one more chance to pick up everything they need to have an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.”  More than 48 million Americans will travel this Thanksgiving weekend, according to AAA, making it one of the most heavily traveled weeks of the year. Added traffic volume can contribute to more risky driving conditions and motorists should be fully prepared for congestion and reduced speeds. Share the Road recently released the Share the Road Instructional Video in order to spread truck safety messages to the millions of motorists who will be driving alongside large trucks this week. The video, featuring professional truck drivers, gives an 8-minute recap of critical safe-driving habits and has already been viewed by thousands of motorists – including truck drivers and the general motoring public.  “The professional truck drivers in the Share the Road Instructional Video are highly-trained drivers who have accrued millions of accident-free miles. Based on overwhelming industry feedback, it’s evident to ATA that this video is already saving lives and we want to get the Share the Road message out to as many people as possible,” said ATA COO and Executive Vice President of Industry Affairs Elisabeth Barna. “Taking a few minutes to refresh your memory on important driving skills or sharing this video with a friend or colleague can make a major impact on safety this week.”  Deer hunting season is now in full swing throughout many parts of North America and deer are most active during the fall and winter seasons. Motorists must be fully aware when traveling on rural – and urban – roadways, especially during nighttime hours. Eliminating distractions gives drivers a better chance of making split-second decisions that could prove to be life-saving. Remember, when one deer is visible, there are oftentimes others nearby.  Winter driving presents many different challenges for motorists. High wind and blowing snow contribute to reduced visibility in many stretches of the Midwest. Similarly, freezing temperatures can have a profound impact on vehicles and the roadways. A thorough pre-trip inspection and understanding of driving conditions can play a significant role in driving success this holiday season.   “Colder weather settled in this week and I expect it’s here to stay for the next few months,” said Share the Road professional truck driver John McKown, of UPS Freight. “In wintery conditions, it’s important to make sure your vehicle is prepared for extended trips. Check your wiper fluids, antifreeze, and pack a few extra blankets before you pull out of the driveway.”  Share the Road professional drivers recommend these safety tips to drivers, and would like to remind motorists about some key elements of safe driving, including how to operate small passenger vehicles near large tractor-trailers.  Buckle Up: A seat belt will not prevent a collision, but it will save a life. Remove ice and snow from your vehicle:  Clear your windows and roof of snow to ensure you have maximum visibility and avoid creating a hazard for the vehicle behind you. Don’t allow ice and snow to create additional blind spots on your vehicle. Slow Down: Chances of a crash nearly triples when driving faster than surrounding traffic. Do not drive impaired: Driving is a great responsibility and your fellow travelers are relying on safe, attentive drivers to respectfully share the road and make good decisions. Be aware of truck blind spots: Trucks deliver your favorite Thanksgiving traditions – turkeys, cranberries, mashed potatoes and all kinds of tasty pies – so make it easy on them by staying out of blind spots. Pass on the left where the truck’s blind spot is much smaller. Keep your eyes on the road: Distracted driving is a major cause of traffic accidents and one of the leading causes of death amongst teenagers. Even just two seconds of distraction time doubles the chances of an accident. Use your cell phone when stopped and never text while driving. Do not cut in front of large trucks: Remember trucks are heavier and take longer to make a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them. Fully loaded tractor-trailers can take the length of a football field plus both end zones to make a complete stop. Ask your favorite quarterback how far that is. Hint: it’s far. Prepare your vehicle for long distance travel: Before you head out to your aunts, uncles and cousins, check your wipers and fluids and have your radiator and cooling system serviced. Simple maintenance before you leave your home can prevent many of the problems that strand motorists on the side of the road. Prepare yourself for long distance travel: The vehicle needs maintenance and the driver needs plenty of rest and hydration to function at his or her best. If the turkey is making you feel drowsy, pull over and wait until you are more alert. Leave early and avoid risks: Leave early to reduce anxiety about arriving late. Road conditions may change due to inclement weather or traffic congestion. Be aware of the vehicle in front of you: Leave extra room between you and the vehicle ahead.

Michelin North America, Inc. (“Michelin”) is entering a second consecutive holiday season to launch the transportation appreciation campaign, #KeepThanksMoving. The social and digital media initiative celebrates millions of transportation industry heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the holidays moving forward.

