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July 25 , 2006
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Headline
News
Exemption From Certain Provisions of the HOS Rules For Two Years
FMCSA requests public comments on an application it has received from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), for an Hours-of Service (HOS) exemption. The exemption from certain provisions of HOS Rules for two years would allow drivers of ready-mixed concrete vehicles in designated areas to operate under the 100 air-mile radius exception of preparing records-of-duty-status (RODS), provided they are released from work within 14 hours following 10 consecutive off duty hours.
NRMCA is also requesting an exemption from the requirement that a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) driver record his or her duty status for each 24-hour period using the methods prescribed in the HOS rules. The request for the exemption is on the behalf of the ready-mixed concrete producers, who are involved in interstate commerce, within a 100 air-mile radius, by delivering to active construction sites in Alabama , Florida , Louisiana , Mississippi , and Texas . Their request is based, on the fact that many companies, and their drivers are working to rebuild areas affected by the record number of hurricanes during the 2005 hurricane season, according to the Federal Register.
To view the request, click here.
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Hill’s Previous Position Was FMCSA’s Chief Safety Officer
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation unanimously confirmed John H. Hill as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator on Wednesday, July 19 th . Hill's previous position was as FMCSA's Chief Safety Officer and he will be succeeding Annette Sandberg as Administrator of FMCSA, who resigned on March 1 st according to a press release from The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation .
To view John Hill's Biography, click here- http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/contact/hq/hillbio.htm
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Enables Them To Drive Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs)
FMCSA is exempting 47 drivers from its prescribed vision standards. The exemptions will enable them to drive Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standards. FMCSA has concluded that by granting these exemptions, it will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers, according to the Federal Register .
To view the list of drivers exempted, click here.
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Chairman Douglas Buttrey Requests Goals and Plans
As the Surface Transportation Board (STB) prepares for the upcoming fall shipping season, their Chairman Douglas Buttrey, is requesting the goals and plans of the seven largest railroads, for the increase in demand for railroad service, during the fall shipping season, known as the fall peak, to be submitted to the STB by July 17 th .
In his request, Chairman Buttrey said "There is heightened focus this year on the ability of the railroads to meet demands for rail service. At least four major factors have converged to cause this heightened focus: the healthy domestic economy; growth in import-export traffic; the agriculture sector's forecast of record harvests; and the fact that rail infrastructure has begun to show capacity constraints.”
He went on to say, "I believe it is essential that the Surface Transportation Board continue its close monitoring of the railroads' service plans. This will contribute to the board's confidence level that appropriate planning is being done to ensure that spikes in rail traffic demand that are expected for the remainder of the year can be handled as efficiently as possible. As in past years, this will also provide an important tool for rail customers to keep them better informed and enable them to plan efficiently for the needs of their rail-served businesses.” according to The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) .
The request asks the seven railroads to provide the following information:
- The steps the railroad is taking to ascertain demand for and prepare for this year's peak shipping season;
- The railroad's performance goals for the remainder of this year;
- The railroad's plans for achieving those goals; and
- The railroad's plans to communicate these steps, goals, and plans to customers.
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Strong Transportation Infrastructure Required For Economic Success
Outgoing Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta farewell speech, was given at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which emphasize that a strong transportation infrastructure is required for economic success and public service enables individuals to work for the best interests of their country, thus rising above partisanship.
In an address to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that he described as the final speech of his tenure as transportation secretary, Mineta noted that there is much talk of the bitter partisanship that coarsens the political dialogue in Washington and seems to stymie effective action. “But I would like to believe that we have shown, at least in some small measure, that it is still possible to place country ahead of party affiliation, in the noble tradition that defines public service at its best,” he said.
The only transportation secretary to serve in the George W. Bush Administration said international trade is propelling the American economy, and the world economy, in ways previously unimaginable. The United States has the strongest, fastest growing economy in the developed world because we have some of the world's strongest transportation systems, he added. “But we will lose that competitive edge if we make a habit out of turning our noses up at investors in our seaports, airports, and highways just because they are headquartered outside the United States,” he said in obvious reference to the port ownership controversy earlier this year.
