JJ Keller & Associates

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...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ongoing-mvr-monitoring-could-help-carriers-avoid-big-risks

Key credentials to keep your vehicles on the road

Trucking companies need to have their basic credentials – including operating authorities, tax documents, titles and registrations – squared away in order to keep their trucks in compliance and generate revenue. 

While maintaining these credentials may seem simple, the complex nature of the logistics industry can undermine a carrier’s efforts to stay above board. With so many programs, sporadic regulatory changes, numerous agencies involved and deadlines for filing spread throughout the year,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/key-credentials-to-keep-your-vehicles-on-the-road

How MVR monitoring makes corrective action training more effective

For carriers, being informed about driver behavior – especially violations and licensing changes – is the first step to creating a safer and more cost-effective fleet. 

Unfortunately, not all carriers are as informed as they could be, often following the bare minimum requirements of going a year between motor vehicle records (MVR) reviews. This leaves significant time for costly issues to go undetected.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations require motor carriers to review all of their...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-mvr-monitoring-makes-corrective-action-training-more-effective

Top 4 hours-of-service areas carriers should be concerned about

Carriers and drivers are governed by federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations on a day-to-day basis. These rules dictate schedules and often determine whether a shipment will be delayed. Despite the regulations’ outsize impact on operations, confusion surrounding the rules continues to plague the industry. 

Hours of service is consistently one of the topics carriers ask about most often, according to Richard Malchow, a transportation industry business adviser with J. J. Keller.

There are four...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/top-4-hours-of-service-areas-carriers-should-be-concerned-about

How do you create a best-in-class safety program?

The increasing prevalence of nuclear verdicts – and the resulting insurance hikes – have prompted carriers to reevaluate their safety strategies. Carriers with best-in-class safety programs enjoy the most competitive insurance rates while simultaneously protecting driver wellbeing and making positive changes in the industry as a whole. 

Best-in-class safety program benefits include, but are not limited to: 

  • Improved company safety metrics, leading to lower risk costs and increased profitability
  • R...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-do-you-create-a-best-in-class-safety-program

5 best practices for hiring inexperienced drivers

In high-turnover industries like trucking, recruiters are often laser-focused on hiring experienced employees that can hit the ground running. While it is true that veteran truck drivers can bring a wealth of knowledge with them, carriers should avoid underestimating the value of more inexperienced drivers. With the proper training and support, new-to-the-industry hires can become some of the safest – and most loyal – drivers in a fleet. 

With brand new drivers, carriers have the advantage of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/5-best-practices-for-hiring-inexperienced-drivers

Understanding HOS compliance: Top violations for carriers

Federal hours-of-service (HOS) regulations are often an area of concern for both individual truck drivers and motor carriers. This has been especially true since the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) introduced multiple significant changes to existing rules in September 2020. 

The regulation changes in 2020 shifted the landscape of the average driver’s day-to-day routines. Those changes included:

  • The 30-minute off-duty break changed from continuous, on-duty hours to a 30-minute...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/understanding-hos-compliance-top-violations-for-carriers

How to return a driver to duty following a drug or alcohol violation

Drug and alcohol violations quickly sideline drivers, creating stress for all parties involved. When drivers fail or refuse testing – or when carriers have concrete knowledge of a driver’s illegal drug or alcohol usage – they must be immediately removed from the driver’s seat. The journey back can be daunting for drivers and carriers alike. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation has provided a detailed framework surrounding driver drug and alcohol violations – including return-to-work...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-to-return-a-driver-to-duty-following-a-drug-or-alcohol-violation

How to prepare for CVSA International Roadcheck 2024

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck is coming up next month. It is a high-visibility, high-volume inspection and compliance enforcement initiative, and carriers should begin preparing now to avoid racking up unexpected violations.

This three-day Roadcheck — which takes place in Canada, Mexico and the United States — is scheduled for May 14-16.

“Don’t let this three-day event sneak up on you. Out-of-service inspections can dramatically impact a carrier’s safety...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/how-to-prepare-for-cvsa-international-roadcheck-2024

Carriers can reduce legal, financial risk with more frequent MVR monitoring

Many carriers pull their drivers’ motor vehicle records (MVRs) to check for violations and privilege suspensions just once a year. This means that, in some cases, a driver could lose driving privileges for up to 364 days before a carrier ever finds out.

This “same time next year” approach to MVRs doesn’t work in the carrier’s favor. While FMCSA has issued minimal requirements surrounding MVR checks, carriers doing only the bare minimum are creating and perpetuating visibility gaps that leave...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carriers-can-reduce-legal-financial-risk-with-more-frequent-mvr-monitoring

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