Latest news with #Encompass®FleetSafety&ComplianceSystem
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Preparing for Roadcheck 2025: What carriers and drivers need to know
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's International Roadcheck is here once again, and carriers across North America need to prepare for this annual three-day inspection blitz. With thousands of roadside inspections scheduled for May 13-15, motor carriers and drivers should understand what to expect in order to avoid costly violations and out-of-service orders. Roadcheck is an intensive three-day enforcement initiative where as many officers as possible conduct roadside inspections across North America. The event primarily emphasizes Level I inspections, which involve a comprehensive examination of both driver credentials and vehicle condition. For 2025, inspectors are focusing heavily on two specific areas: False logs and tire conditions. These focus areas inform carriers where enforcement officials will be directing extra attention, but inspectors will still be checking for all potential violations. The 2024 Roadcheck resulted in 48,761 inspections, providing valuable insights into common compliance issues. Of those inspections, 9,345 vehicles (23%) and 2,290 drivers (4.8%) received out-of-service orders. The top vehicle violations from 2024 included defective service brakes (25% of out-of-service violations), tire issues (20.8%), other brake system violations (18.3%), lights (11.6%) and cargo securement (9.6%). Notably, tire violations alone accounted for one in every five out-of-service orders issued, while brakes, tires, and lights collectively represented 75% of vehicle out-of-service violations. For drivers, the primary violations centered around hours of service compliance, operating without a required CDL, missing medical cards, false logs and suspended licenses. These statistics highlight the importance of focusing not only on the annual emphasis areas but also on perennially problematic areas like brakes and hours of service. Ensuring vehicles are properly maintained is critical before Roadcheck. Carriers should: Verify all vehicles are current on scheduled maintenance and annual inspections Implement a vehicle maintenance tracking system, such as J.J. Keller's Encompass® Fleet Safety & Compliance System Pay special attention to tire inspections, given this year's focus area: Check tread depth to ensure it exceeds the minimums required Inspect for condition issues like exposed cord, cuts, or gouges Verify proper inflation using an accurate gauge when tires are cold Drivers need refresher training on vehicle inspections, particularly focusing on: Conducting thorough pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip inspections Properly documenting defects on driver vehicle inspection reports Specifically examining tires for tread depth, condition issues, and proper inflation This preparation requires a coordinated training and communication effort from carriers to ensure all drivers understand inspection expectations and procedures. With driver qualifications commonly resulting in violations, carriers should: Verify all driver qualification files are complete and up-to-date Confirm drivers have the correct license class and endorsements Ensure drivers have current medical certificates Remind drivers to carry all required credentials during operation Implementing a back-office tracking system like Encompass can help carriers manage these compliance requirements more effectively. With false logs being a 2025 focus area, carriers should: Refresh drivers on hours of service regulations Audit driver logs prior to Roadcheck to identify and correct falsification issues Pay special attention to common falsification tactics: Driving while logged out of the ELD Ghost co-drivers Improper edits that shorten or eliminate driving time Misuse of personal conveyance Paper log mileage discrepancies or dropped trips Recording on-duty activities as off-duty time Using exception reports and conducting supporting document comparisons can help identify and address falsification before inspectors do. The consequences of performing poorly during Roadcheck extend far beyond the immediate violations and out-of-service orders. Carriers face: Lost revenue and increased costs from delays and unscheduled repairs Downgraded CSA scores from accumulated violations Potential for triggered compliance reviews or audits due to poor safety data Risk of receiving Conditional or Unsatisfactory safety ratings Potential loss of customers who require carriers to maintain satisfactory ratings The ripple effects of violations during Roadcheck can impact a carrier's operations for months or even years afterward. Thorough preparation for Roadcheck 2025 requires a systematic approach to vehicle maintenance, driver qualifications and hours of service compliance. By understanding the focus areas and addressing common violation causes before inspections occur, carriers can significantly reduce their risk of penalties and operational disruptions. Remember that while Roadcheck lasts only three days, the habits and systems developed in preparation should become standard practice for year-round safety and compliance. The post Preparing for Roadcheck 2025: What carriers and drivers need to know appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ongoing MVR monitoring could help carriers avoid big risks