“Security is, and must always remain, a foremost concern. But it is pure folly to think that economic isolationism is an option in today's interconnected world,” he said.
Mineta said he found a growing recognition among his counterparts around the globe that the development of transportation systems has become a major determinant of a nation's economic success. “And while the rest of the world is building up its infrastructure, the United States can ill-afford to close the door on much-needed investments – even international investments – in our transportation network. Not when our economic competitiveness depends on our ability to move products and people more efficiently in our growing economy,” he said, according to The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) .
To view a complete copy of Outgoing Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta's farewell speech, click here- http://www.dot.gov/affairs/mineteasp070606pm.htm
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Creates Standardized Training Curriculum and Fair Certification Test
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sends Information Collection Request (ICR) on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its approval. OMB approval of the ICR will create a Role Delineation Study or survey of medical examiners, which will develop a standardized training curriculum and a valid, reliable, and fair certification test.
The goal of the Role Delineation Study is to inform the policies that will guide the NRCME program in accordance with national accreditation standards. The study is an assessment of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for a medical examiner to perform competently.
The Role Delineation Study incorporates the following five components:
- Develop a medical examiner task list through a variety of techniques;
- Measure agreement on each task in the list by a representative sample of medical examiners;
- Disqualify tasks lacking sufficient agreement;
- Identify critical tasks;
- Create specifications for a certification test.
The information derived from the Role Delineation Study is necessary to form the basis of a professionally sound quality management system that supports accreditation of the certification program, according to the July 13th issue of the Federal Register .
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No Major Problems Have Been Reported
Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) is being delivered from refineries to fuel stations across the country and there have been no major problems to report. Currently, it is being marketed as Low Sulfur Diesel and is re-fueling trucks.
Until the October deadline, many fuel stations won't begin marking the fuel as ULSD. The fuel being pumped into the trucks will leave the refineries as ULSD, but will not be certified at the fuel stations as ULSD, until the authorities are certain that it has not been contaminated.
With the introduction of ULSD, the trucking industry's biggest concern has been with the distribution of the fuel and the possibilities of its contamination. With the onset of ULSD deliveries, many problems are being avoided by the purging of tankers, pipelines, and tanks at fuel stations, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Top
Using Simulation Technology To Train Their Drivers
Schneider National receives an Excellence in Practice Award, from the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) , because they are using simulation technology to train their drivers. ASTD is the world's largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals. Its 70,000 members and associates come from more than 100 countries and thousands of organizations. Their Excellence in Practice Awards Program recognizes companies that achieve measurable results through the use of practices and interventions in workplace learning and performance.
"We are truly honored to be recognized by the world's foremost organization for training and development professionals," says Tim Fliss, Executive Vice-President Of Human Resources for Green Bay , Wisconsin based Schneider National. "Schneider's driver training is known as the gold standard within its industry, and the achievement of this distinguished award drives us closer to becoming a most admired company among all industries."
In 2004, Schneider's driver training group implemented the use of simulation-based training using ground simulators, equipment similar to flight simulators but designed to develop skills for driving on roadways. They have lowered their new driver dropout and termination rates by nearly 10 percent, and lowered accident frequency and severity by as much as 20 percent. Overall, the implementation of simulation-based training has saved Schneider National millions of dollars.
"We are passionate about providing our drivers with the very best training, using the most advanced technology and learning platforms to protect their safety and the safety of the motoring public," says Don Osterberg, Vice-President Of Safety And Driver Training for Schneider National. "By implementing systems such as MPRI's driver training simulator, Schneider has created more effective teaching tools and a safer, more productive driver force."
ASTD's 2005 Excellence in Practice program received 78 submissions, which went through a blind review process conducted by a panel of experts from the workplace learning and performance field. Programs were recognized in the categories of career development, learning technologies, managing change, organizational learning, performance improvement, technical training, training management, valuing differences, workplace learning, and development, according to Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ) Magazine.
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Providing Essential Qualities For Successful Workplace
The myths about older workers come apart, when comparing the desires and needs of employers, as they provide the essential qualities for a successful workplace. This article provides insights into the myths and realities of hiring older workers
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