Operation Safe Driver Week Will Happen as Planned, CVSA Says

June 23, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

This month, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced that its 2020 Operation Safe Driver Week would take place as scheduled–from July 12th to July 18th.

The CVSA did in fact postpone the International Roadcheck Inspection Campaign indefinitely, which was scheduled to occur from May 5th to May 7th, due to COVID-19 challenges, but said it has no plans to reschedule other safety enforcement efforts happening during the summer of 2020.

Additionally, Brake Safety Week is scheduled to go on as planned from August 23rd to the 29th.

During the weeklong initiative in July, law enforcement across the country will be on the lookout for any drivers operating vehicles in unsafe manners. 2020’s Safe Driver Week will have a focus on speeding, but any drivers showing unsafe driving will be pulled over by law enforcement personnel and potentially given a citation.

CVSA explained that speeding has become a much more prominent issue on the nation’s roadways over the past few months because roads have been so much clearer due to stay-at-home orders in place in response to COVID-19.

“It’s essential that this enforcement initiative, which focuses on identifying and deterring unsafe driving behaviors, such as speed, [goes] on as scheduled,” said Delaware State Police’s Sgt. John Samis, who is also president of CVSA. “As passenger vehicle drivers are limiting their travel to necessary trips and many commercial motor vehicle drivers are busy transporting vital goods to stores, it’s more important than ever to monitor our roadways for safe transport.”

Law enforcement will also be paying extra attention to other dangerous behaviors, including distracted driving, following too closely, reckless or aggressive driving, improper lane change, evidence of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, failure to use a seat belt, and failure to obey traffic control devices.

“According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, less traffic may be encouraging some drivers to ignore traffic safety laws, including speed limits,” said CVSA on its website. “Despite there being far fewer vehicles on the road due to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, many jurisdictions are seeing a severe spike in speeding.”

CVSA explained that although the number of vehicles on the road decreased significantly throughout March and April, there was a sharp increase in average speeds measured during the first week of April in the largest metropolitan areas of the country. Recent data show average speeds in those areas increased by 75% in comparison to January and February.

New York City transportation officials reported a 60% increase in the number of March’s speed camera tickets compared to the same month in 2019–even though the amount of traffic during this time was down 90% in comparison to January.

Washington, D.C.’s traffic decreased by 80% between January and March, but officials still reported a 20% increase in speeding tickets during the month of March. The number of citations for driving 21 to 25 miles per hour over the speed limit rose by almost 40%.

In California, officials saw an increase in speeding violations and in crash severity, even though the California Highway Patrol’s overall call volume has decreased.

Tucson Police saw an increase of 40% in single-vehicle wrecks–which typically occur when a driver loses control due to excessive speed.

Other countries are experiencing similar issues. In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, police charged 18 different drivers with stunt driving at speeds between 80 and 106 miles per hour on the Don Valley Parkway, a freeway with a limit of 55 miles per hour, in just one weekend.

During the Operation Safe Driver Week of 2019, law enforcement issued 46,752 citations to passenger vehicle and commercial vehicle drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Traffic Safety Facts report’s data from 2018 showed an increase in the number of fatal large truck-related crashes by 0.9%. On a positive note, the NHTSA also found a 2.4% decrease in overall fatalities.

“While, of course, we’re pleased to see a decrease in the overall number of fatalities, it was also devastating to learn that the number of fatalities involving large trucks increased,” Samis said. “Any increase whatsoever in roadway fatalities is unacceptable.”

The CVSA said it will continue to pay close attention to the circumstances around this pandemic and will announce the new dates for the International Roadcheck as soon as possible, and will update the status for Operation Safe Driver Week and Brake Safety Week if needed.

Gratitude Continues Across the Nation for Truck Drivers

June 21, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

America’s truck drivers are still going above and beyond, serving on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic to keep our grocery stores, homes, and hospitals stocked with the essentials we need.

We’ve reported on how many individuals, businesses, and institutions across the country are showing their gratitude toward truckers–some offering them free meals, beverages, services, and discounts during this time. That gratitude is still going strong, as is the hashtag, #ThankATrucker.

“Happy #TruckerTuesday!” said Bestpass Inc in a tweet. “Huge shout out to the Chicago Skyway–toll collectors are handing out snack bags to those who pass through the toll plaza.” The free snack bags, given throughout the month of May, will include drawings made by SCC employees’ families, bottled water, healthy snacks, and sweet treats.

