Proactive vs Reactive Safety & Loss Control Programs - Idealease Safety Bulletin
The entire team at Idealease, McCandless Idealease, and McCandless Truck Center would like to wish all of you a Safe and Joy-filled Holiday Season and a Prosperous New Year! You will receive your next Idealease Safety Bulletin on January 7, 2022.
Read the latest Idealease Safety Bulletin "Proactive vs Reactive Safety & Loss Control Programs" online, or read, share or download a full PDF version. Remember to sign up to have them delivered straight to your inbox each week for instant access to the latest safety news, tips and information!
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In this issue:
- Don’t Forget About End-of-Year Drug and Alcohol testing
- FMCSA Provides Compliance Material for Entry-Level Driver Training Rule
- Have you prepared your terminal facility for the upcoming Holidays?
Everyone at Idealease and McCandless Truck Centers and McCandless Idealease wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Our next Safety Bulletin will be available after the New Year on 1/7/22.
PROACTIVE VS REACTIVE - WHICH DO YOU HAVE?
The end of the year marks a great time to evaluate your safety and loss control program to determine your performance over the past year. Ongoing analysis is crucial. Accident frequency should be analyzed quarterly to determine trends and help be proactive in controlling losses. Accident frequency rates can be calculated by multiplying the total number of accidents for a period by 1,000,000 then dividing by the total number of miles within that period. It can be determined for DOT recordable, preventable recordable, non-preventable, be region, by fleet, driver supervisor, etc. It is only ONE PIECE of your overall safety analysis program however. Other areas should be: driver turnover frequency, DOT violation analysis (Hours of Service, Drug & Alcohol, Driver File), OSHA violations, on-board safety technologies, workers compensation injuries, etc.
Be sure to review your monthly CSA CMS data provided by the FMCSA: https://safer.fmcsa.dot.gov/ or http://csa.fmcsa.dot.gov
A sound Proactive safety and Loss control program will adequately address the following areas:
- Driver Selection
- Driver recruiting
- Carrier-based training
- Management-driver communications
- Driver safety-performance evaluation
- Safety incentives, Behavior-based safety
- On-board safety monitoring, cameras
- Telematics data
- Accident investigation
- Improved driver scheduling and dispatching
- Fatigue management
- Carrier-based medical programs
- Advanced safety technologies, Industry-based safety standards, and certification
- Preventive maintenance and vehicle inspection
- Drug and Alcohol testing results
Don’t Forget About End-of-Year Drug and Alcohol testing
Holidays and vacations can throw a wrench into any motor carrier's plans for a smooth transition from the end of one year to the next.
One area that carriers need to closely watch is the number of random Department of Transportation drug and alcohol tests that have been performed.
Carriers subject to 49 CFR Part 382 must meet the minimum annual testing rates. In 2021, the rates are 50 percent for drugs and 10 percent for alcohol. The tests must be completed by the last day of the year.
With only about two weeks remaining in 2021, it is important to consider your last selection and notifications if you haven't already.
By procrastinating on scheduling, carriers run into issues with increased deliveries over the holiday season, vacations, and company shutdowns, drivers might be unavailable for testing before the end of the calendar year.
When carriers reach the end of the year and find they have not tested enough drivers, some will perform a supplemental draw before time runs out.
FMCSA Provides Compliance Material for Entry-Level Driver Training Rule
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published FAQs and other compliance materials for training providers, motor carriers and drivers on the new Entry-Level Driver Training rule. The new rule goes into effect February 7, 2022.
The Entry-Level Driver Training regulations establish new federal minimum training standards for entry-level drivers. This includes individuals applying for:
- A Class A or Class B commercial driver’s license (CDL) for the first time
- An upgrade of an existing Class B CDL to a Class A CDL
- A school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time
Beginning February 7, 2022, drivers must have completed the required entry-level driver training from a provider registered with FMCSA before taking a CDL skills or knowledge test to obtain one of the licenses or endorsements listed above.
Only drivers who obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) on or after the February 7, 2022 compliance date are subject to ELDT regulations for obtaining a CDL. Drivers who currently hold a CLP may obtain a CDL without completing entry-level training, as long as they obtain their CDL before their CLP, or renewed CLP, expires.
Current CDL holders who apply for a new S, P, or H endorsement on or after February 7, 2022 are subject to ELDT requirements for those endorsements. The ELDT requirements for obtaining the S, P, or H endorsements also apply to drivers who obtain their CLP or CDL after February 7, 2022.
Drivers seeking to obtain a Class A or Class B CDL or an S, P, or H endorsement must select a training provider from the public list on the Training Provider Registry website.
Have you prepared your terminal facility for the upcoming Holidays?
This reminder comes around every holiday season!
Remember to take extra precautions to secure the trucks and items of value at your terminal over the holidays since they are often a target for thieves.
Here are a few suggestions and prevention tips to help deter a thief from striking your facility.
- 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 are in working order.
- Walk the perimeter of the lot to make sure 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 they cannot be used to climb on to get over the fence.
- Consider blocking the entrance and exits to the lot so units cannot be stolen.
- Throughout the Holidays assign management personnel to check the terminal randomly.
*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.