Preparing For the July 4th Holiday

This week's safety bulletin details how to safe practices for drivers and your facilities for this upcoming holiday weekend. Read the full safety bulletin here and subscribe to receive future bulletins directly to your inbox.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Law enforcement agencies will have increased enforcement focused on impaired driving during the 4th of July holiday to keep families safe this Independence Day.

Drinking and driving is a bad combination, the consequences are abundantly clear, yet people still make the poor decision to drive after drinking. Please be smart and make this 4th of July holiday fun and memorable.

Designate a sober driver before heading out for the evening if you will attend 4th of July parties. If you are hosting a party, offer nonalcoholic drinks for designated sober drivers and monitor who is drinking. See people leaving who have been drinking? Check how they are getting home. Offer to let them stay the night if a sober driver cannot take them home. Driving with just a buzz does not cut it. With the rise in ride-share options, there is no excuse for driving impaired.

A DUI arrest costs approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes, and other penalties. Also, prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and marijuana can all be impairing and land you a DUI, especially in combination with alcohol and other drugs.

Have You Prepared Your Terminal Facility for the 4th of July Holiday?

It is common for thieves to target truck terminals and truck dealerships over the holidays. Thieves know that holiday weekends are a good opportunity for a successful theft as no one can be at your facility. Ensure you take extra precautions to secure your facility's trucks and items of value. If your units do not have anti-siphon devices or locking caps, instruct the drivers not to fill the units at the end of the day. Make sure that all security alarms and cameras are in working order. Walk the lot's perimeter to ensure that security fencing is in good condition. Move units and all other materials, such as pallets, tires, etc., far enough away from the fence so intruders cannot climb them to get over the fence. Review your security lighting to make sure it is operational and adequate. Lighting can be obstructed by vehicles or trees, allowing a thief a place to be unseen. Consider blocking the entrance and exits to the lot so units secure units. Throughout the three-day weekend, assign management personnel to check the terminal randomly. Notify local law enforcement officials of your hours of operation over the holidays so they know when to expect activity at your location. Using some prevention and common sense can deter a thief from striking your facility and disrupting your business!

Cargo Theft and 4th of July

Noteworthy thefts from previous July 4th holidays

• $2,000,000 of perfume from Hillsborough Township, New Jersey
• $439,895 in medical supplies from Davenport, Florida
• $352,000 of computer electronics from San Francisco, California
• $328,321 of toys from Trevor, Wisconsin
• $314,191 of computer electronics from Commerce, California

FMCSA Reduces UCR Fees for 2024

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule reducing the Unified Carrier Registration fees for the 2024 registration year by approximately nine percent.  The fees for 2024 will be as follows:

FEES UNDER THE UCR PLAN FOR REGISTRATION YEAR 2024

By federal law, the total revenue collected under the UCR Plan is capped; if collections exceed the cap, then the FMCSA must reduce the fees accordingly.  Carriers operating in interstate commerce must register and pay the fees to their base state each year.

Operation Safe Driver Week

Operation Safe Driver Week is a safe-driving awareness and outreach initiative aimed at improving the driving behaviors of passenger vehicle drivers and commercial motor vehicle drivers through educational and traffic enforcement strategies and interactions with law enforcement.

The next Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 9-15, 2023.

Throughout Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel will be on the lookout for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving. Identified unsafe drivers will be pulled over and issued a citation or warning.

Have a Happy and Safe 4^th of July!!!

Independence Day Holiday

During this Independence Day weekend, please take a moment to honor America and all that we are. Also, remember our military servicemen and women who are protecting our freedom across the globe and fighting for those who do not have the liberty our great country provides. Let us never forget those who have sacrificed before us to protect the United States and the values we hold dear.

The next Idealease Safety bulletin will be on July 14th because of the 4th of July Holiday.