Safety remains the biggest obstacle for carriers today, with a recent J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights survey revealing that 51% of carriers identify it as their primary challenge. Even minor accidents and incidents can significantly impact productivity, driver wellness and ultimately affect the bottom line of any transportation company. While proper training can […]
Qualifying drivers requires navigating complex Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). Doing this correctly is critical, as non-compliant driver qualification files can result in substantial audit fines and serve as a basis for negligence claims in post-crash litigation. Maintaining audit-ready DQ files isn’t just about regulatory compliance—it’s essential for protecting your business from financial and […]
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck is here once again, and carriers across North America need to prepare for this annual three-day inspection blitz. With thousands of roadside inspections scheduled for May 13-15, motor carriers and drivers should understand what to expect in order to avoid costly violations and out-of-service orders. What is Roadcheck? […]
With the technology and knowledge available today, there’s no excuse for not taking decisive action against distracted driving
There are steps trucking companies can take to safeguard their operations despite outside unpredictability.
While maintaining these credentials may seem simple, the complex nature of the logistics industry can undermine a carrier’s efforts to stay above board.
By establishing an ongoing MVR monitoring program, carriers can protect themselves from risky actions like unknowingly dispatching a driver without a valid license.
Despite their outsized impact on operations, confusion surrounding HOS regulations continues to plague the industry.
Carriers with best-in-class safety programs enjoy the most competitive insurance rates while simultaneously protecting driver well-being and making positive changes in the industry as a whole.
With brand new drivers, carriers have the advantage of training them from the ground up.
During the last full calendar year, 2023, HOS violations accounted for over 40% of the driver-related violations found during roadside inspections.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided a detailed framework surrounding driver drug and alcohol violations – including return to work procedures.
International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative that takes place in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
While FMCSA has issued minimal requirements for MVR checks, carriers doing only the bare minimum are creating and perpetuating visibility gaps that leave their fleets vulnerable.
The California Highway Patrol has issued a final rule requiring ELD use by intrastate drivers on and after Jan. 1, 2024.
Augmenting a carrier staff with state and federal regulatory experts can help an organization exceed the minimum recordkeeping requirements, which can reduce the risk of a negligent hiring claim.
“Violations could indicate that you don’t have sufficient safety management controls,” said Rick Malchow, industry business adviser at J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.
The federal heavy vehicle use tax year began on July 1, and taxes for 2023–2024 are due by Aug. 31.
“Poor CSA scores can lead to warning letters from the FMCSA, more inspections, higher insurance rates and negative publicity,” said J. J. Keller & Associate Inc.’s Josh Lovan.
J. J. Keller advises that with on-site investigations and fines growing, carriers should focus efforts on compliance and record management.
“When appropriately managed, your records not only show who your drivers and employees are, but also that they are trained, qualified, properly taxed and work within the limits of the law,” said Daren Hansen of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
J. J. Keller & Associates Inc. broke down what businesses need to know about the MCS-150, its common challenges and how to stay compliant.
Are you Roadcheck ready? If not, now is the time to prepare. Tom Bray, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. senior business advisor, shares best practices.
In order to remain relevant and endure a soft market in this year’s competitive trucking sphere, fleets must put in the legwork to create a positive driver culture and grow their advantage.
“Treat every application like it is worth a million dollars. An allegation of negligent hiring in post-crash litigation could cost at least that and more,” said Mark Schedler, senior transport editor at J. J. Keller & Associates.
Truck driver safety is an ongoing process that involves engagement, awareness and targeted training.
Corrective action training may not prevent an incident but it will reduce the likelihood of one reoccurring.
See 5 steps to a best-in-class safety program HERE!
The HVUT is a tax applied annually to many heavy commercial vehicles. How do you know if your vehicles are affected?
The number of carriers receiving FMCSA conditional safety ratings is increasing as more off-site audits are conducted.
Fleet professionals were asked to identify their top struggles and what would help overcome them
With CVSA’s annual International Roadcheck fast approaching, now is the time for carriers and drivers to prepare for the inspection process.
Trucking carriers face increased risk of nuclear verdicts, but managing those risks is not insurmountable, if done right and from the start.
Carriers interested in conducting driver training for both property carrying and passenger carrying commercial motor vehicles must now meet requirements set forth under FMCSA’s entry-level driver training rule, including registering their programs with the TPR.
Carriers must pay fuel taxes to states they travel through, but the process can be complicated and time-consuming due to the various jurisdictions. Even a simple filing mistake can trigger an IFTA audit and bring unwanted scrutiny upon the carrier.
As competition for truck drivers heats up, fleets need to take steps to improve their recruiting, hiring and onboarding processes to find candidates and get them into trucks.