Trucking can be a risky business. A carrier's profitability depends largely on the state of the wider economic market, which can be impacted by everything from natural disasters to legislation changes. There are steps trucking companies can take to safeguard their operations despite outside unpredictability, however. For example, carriers can create a regular practice of reviewing their drivers' driver motor vehicle records (MVR) in order to flag any issues early and sidestep potential pitfalls in the future. Outside of pre-hire background checks, carriers are only federally mandated to review these MVRs once a year. Doing the bare minimum, however, creates an environment that makes it easy for issues to fall through the cracks. The consequences of this can range from costly fines to financially devastating litigation. 'Every day that a disqualified driver operates a CMV is like waiting for a bomb to explode. If the driver is in a crash, the carrier will pay regardless of whether they were at fault. The driver shouldn't have been there,' according to J. J. Keller Sr. Transport Management Editor, Mark Schedler. It is important to note that the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI) 2022 update of the Crash Predictor study establishes the increased risk of DOT accidents if MVR violations are left unaddressed. Some of these most risky events are, unfortunately, also on 2024's top roadside driver violations. The riskiest violations include: A Failure to Yield Right-of-Way violation (141 percent risk increase) A Failure to Use / Improper Signal conviction (116 percent risk increase) A past crash (113 percent risk increase) A Reckless Driving violation (104 percent risk increase) A Failure to Obey Traffic Sign conviction (85 percent risk increase) When drivers with existing unaddressed violations or disqualifications make these driving errors and are involved in an accident, the carrier can be held liable based on a negligent supervision claim. This all but guarantees a tough day in court. 'Reacting to driver violations when they show up on the annual MVR and delaying the correction of unsafe behavior almost guarantees an excessive verdict due to negligent supervision if those drivers are in a crash,' said Schedler. More frequent MVR checks allow carriers to identify and address driver violations or license status changes much sooner. This enables quicker intervention and remediation before issues escalate. Additionally, many insurers offer discounts to carriers who conduct more frequent MVR monitoring. Monitoring gives carriers an improved risk profile and signals a proactive safety stance that can translate to lower premiums. Companies can proactively monitor MVRs more frequently on their own using a third-party system, such as J. J. Keller's Encompass® Fleet Safety & Compliance System, which makes the process easier and often more reliable. 'Two things are usually true in trucking: Bad things happen in the 365 days between MVR checks, and drivers don't always report those bad things (warnings, violations and suspensions) when required,' Schedler added. 'Avoid the increased risk and potential liability of pulling MVRs once per year and reap the benefits from using an expert third party ongoing monitoring service.' Carriers can access a plethora of benefits by relying on a system like J. J. Keller's Encompass: Timely notification of changes to MVRs like expired CDL medical certifications, administrative suspensions due to failure to pay child support and loss of driving privileges due to exceeding licensing agency point totals Improve driver retention by delivering coaching and other remedial actions in a timely manner so they never reach the point where termination is the only option Promote safer driving behaviors by identifying and mitigating potential risks promptly, reducing the likelihood of accidents. Protect Unsafe Driving BASIC scores by helping carriers to remove unsafe drivers from the road fast. Automate the process of tracking and managing driver records, saving time and resources. As technology continues to evolve, the trend towards more frequent driver monitoring is likely to accelerate. Forward-thinking carriers that embrace these tools and practices now will be well-positioned to build safer, more efficient fleets in the years to come. The future of fleet safety isn't just about reacting to incidents, it's about predicting and preventing them. More frequent MVR monitoring is a key step towards that proactive approach. By moving beyond the minimum annual MVR check requirement, carriers can create a culture of continuous improvement, reduce their risk exposure and save lives on the road. The initial investment in more frequent monitoring pays dividends in enhanced safety, compliance and operational efficiency. The post Ongoing MVR monitoring could help carriers avoid big risks appeared first on FreightWaves.
