June 1, 2004

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Headline News


Getting the Most Out of Your Training Program

The following are the seven principles of training. Keep them in mind. Knowing them and applying them will ease the stress of your trainees and help you to be the most effective trainer you can be.

• People learn when they are ready to learn.
• People learn best when the subject relates to something they already know.
• People learn step-by-step, from the known to the unknown.
• People learn-by-doing.
• People learn through repetition.
• People are motivated by success.
• People need immediate feedback to learn effectively.

Adults learn best when they are ready to learn. Trainers should be quite happy about this! Driver trainees already have demonstrated their readiness for learning by investing their time and coming to training.

Adults learn more easily when the subject matter relates to something they already know. Begin your teaching process by relating your materials to something that is familiar to your trainees, then build to the new information or skill that you have to offer.

Adults learn step-by-step. Instruction should move from the known to the unknown in a logical progression. Let trainees know where they are (at the beginning of training), where they are going (what will result from their learning efforts), and how they are going to get there. Course overviews are helpful.

Adults learn by doing. You can tell and demonstrate to a trainee how to do something; but, until the trainee actually does it, complete comprehension will escape that person. (It is like learning to ride a bicycle. You have to do it to learn.)

Adults learn through repetition. The more often adults use what they are learning; the better they will be able to understand it—and/or perform it.

Adults are motivated by success. When a person experiences success in learning, it stimulates the desire for additional learning. It means that if you present your material in small enough doses, trainees will succeed. With time, experience, and growth on the part of trainees, you can increase the size of the information doses. Give large enough doses for them to be challenged, but small enough doses for them to experience success.

Adults need immediate feedback. Trainees want to know whether or not they have actually learned. Plan work so that it can be quickly evaluated. Then, provide useful feedback to the participants.

Excerpt from “Student Course Book: Train-the-Trainer” published by Thomson Delmar Learning

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HM Regulations for Loading, Unloading, and Storage Delayed

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued a final rule in the May 28, 2004 Federal Register, which delays the effective date of their October 30, 2003 final rule clarifying the applicability of the hazardous materials regulations (HMR) to loading, unloading and storage operations. RSPA is delaying the effective date of that final rule from October 1, 2004 to January 1, 2005. The agency decided to delay the effective date based on industry appeals raising a number of issues related to the consistency of the final rule with Federal HM transportation law, and the relationship of the HMR to regulations promulgated by OSHA, EPA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF).

By way of reminder, the changes to the HMR in the October 30 rule are intended to clarify application of the HMR and reduce confusion among federal, state and local agencies regarding the extent of RSPA’s jurisdiction. RSPA amended §171.1 of the HMR to list their regulated and non-regulated functions.
Regulated functions include:

1) activities related to the design, manufacture, and qualification of packaging represented as qualified for use in the transportation of HM;
2) pre-transportation functions; and
3) transportation functions (movement of a HM and loading, unloading, and storage incidental to the movement).

Non-regulated functions include:

1) rail and motor vehicle movements of a HM solely within a contiguous facility where public access is restricted;
2) transportation of a HM in a transport vehicle or conveyance operated by a Federal, state, or local government employee solely for government purposes;
3) transportation of a HM by an individual for non-commercial purposes in a private motor vehicle; and
4) any matter subject to U.S. postal laws and regulations.

The agency also amended the HMR to incorporate the following new definitions and provisions into §171.8: “pre transportation function”; “transportation”; “movement”; “loading incidental to movement”; “unloading incidental to movement”; and “storage incidental to movement”. Furthermore, for purposes of applicability of the HMR, “transportation in commerce” begins when a carrier takes possession of a HM and continues until the carrier delivers the package containing the HM to its destination as indicated on shipping papers or other shipping documentation.

A copy of the May 28, 2004, Register notice announcing the delay in the effective date can be downloaded by clicking here for a PDF and here for an HTML. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Rich Clemente at (703) 838-8847 or email: rclemente@truckload.org.

