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Safety Bulletin - Are Your Drivers Prepared for Roadcheck 2020 Beginning September 9th?

Aug. 28 2020 Miscellaneous By McCandless Idealease

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The August 28th Edition of the weekly Idealease safety bulletin has arrived!  Read the entire bulletin online and don't forget to sign up to have them delivered straight to your inbox each week.  

1. Are Your Drivers Prepared for Roadcheck 2020 Beginning September 9th? DOWNLOAD A ROADCHECK CHECKLIST and INSPECTION CHEAT SHEET

  • The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) rescheduled its International Roadcheck for September 9th-11th. Law enforcement will perform driver and commercial motor vehicle inspections at weigh or inspection sites and fixed locations and through roving mobile patrols. Officers will check for compliance with motor carrier safety regulations, and those vehicles or drivers found with a critical inspection violation will be placed out of service. Visit www.roadcheck.org for more info!

2.  Question of the Week:  My driver has gone through a roadside inspection, how long do I have to keep this documentation on file?

  • Answer: Copies of all roadside inspections are to be kept by the motor carrier for 12 months. The driver is required to turn in the inspection to the motor carrier within 24 hours. If they are not going to return to the terminal they are to mail in the inspection. If the inspection resulted in violations they are to be corrected or repaired and the inspection form is to be signed and certified that the repairs were completed and sent back to the state of inspection within 15 days.

3.  Idealease Pre/Post Trip Inspection Videos for Driver Training

Train drivers how to complete good quality pre/post-trip inspections to reduce possibility of violations. Use Idealease Pre-Post Trip training videos below.

English versions:
Tractor Trailer - http://www2.idealease.com/e/36492/9TL62H5yUQA/5qpksc/777133320?h=HQd6GtQQ4xrA-OEAZ3Xl1zCjR0QIMDmxgLyUJ3ws8_U
Straight Truck - http://www2.idealease.com/e/36492/rsUTQrN-514/5qpksf/777133320?h=HQd6GtQQ4xrA-OEAZ3Xl1zCjR0QIMDmxgLyUJ3ws8_U

Spanish versions:
Straight Truck - http://www2.idealease.com/e/36492/embed-SDvbuAuKQLM/5qpksh/777133320?h=HQd6GtQQ4xrA-OEAZ3Xl1zCjR0QIMDmxgLyUJ3ws8_U
Tractor Trailer - http://www2.idealease.com/e/36492/embed-529XGiJxTfU/5qpksk/777133320?h=HQd6GtQQ4xrA-OEAZ3Xl1zCjR0QIMDmxgLyUJ3ws8_U

4. Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over Enforcement Campaign - August 21st through September 7th

5. Six Most Common CSA Violations

  • THE TRUCK
    -Violation: Lighting 
    28% of all roadside vehicle violations last year, out of 2.4 million inspections, dealt with lights or reflective materials.
    Light violations are a severity point assessment of 6 CSA points and a conspicuity of reflective tape violations are 3 CSA points.
    Prevention: Pre and Post trip inspections and reporting of lighting defects on the daily vehicle inspection report. Use Idealease’s Pre-Post Trip training videos:

    -Violation: Brakes 
    25% of vehicle violations are for brakes, with over 1 million brake violations last year, each with four CSA points.
    Prevention: Training is key. Make sure drivers know what to look for and when to get assistance with their brakes. The only way to find a brake adjustment problem is to carefully measure the stroke, and adjusting a brake that has an automatic adjuster won’t fix the problem (and may make it worse).

    -Violation: Tires
    11% of vehicle violations are for tires (half for tread depth), with a CSA severity of eight points.
    Steer tires must have 4/32 inch of tread depth; other tires must have 2/32 inch.
    Prevention: Pre and Post Trip inspections that identify tires that are getting close to regulation requirements being reported on the daily vehicle inspection report. Drivers need to know how and when to check inflation (with a gauge!) and when it’s time for a replacement


  • THE DRIVER

    -Violation: Logs
    “Form & Manner” and “Log Not Current” violations make up 25% of all driver violations at the roadside, far and above any other violation. A form/manner violation carries just one CSA point, but a log that isn’t current is worth five.
    Prevention: Review hours of service regulations with all drivers upon orientation and throughout the year during driver meetings.
    Monitor hours of service documentation for violations.
    Implement a progressive disciplinary policy for violators with termination as the ultimate action taken.
    Consider implementing electronic logging devices.

    -Violation: Medical issues 
    12% of driver violations are related to medical issues, often a failure to have a valid medical certificate. These carry a low CSA point value of one or two, although driving while physically ill is a 10-point violation.
    Prevention: Track the expiration of your drivers’ medical cards and make sure they get updated, placed in drivers’ files, carried in the vehicle, and turned in to the state licensing agency. Make sure drivers know exactly what is required of them and have consequences in place for those who fail to comply.
    Some of these violations may go away once we have the National Registry of Medical Examiners, and once interstate CDL drivers no longer must carry their medical cards (in Feb. 2015).

    -Violation: English ability
    This violation has been surging in recent years, currently at 9% of all driver violations and carrying four CSA points.
    Compliance is complicated because there is no yes/no standard. Key for a roadside inspection is being able to fill out paperwork, speak with officers and answer their questions, all in English.
    Prevention: Your hiring practices should filter out drivers who simply cannot meet the standard. Use training and practice to help drivers know how to respond to typical questions about their logs, their trips and cargo, their insurance, registration, license, and their vehicle.