Fire Prevention Week
In today's Safety Bulletin post, we will delve into the critical aspects of fire safety in commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). From understanding fire extinguisher requirements to knowing the necessary actions to take in the event of a fire, this comprehensive guide aims to equip every driver with the knowledge and tools to prioritize safety on the road. Additionally, we will also address the recent developments in marijuana testing policies for transportation workers, shedding light on the potential impacts and the industry's commitment to ensuring road safety. Join us as we explore these essential topics and empower drivers with valuable insights for a secure and compliant journey.
October 6-12 is Fire Prevention Week
In this issue:
- What a Driver Must Know When a Fire Occurs in a Commercial Motor Vehicle
- DOT Clarifies Marijuana Testing Policy
- Registration Open for the 2024 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars!
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Check out past Idealease Safety Bulletins.
National Fire Prevention Week is almost here, and it’s an excellent opportunity to review with your drivers how to prevent fires and what to do if a fire breaks out in their commercial vehicles. Checking the fire extinguisher is super important during the daily vehicle inspection. It’s surprising how often I see a truck with a fire extinguisher that has lost its pressure from a leak or has been used and not recharged. What drivers do during a fire is essential for saving lives and limiting damage.
When a fire occurs in a commercial motor vehicle, the driver must know two things.
1. Knowledge about fires.
2. How to operate a fire extinguisher.
Fire safety and fire extinguisher operation should be a part of every new driver’s orientation program.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations require that all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) have a fire extinguisher on board that is the correct size type and properly secured and labeled. Did you know a CMV carrying hazardous materials must have a different size extinguisher than those not transporting hazardous materials?
Here are the requirements:
§393.95 Emergency equipment on all power units
Each truck, truck tractor, and bus (except those towed in driveaway-towaway operations) must be equipped as follows:
(a) Fire Extinguishers
(a)(1) Minimum ratings:
- A power unit used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding must be equipped with a fire extinguisher with an Underwriters Laboratories rating of 10 B:C or more.
- A power unit not used to transport hazardous materials must be equipped with a fire extinguisher with an Underwriters Laboratories rating of 5 B:C or more.
Labeling and marking: Each fire extinguisher required by this section must be labeled or marked by the manufacturer with its Underwriters Laboratories rating.
Visual indicators: The fire extinguisher must be designed, constructed, and maintained to allow for a visual determination of whether it is fully charged.
Condition, location, and mounting: The fire extinguisher(s) must be filled and located so that they are readily accessible for use. The extinguisher(s) must be securely mounted to prevent sliding, rolling, or vertical movement relative to the motor vehicle.
When a fire occurs in a Commercial Motor Vehicle, the driver should take the following actions:
- Move to Safety: If possible, get the truck off the roadway and into an open area. Park away from buildings, trees, vehicles, or anything else that may catch fire.
- Call for Help: Dial 911 on your cell phone to report the fire and your location.
- Prioritize Safety: Move away from the truck if the fire is too large to extinguish. Your safety and the safety of the public are your top priorities.
- Disconnect the Trailer: If you operate a tractor-trailer and can safely disconnect the trailer, do so to prevent damage to both units and the cargo.
- Turn Off the Engine: If the engine is on fire, turn it off immediately.
- Avoid Opening the Hood: Do not open the hood if you can avoid it. Attempt to extinguish the fire from the truck’s louvers, radiator, or underside. Opening the hood increases the oxygen supply, which can intensify the fire.
- Keep Doors Closed: If the fire is in the trailer or cargo box, shut the doors to limit oxygen and reduce fire intensity.
- Tire Fires: A tire fire is unlikely to be extinguished with a fire extinguisher. Try throwing dirt or sand on the tire to smother the fire.
What you can do to prevent the likelihood of a fire starting in your Commercial Motor Vehicle:
- Conduct Inspections: Perform a thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspection daily, checking the fuel, electrical, exhaust systems, tires, and cargo of your truck.
- Maintain Cleanliness: Keep the unit clean and free from excess grease, fuel, and oil.
- Monitor Dash Gauges: Pay attention to your dashboard gauges while operating the vehicle for signs of overheating.
- Use Your Mirrors: Regularly check your mirrors for any signs of smoke or flames.
- Understand New Systems: Be aware of the regeneration process for Post-Emission 2007 and newer units, noting that exhaust temperatures can reach high levels during this process.
- Know Your Cargo: Familiarize yourself with the onboard cargo and its fire potential.
DOT Clarifies Marijuana Testing Policy. September 2024
In a House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure hearing earlier this summer, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed that his agency believes the U.S. Department of Justice’s proposal to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug will not change the current requirements for testing transportation workers, including truck drivers, for marijuana use.
According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), “If the trucking industry’s ability to conduct drug testing for marijuana use were to be restricted, a heightened risk of impaired drivers would threaten our nation’s roadways. DOT and ATA share the goals of achieving zero highway fatalities and ensuring that the commercial driving workforce is qualified to operate safely. We are committed to partnering with DOT to mitigate harmful impacts caused by the potential reclassification of marijuana.”
This concern is well-founded. Last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a study showing that marijuana and alcohol remain the most detected substances in impaired driving crashes, resulting in severe or fatal injuries.
Additionally, researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism found that, between 2000 and 2018, crash deaths involving marijuana more than doubled, increasing from 9% to 21.5%. Separate studies indicated that state-level marijuana legalization was associated with a 6.5% increase in injury crash rates and a 2.3% increase in fatal crash rates. Following Canada’s 2018 legalization of marijuana, emergency rooms saw a 94% increase in marijuana-involved traffic injuries.
As of May 2024, marijuana (Δ9-THCA) accounted for approximately 60%—or 150,647 total—of all positive employer drug tests among regulated commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers since the January 2020 implementation of the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Secretary Buttigieg stated that USDOT anticipates maintaining its authority to conduct marijuana testing for commercial motor vehicle drivers and other safety-sensitive transportation workers.
“Our understanding of the rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III is that it would not alter DOT’s marijuana testing requirements for the regulated community,” he said. “For private individuals performing safety-sensitive functions, subject to drug testing, marijuana is identified by name, not by reference to one of those classes. So even with this reclassification, we do not believe it would directly impact that authority.”
Registration is Open Online for the 2024 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars!
Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC will again be hosting safety seminars in 2024. The one-day seminar this year will focus on data available from trucks today with regards to safety, basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars and will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides important information applicable for both the novice an
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