“With increased demand for food and goods during these unprecedented times, truckers are struggling to navigate long hauls with closed rest stops,” said Fernando Redondo, CEO Of Skyway. “We hope these snack bags serve as a small token of the Skyway’s gratitude to America’s truckers for moving the goods that keep our country moving.”

Oregon Trucking jumped on the gratitude bandwagon as well with a tweet, saying: “We’re coming to Central Oregon on Wednesday! Drivers: get your free lunch, water, a mask, and sanitizer,” along with the hashtags #MealsForDrivers and #ThankATrucker.

@TruckingFWD tweeted an article describing 10 different ways people can thank and support truck drivers. The ideas included: paying for a trucker’s coffee while they are stopped at a gas station; giving truckers care packages with water, snacks, and hand sanitizer; giving drivers a thumbs up when seeing them on the road; leaving delivery drivers thank-notes on your front door; and more.

One particularly heartwarming story that gained attention on Twitter was that of a kindergartener in Niskayuna, New York, who wanted to take his family’s gratitude for truckers to the next level.

“We watch the FedEx, UPS, and USPS trucks on our street every day, and I explained to Jack that delivery drivers were working extra hard during quarantine because people can’t go shopping often,” Amanda Mahar said of her son. “We decided to leave them a ‘thank you’ sign and some snacks outside our doorstep, but Jack took it a step further.”

Jack’s idea was to set up his very own refreshment stand in front of his house with an assortment of goodies for truck drivers.

“While I was inside making dinner, Jack set up the ‘stand’ at the end of our driveway,” said Mahar. “He brought the snacks down, his toy tractor, and his folding chair. He put on his FedEx hat and sat himself down. I looked out the window and couldn’t believe it. He sat for a full hour waiting for our first stop–from UPS–who was making deliveries on our street.”

Jack would offer all truckers stopping by a complimentary snack and a drink, and some drivers gave Jack a special peek into their trucks and posed for pictures with him.

“Jack is committed to keeping the drivers fueled and has already talked about the different items we can offer each day,” said his mom. “So, I think we can count on making this a daily part of our quarantine.”

NEW Cooperative expressed its gratitude for the Lenz grandchildren in Palmer, Iowa, who have been waving at the company’s semi trucks as they drive by. Earlier in May, the kids “delivered donuts to say ‘Thank You’ to the semi drivers! #ThankATrucker,” said NEW Cooperative in a tweet.

Kenworth Trucking Co. also recalled a memory of gratitude: “When I unloaded a pallet of vegetables, customers at the store stopped and applauded,” one trucker from the company explained on Twitter. “That was something I won’t forget. We’ve been seeing an outpouring of support for what we do. We’re all in this together.”

In Myrtle Creek, Oregon, volunteers at the town’s Elks Lodge hosted a “We Heart Truckers” community event, which included goody bags filled with face masks, snacks, and thank-you notes. Lodge members even baked homemade cookies to include in the gift bags.

“My husband is a long haul trucker,” said Elks Lodge member Jessica Elst. “He was in Texas, and they wouldn’t let him in to drop off his load without a face mask, so he had to literally cut the sleeve off of his shirt to put over his face before they would let him in.”

Additionally, Nebraska State Patrol troopers made an effort to distribute almost 100,000 face masks to truck drivers throughout the state.

“This was a tremendous effort by many people to primarily do two things: show our thanks and support to these drivers, and to help protect them as they continue working to keep food and critical supplies moving across the country,” said Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, Colonel John Bolduc. “Our troopers have a great relationship with the Nebraska Trucking Association. To partner with them and federal agencies to make this happen quickly is a good example of the teamwork we’re seeing all over the country right now.”

FMCSA Medical Advisors Re-Examine Driver Seizure Regulations

June 18, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Changes may be coming soon for regulations regarding truck drivers with a history of seizures.

Currently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s medical advisory board is working on implementing updates to its requirements for these drivers, and announced last month that it would be meeting at the end of April (in a virtual session) to discuss the potential of granting special exemptions for seizure-prone truckers.

The agency also planned to review its revision of the certified medical examiner’s handbook, a resource for physicians conducting exams on truckers and bus drivers, which has been in a stage of rewriting for years. The handbook is considered outdated, but is still widely used by physicians for procedure guidance.

According to Brian Morris, a medical review board member and director of surveillance for OccMed Consulting and Injury Care, today’s regulations disqualify a driver with a history of seizures automatically, and require a driver with this diagnosis to submit a complicated waiver to the FMCSA for the possibility of exemption.