As part of the campaign, Michelin encourages people everywhere to share their appreciation either by Twitter via the hashtag #KeepThanksMoving and or by posting on the MichelinUSA Facebook page, in order to recognize an outstanding individual’s service and dedication to delivering holiday happiness.

“Michelin applauds the commitment of individuals in the transportation industry in the air, on our roads, and across the farms and fields of America who deliver when it matters most,” said Ralph Dimenna, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Truck Tires, Inc. “These unsung heroes enable us to travel home, transport our food and gifts, and keep our economy moving, not to mention the millions of miles driven by shoppers and travelers during the holidays and throughout the year.”

Not all heroes wear capes – heroes in the transportation industry include:

- Airport workers, who will enable more than 27 million people to fly on U.S. airlines over a 12-day period around Thanksgiving 2016 alone.

- Truck drivers, numbering more than 3.6 million, who will transport nearly 70 percent of all the freight tonnage in the U.S. this holiday season.

- Farmers, each of whom supplies food for 144 people in the U.S. and abroad each year.

- Miners who extract nearly 100 different kinds of minerals from the earth and provide the raw materials for heat, electricity, roads and bridges, and countless consumer products.

- Parcel delivery workers, who will deliver nearly 20 billion of packages, letters and gifts during the 2016 holiday season.

- Snow plow drivers who enable drivers to get to their destinations safely during inclement weather events.

- Construction workers who provide our buildings, roads and infrastructure

Each week, beginning Nov. 17 through Dec. 31, 2016, Michelin will recognize individuals in the transportation and travel industries, who demonstrate outstanding commitment to keep the holidays moving by the posts received on its social media channels mentioned above. Michelin will randomly select seven individuals, who are honored as holiday heroes via social media posts. Each person will receive a limited edition Michelin themed gourmet gift box from Try the World, an online gourmet store.

The Michelin themed Try the World gift box features a selection of eight culinary delights from across the globe selected by Thomas Raquel, pastry chef at the world-famous Michelin three-star restaurant, Le Bernadin in New York.

Participants can also download a “Thank-you” card from Michelinmedia.com to demonstrate gratitude toward community heroes, who keep the holidays moving forward. Official contest rules are posted on Michelinmedia.com.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today announced a 30-day extension of the public comment period for a September 7, 2016 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which would require all newly manufactured U.S. trucks, buses, and multipurpose passenger vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating more than 26,000 pounds to be equipped with speed limiting devices. 

The new public comment deadline of December 7, 2016, will provide all interested parties sufficient opportunity to fully develop and submit comments and evidentiary materials to the agencies via www.regulations.gov. 

Requiring speed limiting devices on heavy vehicles could save lives, as well as an estimated $1 billion in fuel costs each year. 

Contacts: NHTSA: Bryan Thomas: (202) 366-9550; FMCSA: Duane DeBruyne: (202) 366-9999.

The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that the last of the nearly 16,000 U.S. heavy trucks voluntarily recalled earlier this year by Volvo Trucks North America for a serious steering defect have been identified and repaired, achieving an extraordinary 100 percent vehicle safety recall completion in a very short period of time. The recall was overseen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in collaboration with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

“Over the last nine months, our USDOT team and Volvo Trucks have been laser-focused on protecting the motoring public by ensuring that every one of these recalled heavy trucks was identified and removed from our roadways until they were repaired,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.  “This extraordinary effort, covering such a large number of vehicles, now with a confirmed 100 percent achievement of the safety recall, averted the risk of injury or death to not only the truck drivers, but also to everyone sharing the road.”

On February 17, 2016, Volvo Trucks North America proactively announced the recall of certain model year 2016-2017 VNL, VNX, and VNM heavy trucks due to a steering shaft defect that potentially could have caused the truck driver to unexpectedly and suddenly experience a complete loss of steering.

Acting immediately, NHTSA took the unprecedented step of reaching out to its sister agency and requested FMCSA to assist in getting the recalled commercial vehicles brought to a stop. NHTSA and FMCSA working in partnership with Volvo Trucks, implemented a nationwide information campaign to alert trucking companies and their drivers as well as federal and state roadside inspectors of the urgent recall notification. FMCSA also issued an immediate out-of-service order for the trucks.