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Revisions and Corrections to HM Incident Reporting Requirements Released - Deadline for Compliance Extended

The Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued a Final Rule in the May 26, Federal Register, with revisions and corrections to their December 3, 2003 rule on incident reporting requirements and the hazardous materials incident report (HMIR) form (Form F 5800.1(01-2004).

RSPA had issued a final rule revising the HMIR form on December 3, whose major changes required carriers to provide more specific information on the HMIR; expand certain reporting exceptions; require the reporting of undeclared shipments of HM; and require reporting of non-release incidents involving cargo tanks.

In §49 CFR 171.16 (c), carriers will be required to update incident reports for up to one year after the date of an incident for the following:

1) death resulting from injuries caused by a HM
2) corrections to the identification of the HM or package information; and
3) certain updated damage costs as additional information becomes available.

Cost information would be updated when:

1) costs not known at the time the report was filed became known; or
2) original damage/cost estimates were revised by more than $25,000 or 10% of the original estimate.

Most importantly in the May 26 final rule, the deadline for compliance with this regulation has been changed from July 1, 2004 to January 1, 2005. Only the revised DOT Form 5800.1 (01-2004) specified in the May 26 final rule will be accepted for incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2005. Filers must use the previous DOT Form 5800.1 for all incidents up to and including December 31, 2004. In addition, RSPA made minor technical changes to two sections of the rule, based on industry appeals as follows:

o In §171.16(b) RSPA is adding the word “or” between the addresses for written and electronic submittal of the HMIR to clarify that either a written or electronic report must be submitted, not both.

o In this final rule, RSPA is eliminating the supplemental guidance immediately following Item 23 from the HMIR. In addition, a minor change was made to the guidance in Item 28. RSPA amended the requirement to provide the manufacturer and model number for any valve or device that failed on a tank to include the words “if present and legible.”

In response to industry comments, the agency has also committed to issue guidance with the electronic filing option, and has indicated it’s intention to launch an interactive HMIR on its website prior to the January 1, 2005 compliance deadline. A copy of the revised Form F 5800.1 (01-2004), including detailed instructions for completion is included in the May 26 Register notice, which can be downloaded by clicking here for a PDF and here for an HTML. If you have any questions, contact Rich Clemente at (703) 838-8847 or email: rclemente@truckload.org.

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TSA Moves One Step Closer to Transportation Worker ID Cards

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on May 12, 2004, to begin the Prototype Phase of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. This Prototype Phase is the third step in TSA’s development of a uniform identification credential for all transportation workers who require unescorted access to secure areas at seaports, airports, rail, pipeline, trucking and mass transit facilities. The Prototype Phase will be conducted in Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE; the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the 14 major port facilities in the state of Florida. The TSA anticipates that up to 200,000 workers may participate in the prototype.

The TSA’s request for proposals is open for 30 days. The prototype will examine a range of identity management processes, including the use of smart card technology and biometrics to positively link an individual to their credential for unescorted access to secure areas of the transportation system.

The TWIC card will strengthen security at “key” transportation facilities in a number of ways including:

o A threat assessment ensures known terrorists are not issued TWIC cards and are not able to gain access to secure sites;

o Numerous advanced credentialing technologies safeguard against the use of fraudulent credentials; and

o Communications technologies tied to the program will allow TSA to interface with other federal, state, and local agencies; these enhancements will allow TSA to send out targeted “threat alerts” to key facilities and shift resources based on intelligence data or changes in the threat level.

One of the program’s goals is to boost commerce by increasing the speed and efficiency of identity verification at transportation facilities. It also saves truck drivers, dockworkers and others who require access to multiple facilities the time and expense of obtaining numerous redundant credentials.

TSA began the TWIC program in the spring of 2002. Phase I, the Planning Phase, of the project was completed in the spring of 2003 and Phase II, the Technology Evaluation Phase, closed in October of that year. Other technologies, including a two-dimensional
barcode and optical stripe will also be included in the Prototype Phase to ensure compatibility with various legacy systems at transportation facilities. Phase III will last approximately seven months. TSA will then perform a further review and prepare for Phase IV, the nationwide rollout of the TWIC card. More information on the TWIC card program is available on TSA’s website at www.tsa.gov.

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