“Tagging that diagnosis on somebody can be a career-ender, even if you’re doing a great job with your medications and not having seizures,” Morris explained. “It’s a throwback to years ago when the treatment for seizures was not that great. It was a good rule at the time, but times have changed, and there’s a whole segment of people out there that drive passenger cars and have been seizure-free for years.”

Morris said opening doors to the industry for these drivers is now a priority. “To be granted a seizure waiver is next to impossible. So, there’s a move afoot to find a way to clear those individuals to drive. We’re trying to figure out a way that we could have the regular medical examiners out there in the community clear individuals with seizures. If we can get proper documentation from a treating doctor that an individual is seizure-free on medication, I think the board would go along with it.”

At the recent medical review board meeting, the agency agreed that it would begin to review recurrence-related literature for truckers who have had at least one seizure, according to FMCSA’s medical programs decision chief, Christine Hydock. This fall, the agency will also bring in outside research on the issue of seizure-related disqualifications, as seeking an exemption can currently take months for approval.

Hydock said only around 300 drivers have been granted exemptions for their seizures.

“While the research is being conducted, the exemption program stays in place,” Hydock said. “Once it is finalized, we’ll make the determination whether or not the information supports moving forward, and how we would update the standard.”

Seizure exemption regulations currently require analysis of a trucker’s medical history, medications, and driving history from the past three years. FMCSA’s associate administrator for policy, Larry Minor, said the agency will continue its studies on the issue so that it can determine the possibility of going “forward with a rulemaking at some point in the future so we can update the seizure standard and get out of the seizure exemption program.”

Following future research, FMCSA also wants to review state driving criteria around seizure disorders for intrastate U.S. commercial vehicle drivers, review commercial vehicle regulatory and medical advisory criteria in relation to seizures in other countries, and conduct interviews with board-certified neurologists regarding overall medical information on seizures.

Additionally, the agency is contemplating whether it should eliminate the exemption requirement just as it did for the diabetes requirements in February of 2019.

In regards to the medical handbook revisions, Minor said changes will be released for public review. In the past, handbook revisions have been difficult, as board members often fail to present information as formal guidance when offering help to examiners.

“This is a constant struggle for the medical review board and medical examiners,” said manager of safety and occupational health policy for American Trucking Associations, Abigail Potter. “Federal regulations require a lot of medical examiners in that they have a lot of authority to interpret medical conditions on a very individual basis.”

One critic of a revised handbook is Natalie Hartenbaum, a doctor and occupational fitness expert who attends all medical board meetings.

“I think we’ve kind of lost our way because many of the [examiner] training programs teach only what was in the medical examiner handbook–that’s fortunately only taught as ‘this is the requirement,’” Hartenbaum said. “We got here because the clear delineation between this is regulation, this is official guidance, this is literature, this is current best practice all merged together. It really has not been pushed apart to make examiners really understand that. I really worry about the safety of the general public on the highways.”

As of now, the FMCSA plans to send the medical review board a report by September 2021 for consideration of these policy updates.

More Acts of Gratitude for Truckers: Special Food Deals

June 17, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Right now, many businesses and families are doing their part to thank the truckers that are working harder than ever during this time of high demand for medical and household supplies. Now, food retailers have also jumped in by offering new specials and freebies for truckers as a further act of gratitude.

You can find an ongoing list of services happening here or a list of discounts and resources here. At the time of writing this article, these are some of the current specials available for truck drivers:

At Cracker Barrel, drivers can stop by for a free coffee or fountain drink.

At Denny’s, drivers can get 15% off of online orders through the end of May. Denny’s said they are “shifting gratitude into overdrive” for driver appreciation.

McDonald’s, while most of its restaurants are closed for everything but takeout or drive-thru meals, wrote a letter specifically to truckers to express gratitude and ensure them that locations still invite them to utilize McDonald’s McDelivery service, drive-thrus, or to come in for a ready meal to take with them on the road.

“As the world continues to address the quickly changing landscape, we are in this together with you, our valued friends in the trucking and transportation industry,” McDonald’s said. “Thank you for everything you are doing to keep essential parts of our economy going.”

Papa John’s Pizza has teamed up with Conversion Interactive Agency to bring a discount to truckers for 25% of all regular menu prices through the rest of the year. The companies announced the effort on Twitter along with the hashtag, “#ThankATrucker.”

At Starbucks, all frontline workers during the COVID-19 crisis can receive a free coffee from cafes with take out, pick up, or delivery options.

Shoney’s, a restaurant chain with locations often located directly off interstates and that typically have large parking lots, is offering free takeout meals for truckers. Some of these locations include Acworth, Georgia, with a restaurant off of I-75 on Exit 277, Nashville, Tennessee, with a restaurant off of I-40 on Exit 216, and Chesapeake, Virgina, with a restaurant off of I-64 on Exit 290B.