Volvo Trucks also took unprecedented steps and used new and innovative methods to alert owners and drivers to the potential risk.  While Volvo Trucks worked to directly contact truck owners, FMCSA and NHTSA posted recall announcements on social media platforms and issued multiple press notifications to trucking trade news outlets, including special appearances by federal officials on satellite radio programs geared to long-haul truck drivers.

“The successful conclusion of this large-scale national recall is a testament to the vital importance of everyone working together,” said FMCSA Administrator Scott Darling.  “Many people were called upon to play a role in alerting carriers and drivers of the recall – from the trucking trade media to roadside safety inspectors.  I am confident that all of our safety goals can likewise be achieved through this model of collaboration and partnership.”

One hundred percent recall completions historically have been rare. But in January, Secretary Foxx joined 18 automakers to commit to Proactive Safety Principles which included a focus on maximizing safety recall rates by “working toward the aspirational goal of 100 percent participation.”

“We applaud Volvo Trucks’ commitment to addressing every one of these trucks,” said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. “Not only has every truck been found, they were repaired or taken out of service before there was any serious crash tied to this dangerous defect. This is exactly what proactive safety is all about.”

August 2016 North American Freight Numbers

American vehicles consumed 71.8 billion gallons of gasoline in the first half of the year, an increase of 3 percent over the same period a year earlier. It is the highest amount on record and the sixth consecutive increase in national gasoline consumption for the six-month period ending June 30, 2016.

The data, reported in the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) “Monthly Motor Fuel Reported By States,” show the South Gulf – a region of eight states stretching from Texas to West Virginia – had a 4.1 percent increase, the largest percentage increase of any region in the country.

California led the nation in gasoline consumption with 7.65 billion gallons, followed by Texas at 7.1 billion gallons and Florida at 4.57 billion gallons.

Oklahoma consumed 8.2 percent more gasoline in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2015, topping the list for the state with largest percent increase. Delaware and Utah followed closely with 7.9 percent and 7.2 percent increases, respectively.  North Dakota’s fuel consumption decreased by 5.9 percent, the largest decrease among the states in that period.

The FHWA analyzes fuel consumption information from the states each month to better understand the changing needs of the American drive. Gasoline and diesel consumption data are of significant interest to analysts, given the role they play as contributors to the Highway Trust Fund which provides funding for highways and interstates nationwide. The data is also indicative of the level of resource consumption and pollution emissions by the transportation sector which, in recent reviews, has been the leading source of greenhouse gasses among all sectors in the United States. 

The federal tax rate for gasoline sales is 18.4 cents per gallon and, for diesel, 24.4 cents per gallon. All states levy additional taxes on gasoline and diesel. The gasoline rates vary from a low of 8.0 cents per gallon to 50.3 cents, while diesel fuel rates vary from 8 cents to 64 cents per gallon.

The entire 18-year collection of “Monthly Motor Fuel Reported by States” can be found on the FHWA’s website at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/motorfuelhwy_trustfund.cfm.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) Operation Safe Driver Week is this week, Oct. 16-22, 2016. Throughout the week, there will be heightened traffic safety enforcement and education aimed at combating unsafe driving behaviors by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and passenger-vehicle (car) drivers.

Unsafe driver behaviors by CMV drivers and passenger-vehicle drivers continues to be the leading cause of crashes. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) "Large Truck Crash Causation Study" cites driver behavior as the critical reason for more than 88 percent of large truck crashes and 93 percent of passenger-vehicle crashes. CVSA's Operation Safe Driver program was created to help reduce the number of crashes, deaths and injuries involving large trucks, buses and cars due to unsafe driving behaviors.

Examples of unsafe driver behaviors that law enforcement will be tracking throughout Operation Safe Driver Week are speeding, failure to use a seatbelt while operating a CMV or in a passenger vehicle, distracted driving, failure to obey traffic control devices, improper lane change, etc. This enforcement blitz focuses not only on CMV drivers but also on passenger-vehicle drivers who are operating unsafely around large trucks and buses, such as traveling too closely, aggressive driving, cutting off commercial motor vehicles, etc.

Each participating jurisdiction will focus enforcement and education on its relevant problem areas related to unsafe driver behaviors as part of Operation Safe Driver Week. For example, a jurisdiction may conduct high-visibility traffic enforcement on CMV and passenger-vehicle drivers in high crash-rate areas along major highways. Some jurisdictions may employ covert enforcement search and identification efforts. Or some jurisdictions may focus on specific target areas for improvement such as driver traffic enforcement around work zones.

