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Idealease Announces NEW Safety Webinar Series – July 10th Safety Bulletin


The July 10th edition of our weekly Idealease Safety Bulletin has arrived! Receive important safety tips, updates and reminders delivered to you each week, courtesy of Idealease Truck Leasing and Rental.

VIEW AND DOWNLOAD the bulletin in its entirety and SIGN UP to automatically receive the safety bulletin to your inbox every week. 

1. Idealease Announces a New Safety Webinar Series Due to Cancellation of on-site safety seminars in 2020

  • Starting August 12th to keep you informed and up-to-date on changing regulations. Stay tuned for registration information in future safety bulletins
  • One hour in length and will address 6 different topics regarding safety and compliance:
    1.  August 12, 2020: Who is required to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations?
    2. August 26, 2020: Qualifying a driver of a commercial motor vehicle
    3.  September 9, 2020: Keeping your driver safe during a pandemic
    4. September 23, 2020: New hours of service regulation changes and the ELD
    5.  October 7, 2020: How the Drug and Alcohol Testing regulations apply to you a motor carrier
    6.  October 21, 2020: Developing a proactive safety and loss control program

2. FMCSA May Take Extenuating Circumstances into Account for Random Testing in 2020

  • FMCSA states that employers capable of meeting the requirements under §382.305 must continue to do so. However, the agency realizes that motor carriers in some locations may be unable to comply due to the ongoing impacts of the emergency.
  • This is NOT a Pass on Random Testing
    FMCSA stated in its guidance, "This Notice is not intended, and should not be perceived, as suspending the current random testing requirements."
  • Employers must continue to select at the current annual testing rates (50% for drugs and 10% for alcohol) and attempt to spread the random tests evenly throughout the calendar year. If the public health emergency prevents the motor carrier from complying with §382.305, it must document the specific reasons for non-compliance, such as:
    • No available options for testing. An example might be testing facilities in the region were closed or had a shortage of testing personnel. Motor carriers would document the circumstances, along with actions taken to find an alternate testing site.
    • Driver layoffs. If tests were not spread evenly through the calendar year due to prolonged or intermittent driver furloughs, the employer would explain the impact of COVID-19 on its operations (e.g., X-number of drivers laid off for a specified time period affecting the testing cycle).
    • During motor carrier investigations occurring in calendar year 2021, enforcement will take into consideration the motor carrier's documented reasons for random testing violations in 2020 and may exercise enforcement discretion.

3. What are the Disqualifications that Would Prevent a Driver from Receiving Clearance in the Security Threat Assessment Process for a Hazardous Materials Endorsement?

  • Conviction of any of the following:
    1. Terrorism
    2. Assault with the intent to murder
    3. Murder
    4. Espionage
    5. Sedition
    6. Kidnapping or hostage taking
    7. Treason
    8. Rape or aggravated sexual abuse
    9. Extortion
    10. Robbery
    11. Arson
    12. Bribery
    13. Smuggling
    14. Immigration violations
    15. RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) violations
    16. Unlawful possession, use sale, distribution, or manufacture of an explosive device, firearm or other weapon
    17. Distribution of, intent to distribute, possession, or importation of a controlled substance
    18. Dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation, including identity fraud
    19. Crimes involving a severe transportation security incident
    20. Improper transportation of a hazardous material
    21. Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the above crimes
  • If a driver fails the security threat assessment, it does not mean that they will be denied a CDL, only that they will not be issued a hazmat endorsement
  • It is recommended that drivers start the "Security Threat Assessment" process 30 days prior to the expiration of their license.
  • Visit https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/hazmat-endorsement  to start the assessment process

FMCSA definition for “Tank Vehicle” for Tank Endorsement for CDL

Tank vehicle means any commercial motor vehicle that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or the chassis.

A commercial motor vehicle transporting an empty storage container tank, not designed for transportation, with a rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is temporarily attached to a flatbed trailer is not considered a tank vehicle. Four of these 275 gallon IBC totes filled with liquid or gaseous materials would require the driver of the NON-CDL unit now to have a CDL with a tank vehicle endorsement as the totes exceed the 119 gallon tank definition and the aggregate capacity exceeds 1,000 gallons.

4. CVSA to hold Operation Safe Driver Next Week (July 12-18)

  • Why is CVCSA emphasizing speeding this year?

COVID-19 stay-at-home orders resulted in decreased traffic on the roads. The Governors Highway Safety Association suggests that fewer vehicles on the roads may encourage some drivers to break traffic laws. In fact, many jurisdictions are reporting a severe spike in speeding. CVSA has chosen to emphasize speeding during Operation Safe Driver Week to address this recent trend.

  • Other areas of unsafe driving

Law enforcement will address more than just speeding during the week-long initiative. Other dangerous driving behaviors will be tracked during Operation Safe Driver Week, such as:

  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to use a seatbelt
  • Following too closely
  • Improper lane change
  • Reckless or aggressive driving
  • Failure to obey traffic control devices
  • Impaired driving

Goal of the safety initiative

Interactions between law enforcement and drivers have been found to reduce targeted problematic behaviors. Using enforcement campaigns, such as Operation Safe Driver Week, CVSA hopes to reduce risky driving behaviors.

Learn More: https://www.cvsa.org/program/programs/operation-safe-driver/operation-safe-driver-week/

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