Lighting Regulations: There are dozens of laws regulating lighting on cars. Laws regulate the types, size and color of lights on every kind of vehicle that operates on the public roadways. According to the Federal Highway Administration, more than 2.5 million miles were driven by motorists on more than 4…
Communication between a company and it’s truck drivers is vital for safety, timely deliveries and a good business reputation. A company has more than one type of access to communication with individual truckers or large fleets of drivers. Satellite Communication A trucking company may install a state-of-the-art satellite system into…
[box type=”shadow”] Over the road trucking sends truck drivers on long-distance hauls. Long-distance hauling involves truck drivers pulling tractor trailers, flat beds or tankers with rigs and 18 wheels. This type of transportation is a necessity to the commercial transportation industry as the quickest, least expensive manner of transporting goods,…
Oral Drug Test Information: While urine testing is the most common method of drug testing, oral fluid testing is an alternative way to test for the presence of certain drugs. Features Several companies manufacture and distribute oral fluid drug testing devices. The device is placed in the donor’s mouth for…
The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, is responsible for regulating the movement of hazardous materials, in order to protect the environment and the health and safety of property and people. Pre-Transportation Checks Prior to the transportation of hazardous materials, the company or person…
[box type=”shadow”] What are the DOT regulations for the railroad? Crossing Safety Under FRA regulations, crossing caution systems are to be inspected, tested, and maintained so they are dependable and foolproof. Any malfunctions are to be reported immediately. In addition to making sure this equipment works properly, the FRA has…
What are the steps for Physical Exams? Registration Being a driver for the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) can be a great advantage in the working world. It will provide you with a substantial income and superb medical insurance. But it also requires long hours and sometimes many days on the…
Scrap Metal Laws: Registration Under Tennessee law, anyone who wishes to buy and sell scrap metal or engage in other business connected to it must register with the state Department of Commerce. Such a registration will expire every two years and must be renewed at its expiration by the dealer…
The Department of Transportation regulates interstate transit and transportation of cargo. All DOT-registered carriers must comply with the rules and regulations of the DOT. The regulations apply to the transportation of passengers on buses and to the transportation of cargo on trucks, trains and vessels. Smoking is specifically addressed in…
Due to the potential increased dangers related to commerical motor vehicles, it is important that truck drivers be alert and responsive at all times behind the wheel. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has set “hours-of-service” regulations in order to limit when and how long a…
DOT Requirements The Department of Transportation‘s (DOT) requirements for diesel fuel tanks fall under three parts: Part 393.67, Part 571.301 and Part 393.65. These requirements fall under the authority of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the DOT and cover the requirements for diesel fuel tank construction,…
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the United States, any commercial truck used for interstate transit and over the gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds is required to have a Motor Carrier Authority (MC) number. This number is issued by the FMCSA and…
Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, drivers of commercial vehicles are required to obtain commercial driver’s licenses if operating a vehicle that weighs more than 26,001 pounds and falls under the specifications of a Class A, B or C license. Drivers must meet certain requirements to obtain a CDL…
Training Regulations: The Department of Transportation uses various agencies and federal laws to create regulations in order to prevent automotive fatalities and injuries. These regulations are used to train vehicle operators in areas such as longer combination vehicle (LCV) driving, hazardous material transportation and beginning driver training. LCV Longer combination…
Tire Trailer: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers safety standards for trailer safety. The NHSTA recommends that drivers use the right kind of tires when towing a trailer. Safety recommendations include using the same size tires and following manufacturers’ specified load standards for trailers and tire construction. Tire Size…
Trailer Wheel Size: Safety is a key parameter when traveling with a trailer. The wheels that the trailer travels on need to be the correct size so that the trailer weight can be effectively moved down the road.[/box] [box type=”shadow”] Identification Each trailer tire has its specified information listed on…
Windshield Requirements: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA was established on January 1, 2000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The FMCSA was established to follow the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 to help ensure that safety standards were being met for vehicles. The FMCSA provides financial…
The Canadian Trucking Alliance is lauding a U.S.-Canada border agreement announced Dec. 7 by President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper as an “historic achievement that takes meaningful steps to bring the Canada-U.S. border into the 21st century,” adding that trucks are the “major mode of trans-border freight…
Carriers are optimistic for the year ahead, with 61 percent expecting volumes to increase in 2012, and only 7 percent expecting volumes to decrease, according to the TCP (Transport Capital Partners) 4th Quarter 2011 Business Expectations Survey. Carriers responded similarly. “Carriers shared a higher level of confidence despite the roller…
The senator who last month pledged to put more freight on the rails to get trucks off the road has introduced legislation aimed at strengthening commercial vehicle regulations and the federal agency that enforces them. U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, along with…
The DOT Reports Dec. 8 that the number of persons killed in crashes involving large trucks jumped 8.7 percent in 2010 to 3,675, compared with 3,380 large truck-related fatalities in 2009. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro referred to an increase to 4,000 at a recent Congressional hearing, citing it as one…
The FMCSA says that the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association OOIDA claim that a recent circuit court decision prohibits the use of electronic onboard recorders for Hours of Service compliance is inaccurate. OOIDA, in a letter to FMCSA last month, said the FMCSA, large motor carriers and Department of Transportation enforcement officials…
FMCSA Sends Out Warning: In recent months, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says it has received “numerous inquiries regarding companies using aggressive marketing tactics to sell supervisor training to employers who may be subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s drug and alcohol testing requirements. Please note that the…
Depending on how the segment is counted, the market for full-size cargo vans is up about 12% over last year. Plumbers, electricians and other skilled trades people are replacing old, worn trucks, partly because there aren’t any good used ones on lots. Some tradesmen are buying “tall utility vehicles” with…
Freight Contract: Freight companies provide transportation internationally, domestically and within the same city. They ship everything from tangible products to liquid food items to hazardous chemicals. Businesses rely on freight companies to transport inventory from suppliers and to ship finished products to customers. In both cases, the company signs a…