To find out about Operation Safe Driver Week enforcement events going on in your area, contact the agency/department responsible for overseeing commercial motor vehicle safety within your jurisdiction.

Operation Safe Driver Week is sponsored by CVSA, in partnership with FMCSA and with support from industry and transportation safety organizations, and aims to help improve the behavior of all drivers operating in an unsafe manner – either by or around commercial motor vehicles – and to initiate educational and traffic enforcement strategies to address those exhibiting high-risk behaviors.

Industry Q&A Sessions

As a reminder, this series of Q&A Sessions, produced by the FMCSA National Training Center (NTC), is open for registration, and there is still time to register for one of the sessions, scheduled on the following dates:

• Wednesday, October 12, 2016, 10:00–11:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET)
• Thursday, October 13, 2016, 2:00–3:30 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, October 18, 2016, 3:00–4:30 p.m. ET
• Thursday, October 20, 2016, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. ET

A description of information that will be covered in the webinar can be found below the registration information.

Links to see the proposed enhancements in action, view the video and register for a Q&A session are in the PDF attached to this email, or the PDF can be accessed online at: https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/SMSPreview-info

WEBINAR DESCRIPTION

These question and answer (Q&A) sessions will provide industry stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions about the proposed Safety Measurement System (SMS) enhancements and the preview, and receive answers in real time. These sessions are designed to give industry stakeholders time to learn more about the proposed changes following the release of the public SMS Preview on October 4, 2016. The SMS Preview will be released with a follow-on Federal Register Notice announcing a 60-day comment period.

To support the Q&A sessions, FMCSA developed a video presentation, which outlines the proposed changes and how to use the preview website. Before joining an online Q&A session, participants can view the video along with other reference materials available in the SMS Preview Help Center. Each session will end once all questions related to the preview have been answered. The Agency encourages stakeholders to submit questions ahead of time via the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Feedback form. 

QUESTIONS?

For any general questions regarding these webinars, contact Kirse Kelly (kirse.kelly@dot.gov or 703-235-1324).  

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a final rule amending its commercial driver’s license (CDL) regulations to ease the transition of military personnel into civilian careers driving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) by simplifying the process of obtaining a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) or CDL. 

This final rule extends the period of time for applying for a skills test waiver from 90 days to one year after leaving a military position requiring the operation of a CMV.

This final rule also allows a state to accept applications from active duty military personnel who are stationed in that state and to administer the written and skills tests for a CLP or CDL.

States that choose to accept such applications must use forms and procedures acceptable to the state of domicile of the military personnel (their state of permanent residence or “home” state), and must transmit the test results electronically to the state of domicile.

The state of domicile may issue the CLP or CDL on the basis of those results.

Click here to read the Federal Register notice.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) will hold a public meeting entitled "Big Data in the Workplace: Examining Implications for Equal Employment Opportunity Law" on Thursday, Oct. 13, from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) at EEOC headquarters, 131 M Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.

At the meeting, EEOC Commissioners will hear from a broad panel of experts on a range of issues, including big data trends and technologies, the benefits and risks of big data analytics, current and potential uses of big data in employment, and how the use of big data may implicate equal employment opportunity laws. 

             

Confirmed panelists include:

• Kelly Trindel, PhD, Chief Analyst, Office of Research, Information and Planning, EEOC
• Eric M. Dunleavy, PhD, Director, Personnel Selection and Litigation Support Services Group, DCI Consulting, on behalf of the Society for Human Resource Management
• Michael Housman, Workforce Scientist, hiQ Labs
• Michal Kosinski, Assistant Professor, Organizational Behavior, Stanford Graduate School of Business (via VTC)
• Marko J. Mrkonich, Shareholder, Littler Mendelson P.C.
• Ifeoma Ajunwa, Assistant Professor, University of the District of Columbia School of Law
• Kathleen K. Lundquist, PhD, Organizational Psychologist, President and CEO, APTMetrics, Inc.

Seating is limited, and EEOC encourages visitors to arrive 30 minutes before the meeting to be processed through security and escorted to the meeting room. Visitors should bring a government-issued photo identification card to facilitate entry into the building. The Commission agenda is subject to revision. Additional information about the meeting, when available, will be posted at http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/meetings/index.cfm.

EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about EEOC is available on its website at www.eeoc.gov.