Federal rules mandate the collection and maintenance of driver qualification files, but for fleets, managing this process can be cumbersome and fraught with potential liability.
Using a combination of the Safety Management Cycle and the 5 Why’s helps fleets identify the root cause and eventually end patterns of FMCSA violations.
As the industry prepares for the new entry-level driver training rule to go into effect in February, fleets that train their own drivers and schools face new challenges in complying.
What’s in your Driver Qualification File?
From time to time, truck drivers require additional training. Whether it is refresher training or due to a recent incident, success depends on having the right approach.
J. J. Keller announced its VideoProtects monitoring platform is available on the Geotab Marketplace, making the safety solution available to more than 2.4 million vehicles.
FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse has several reporting requirements for carriers, but those without proper protocols in place could be reporting violations they shouldn’t, and that is harming drivers.
Trucking fleets that still use pen and paper to meet their recordkeeping requirements are adding unnecessary costs and complexity, and upping the chance of a recordkeeping violation during an FMCSA audit.
Yard tractors are often found in ports, like this one in Port Houston, but fleets, warehouses and distribution centers are typical users of the vehicles. Anytime a driver is using a yard tractor, it presents a safety risk, so even though it may not be going onto public roadways, driver training is critical to ensure safe operation. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)
With the Canadian ELD mandate going into effect on June 12, fleets operating in that country need to know the key differences from U.S. regulations and whether they have a compliant device.
Carriers continue to face fines and out-of-service violations because they don’t understand the difference between intrastate and interstate operating authority.
Drivers often take the blame for roadside violations, but remaining in compliance with regulations is a team effort that includes maintenance personnel and safety operations in a fleet.
As International Roadcheck 2021 quickly approaches, truck drivers need to prepare for the inspection process. Here are five tips J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. recommend drivers follow to make the process easier.
An ELD Annotations Guide in collaboration with J. J. Keller
Trucking fleets that conduct only yearly reviews of driver records may miss signs of risky driver behavior that ultimately could put lives in jeopardy.
Compliance with record-keeping regulations is a time-consuming task that can easily fall through the cracks as busy fleet executives focus on day-to-day tasks.
Driver hiring is the first step in building a safer fleet. A simple five-step approach ensures this process is conducted properly and the drivers you hire represent the least amount of risk.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, the freight bull market shows no signs of slowing; Chao says goodbye; and trucking continues to add jobs.
The Geotab reseller segment will be the initial target for VideoProtects transport technology, which J. J. Keller has acquired.
As trucking fleets reassess their safety programs for 2021 and the post-pandemic world, here are five steps they can take to reduce their risk exposure.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash Rand McNally’s ELD are finally back online, plus GM and Nikola alter their tentative agreement and J.B. Hunt acquires a final mile provider.
E-log violations during roadside inspections and compliance reviews can add up to thousands of dollars in penalties for carriers. Knowing the most common violations is the first step to avoiding these penalties.
In today’s edition of The Daily Dash, tightness in the reefer market could drive up the price of COVID vaccine distribution. Plus, a charity group is helping truckers in need this year, and investment firms are buying into digital freight brokerage.
Industry speakers, technology demos and venture capitalists took center stage last week for FreightWaves’ FreightTech Venture Summit and LIVE @HOME events. Now you can catch sessions you may have missed or rewatch those that most interested you with a special rebroadcast of the events beginning Tuesday.
Disruption, technology and keynote addresses from Shelley Simpson and John Roberts III of J.B. Hunt and Thomas Healy of Hyliion will highlight FreightWaves LIVE @HOME.
Carriers may not be able to eliminate risk, but they can minimize it with a strong and consistent driver training program.
Transporting oversize and overweight loads requires special permits, which vary by state and even county. Without the proper guidance to navigate the process, fleets could face large fines and even shutdowns.
With upcoming changes to hours-of-service rules, drivers and fleets could see improved productivity, safer operation and fewer violations.
As trucking operations ramp up after COVID-19-related shutdowns, and drivers return to work, some routines may need refreshing so fleets and drivers avoid violations.
Even though the EPA has relaxed some reporting requirements, trucking fleets that cut corners on environmental regulations could face large penalties for non-compliance.
In these trying times, regulatory compliance can’t be an afterthought. Failure to follow the rules – and the number of exemptions currently being issued makes that even more challenging – jeopardizes the fleet’s viability.
The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse has been active for nearly two months now, but many carriers and drivers remain confused on what steps they must take to comply.
Companies may be creating unnecessary risk in their operations if they have an out-of-date policy and procedure manual, or worse, aren’t following it.
