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National Fire Prevention Week - Oct 4-10th: Idealease Safety Bulletin for Week of 9/25/20

Sep. 25 2020 Miscellaneous By McCandless Idealease

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Read and share the latest Safety Bulletin, "Fire Prevention Week" courtesy of Idealease.

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In this issue find details on the following:

1.  October 4–10th is Fire Prevention Week - Now is a good time to review how to prevent and react to fires that occur in a commercial vehicle. 

  • Fire extinguisher inspection is a vital part of a driver’s daily vehicle inspection process. Fire safety and fire extinguisher operation should be part of every new driver’s orientation program.

    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.

    FMCSA regulations require that all commercial motor vehicles have a fire extinguisher on board that is of the correct size, type and properly secured and labeled. Did you know that a CMV with hazardous materials is required to have a different size extinguisher than those not carrying hazardous material?

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 that is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding must be equipped with a fire extinguisher having an Underwriters’ Laboratories rating of 10 B:C or more.
  • A power unit that is not used to transport hazardous materials must be equipped with either:
  • A fire extinguisher having 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 permit visual determination of whether it is fully charged.
  • Condition, location, and mounting. The fire extinguisher(s) must be filled and located so that it is readily accessible for use. The extinguisher(s) must be securely mounted to prevent sliding, rolling, or vertical movement relative to the motor vehicle.

A driver should take the following actions when a fire occurs in a Commercial Motor Vehicle:

  1. Get the truck off the roadway and into an open area if possible. Park away from buildings, trees, vehicles, or anything else that may catch fire.
  2. Call 911 on your cell phone to report the fire and location.
  3. Get away from the truck if the fire is to a size that cannot be extinguished. Your life and the life of the public is your first responsibility.
  4. If you are operating a tractor trailer and can safely disconnect the trailer from the tractor do so as not to damage both units and cargo in the fire.
  5. If the engine is on fire turn off the engine as soon as possible.
  6. Do not open the hood if possible and try to extinguish the fire from the louvers, radiator, or underside of the truck. Opening the hood will provide additional oxygen to fire and it will increase at a more rapid rate.
  7. If the fire is in your trailer or cargo box of the truck keep the doors shut. Here again additional oxygen will increase the intensity of the fire.
  8. A tire fire will not likely 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:

  1. Complete a thorough pre and post trip inspection daily of the fuel, electrical, exhausts systems, tires, and cargo of your truck.
  2. Keep the unit clean from excess grease, fuel, and oil.
  3. Monitor your dash gauges while in operation for signs of overheating.
  4. Utilize your mirrors for signs of smoke or flames.
  5. With new Post Emission 2007 and newer units be aware of regeneration of the after treatment program and where the regeneration occurs as exhaust temperatures reach high levels of heat.
  6. Know the cargo that you have on board and its fire potential.

2. Two Webinars left in the 2020 Idealease Safety Webinar Series

Oct 7 How the Drug and Alcohol Testing regulations apply to you a motor carrier - Register

Oct 21 Developing a proactive safety and loss control program - Register 

3. FMCSA Extends Waivers for CDLs, CLPs, Medical Certificates Through Dec. 31, 2020

State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), CDL holders, CLP holders, and interstate non-CDL CMV drivers are covered under this waiver without further action unless the driver’s privileges have been suspended or withdrawn for traffic offenses.

The waiver issued by FMCSA:

• Extends until December 31, 2020, the maximum period of CDL validity by waiving 49 CFR 383.73(b)(9) and 383.73(d)(6) for CDLs due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020.
• Extends until December 31, 2020, the maximum period of CLP validity by waiving 49 CFR 383.73(a)(2)(iii) and 383.25(c) for CLPs that are due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020, without requiring the CLP holders to retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests.
• Waives until December 31, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.25(e) that CLP holders wait 14 days to take the CDL skills test.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non- CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided that they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) that were issued for a period of 90 days or longer:
• For CDL holders, CLP holders, and non- CDL drivers whose medical certification was valid on February 29, 2020 and expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers whose medical certification expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 is waived until December 31, 2020.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.71(h)(3) that, in order to maintain the medical certification status of “certified,” CDL or CLP holders provide the SDLA with an original or copy of a subsequently issued medical examiner’s certificate and any required medical variance:
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.71(h)(3) is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.71(h)(3) is waived until December 31, 2020.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.73(o)(2) that the SDLA change the CDL or CLP holder’s medical certification status to “not certified” upon the expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance:
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(2) is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(2) is waived until December 31, 2020.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirements under 49 CFR 383.73(o)(4) that the State Driver Licensing Agency initiate a CDL or CLP downgrade upon the expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance:
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(4) is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(4) is waived until December 31, 2020.

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*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.