In Fordyce, Arkansas, the town’s Sonic Drive-In restaurant has created drive-thru features just for big rigs.

When drivers call ahead to Texas Roadhouse, staff will bring meals right out to their trucks.

The International Franchise Association has partnered with the Owner-Operator Independent Driver Association and American Trucking Associations in an effort to keep truckers informed of which franchise food companies are offering special accommodations, additional parking, and discounted meals for truck drivers,

“IFA heard of this need in the trucking community, and we started reaching out to our members, and we have already had seven companies cross the line to accommodate truck drivers, and we are having ongoing conversations with others,” said Josh Merin, vice president of IFA, in April. “All of us in the franchise community have a deep appreciation for the critical role that truck drivers are playing—[that] they always play–but are doing now to keep critical supplies intact and maintaining the businesses that would not be able to stay operating.”

Merin explained that these services also highly benefit restaurants themselves, as many have been struggling to stay afloat when they can only offer dine-out options to customers.

“Many restaurants are facing significant challenges at the moment, and it’s a wonderful win-win where the restaurants can make special accommodations on behalf of truck drivers, and truck drivers can help keep the restaurants applied and offer some business to the restaurants that are struggling to stay open,” he said.

Many restaurants have been offering specials to truckers since March and April. Firehouse Subs announced last month that they would offer order ahead options to truckers to have meals ready upon their arrival.

Long John Silver’s said they would offer truckers a 10% discount each day, with a special 25% reduction on Thursdays. The restaurant is also providing grab-and-go services at some locations.

Additionally, Ruby Tuesday is offering drivers a 25% discount on all takeout orders between noon and 8 p.m. each day.

“Across our stores that remain open, amidst varying state and local government mandates, we are ready and willing to serve you,” said Nathan’s Famous senior vice president, James Walker, in a message to truckers. “We at Nathan’s Famous are incredibly grateful for the dedication and commitment America’s truck drivers have shown as we navigate this increasingly difficult time. We hope to, as a brand, help alleviate some of their stress by providing them with a way to find a fresh meal, in an easy-to-access and safe way.”

CDL Regulation Waiver Expanded Due to COVID-19

June 16, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Recently, we reported on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s relaxation of regulations regarding commercial driver license learner’s permit holders, which came as a response to a driver shortage during the high demand of shipments during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, this emergency declaration has been expanded to allow commercial driver license skills tests to be conducted with in-cab camera systems, cellphones, and online testing instead of an examiner being physically present with an applicant.

The FMCSA explained that while the country adheres to social distancing rules and guidelines, states can also continue to allow supplies and equipment needed during this time to be shipped without interruption while also bringing new drivers into the industry by utilizing technology. In its announcement, the FMCSA said cameras, cellphones, and bluetooth are now able to be used in CDL skills testing in order to allow examiners “to not be physically present in the cab of the vehicle with the driver applicant while conducting the on-road test segment.”

The FMCSA also said states could use other methods of safe testing, such as having two employees in a spacious follow vehicle–allowing them to sit six feet apart–with one driving and one observing the applicant during his or her skills test. Additionally, one employee could drive a follow vehicle while a camera records the applicant, allowing the test to be viewed after the examiner has stopped driving.

Still, any state that plans to move forward with socially distancing skills examinations must submit a detailed plan explaining how the test conducted via technology will be equivalent to test standards by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

“The plan should detail how the state intended to administer the test without compromising safety, observe the skills test from a second vehicle, leverage technology and score the road test, along with any other information the state believes will help the FMCSA determine whether the test administration is comparable to the AAMVA model,” said the agency.

FMCSA said it will consider keeping these amendments in place until the end of June.

“State driver licensing agencies must administer tests using a test examiner information manual that FMCSA determines is comparable to AAMVA’s 2005 CDL Test System Model CDL Manual,” the agency explained.

The original steps taken for commercial driver’s license regulatory relief during the COVID-19 crisis were made effective on March 28th and set to expire June 30th, or until the Trump Administration revokes its declaration of national emergency. These new relaxed regulations included allowing drivers with expired CDLs to continue operating commercial motor vehicles, allowing employers to make up for missed random drug and alcohol testing later in the year, and–perhaps the most surprising change–allowing drivers with commercial driver’s learner’s permits to operate CMVs without any observers.

With this amendment, the agency temporarily waived all requirements that a learner’s permit holder must be accompanied by a CDL holder observing from the front seat of a vehicle while the CLP holder operates the commercial vehicle.

