This months featured
employee is Eddie
Chandler from
Drumright, Oklahoma
January 1,
Safety
Newsletter
Winter Driving: Dealing
EDL's
Electronic Logging Devices, with Adverse Conditions
Final Rule Published
By Philip Valois
From J.J. Keller
Like the hours-of-service rules, the rules for
electronic logging devices (ELDs) have had a
bumpy ride since being proposed in early 2007.
The Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA)
has released its highly anticipated final rule,
mandating the use of ELDs by interstate drivers of
commercial motor vehicles who currently use a
driver’s record of duty status to record their hours
of service.
The ELD final rule was published in the December
16, 2015 Federal Register. Motor carriers will have
until December 18, 2017, to comply with the final
rule, requiring the use of ELDs by interstate drivers
of commercial motor vehicles who currently use a
driver’s record of duty status to record their hours
of service. Motor carriers that install and require
drivers to use automatic on-board recording
devices( AOBRDs) according to the specifications
in Section 395.15 ,may continue to use their
current AOBRD until December16, 2019. the final
rule requires motor carriers to install FMCSAregistered and certified ELDs that meet specific
standards on their commercial motor vehicles. the
specific standards include mandating that the
device be connected (“integrally synchronized”) to
the engine of the vehicle (ECM) so that driving
time can be automatically recorded. Also the
devices must automatically capture date and time,
vehicle position, and vehicle operational
parameters. All FMCSA-registered and certified
ELDs will be listed on FMCSA’s website:
www.fmcsa.gov/devices. The agency expects to
have the website available by mid-February. Short
haul drivers who use the 100 air mile radius will be
exempt from logs and ELDs, but ELDs will be
required for drivers who don’t qualify for more than
8 days within any 30-day period. The final rule also
addresses supporting documents that will be
required. The supporting document portion of the
final rule specifies five categories of documents,
which are generated or received in the normal
course of business, must be maintained by the
driver and motor carrier. It also identifies the four
data elements that a document must contain to
qualify as a supporting document.
From icy roads and blinding blizzards to extreme
cold and strong winds. Mother nature can present
many challenges for our drivers. Being prepared
and knowing how to address these challenges can
go a long way when it comes to safety working in
these less than ideal conditions.
Being prepared before adverse winter weather
strikes can help reduce downtime and help ensure
a driver's safety.
1. Be prepared by doing a thorough pre-trip
inspection.
2. Do you have or need tire chains.
3. Do you have your emergency kit in the vehicle.
4. Check on road conditions before beginning the
day.
5. Slow down, never be in a hurry in adverse
weather conditions.
6. Increase your following distance.
7. Don't use cruise control.
8. Resist passing other vehicles especially snow
plows.
9. If you are stranded stay with your vehicle place
your hazard flashers on.
10. Place your emergency Triangles according to
federal regulations.
CONGRATULATIONS
The safety department would like to congratulate the following employees who received the “featured employee of the month award” for 2015 , Greg BobbeB, Tim Robinson, Chris Stephenson, Jerry Fisher, Jason Nelson, Lloyd DeShazer, David MaBox, Jonathan Trask, Randy Lewis, Sarah McClendon, Jamie Osterhaut
Warning Devices,
Requirements and
Placement
By Philip Valois
No matter how safely a driver operates their vehicle or
how well the vehicle is maintained there’s always the
possibility of being involved in an accident or vehicle
breakdown. Knowing what to do and what to expect
can help a driver safely and legally deal with the
situation. Assuring your warning devices are in your
vehicle is a critical part of ever pre-trip inspection.
When placing the devices the driver should wear a
high -visibility vest and be alert for other drivers who
may not see them on the road. Section 393.95 of the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)
require a commercial motor vehicle to carry warning
devices.
If a vehicle is stopped on the traveled portion or
shoulder of the highway, the driver must immediately
activate the vehicle’s four-way flashers, and within 10
minutes of stopping, set out warning devices. The
placement of the devices varies depending on where
the vehicle is stopped.
On two lane roads the first device should be placed
on the traffic side of the vehicle 10 feet from the rear
of the vehicle. the second device should be placed
100 feet behind the vehicle. A third device should be
placed 100 feet ahead of the vehicle.
On one-way or divided highway the devices should
be placed 10,100, and 200 feet from the rear of the
vehicle, toward approaching traffic.
Within 500 feet of a hill, curve or obstruction, a
device should be placed 100 to 500 feet from the
vehicle in the direction of the obstruction. The other
two should be placed according to the rules for twolane or divided highways.
One of the mistakes most often made by drivers when
it comes to this regulation is placing the devices at an
incorrect distance mostly too close together. After
placing the warning devices contact someone within
the company and provide your location.