The waiver also originally allowed State Driver Licensing Agencies to administer driving skills tests for out-of-state CDL applicants–regardless of where the learner’s permit holders were trained.

In addition to these changes, the FMCSA has also: waived requirements for CDLs due for renewal on or after March 1st, as well as for CLPs due for renewal, without requiring CLP holders to retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests; waived the 14-day-requirement for CLP holders to wait to take the CDL skills test; waived requirements regarding new medical examination and certification for CDL and CLP holders (as well as non-CDL drivers), as long as they have proof of a medical certification issued for at least 90 days that expired on or after March 1st; and waived requirements that CDL or CLP holders must provide SDLAs with a copy of a medical examiner’s certificate to maintain their medical certification status of “certified,” as long as they have proof of a valid medical certification that expired on or before March 1st.

Additionally, while motor carriers were previously required to select and test CDL holders at a 50% rate for drug testing and a 10% rate for alcohol testing this year, FMCSA will also allow some adjustments and delays for these mandatory random drug tests during this time.

Trucking Suppliers Work to Provide PPE and Medical Products to Healthcare Workers

June 12, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Some major commercial vehicle suppliers have taken on extra work in their already busier-than-normal schedules during this pandemic to help provide necessary materials and products for medical personnel across the country.

“There is no business model required for doing the right thing,” said James Sears, CEO of Sears Seating–one of the longest-operating trucking companies in the country.

The company has been making efforts towards a goal of making 3,000 medical gowns and 5,000 masks out of on-hand materials. Workers have been streamlining the production process of these items to be able to make around 200 gowns or 500 masks each day.

“Through the collaboration of Sears Seating’s engineers, expert sewers, and hospital staff, we are able to answer our community’s call for help. I could not be more proud of the team,” said Sears.

Sears Seating isn’t the only company reworking their production systems to help medical personnel. Toyota is also making various efforts to help reach “a recovery to normalcy as quickly as possible, and, in order to help that happen, [the company] is listening to the voices of many stakeholders to determine how it can contribute, with the aim to do what it can during this crisis,” the company said on its website.

Toyota has pledged to produce injection mold and 3D-printed medical face shields to help ease the current shortage. The company’s Teiho Plant in Japan said it will begin making at least 500 to 600 per week. Additionally, Toyota plans to use the Toyota Production System to help improve productivity in creating medical ventilators. The company is gathering a TPS support team that will be dispatched to companies currently struggling to increase medical equipment production.

Toyota also said it wild leverage its supply chain in an effort to produce hygienic products such as personal protective equipment, thermometers, face masks, and more, and that it would supply other equipment for the use of medical institutions, such as makeshift hospital beds, simple partition walls, and disinfectant containers.

Maumee, Ohio’s Dana Inc. is also working to use its supply chain and 3-D printers in order to create protective equipment open-source designs. Earlier in the pandemic, Dana worked with hospitals around Toledo to determine the best ways to design face shields and other protective gear.

“At Dana, we have a motto: People Finding a Better Way,” said Dana’s vice president of commercial vehicle drive and motion systems, Ryan Laskey. “But this is more than a motto–it truly illustrates our company culture. So, when our team heard of the shortage of personal protective equipment, they quickly went to work to find solutions.”

Dana is even working with local high schools, the University of Toledo, and Imagination Station to source material and efficiently produce face shields after the company prints the pieces for the shields in its Advanced Manufacturing Center 3-D Printers. Altogether, the company and its partners have been delivering at least 100 shields a day, and believes this number will increase as the designs become open-source.

This group has also created an intubation box which would create extra protection for hospital workers by partially enclosing a patient. So far, the team has delivered three dozen of these boxes to nearby hospitals. Additionally, Dana is utilizing its global supply network in further efforts to make glasses, glove, gown, shoe cover, and mask delivery a more streamlined process.

Additionally, Cummins Inc. has been donating its materials used for air, fuel, and lube filtration products made for heavy duty diesel engines to be used instead for N95 respirator masks.

The University of Minnesota created the mask prototypes with Cummins’ filtration materials, which uses DuPont’s hybrid membrane material, in a widespread effort to get more N95 masks to health care systems across Minneapolis.

“Since the arrival of the filtration media, we have been able to make rapid progress, and we now believe we have several viable mask options, including both a disposable and reusable option,” said University of Minnesota medical school dean Jakub Tolar. “These designs show real promise in keeping our health care workers safe should standard medical supplies of N95 masks no longer be available.”