JJ Keller & Associates

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

What you need to know about the California intrastate ELD mandate

Professional interstate drivers have been required for the past several years to use ELDs to keep track of their hours of service. Since the implementation of the mandate, many states have also adopted ELD use for intrastate drivers. California is next, adopting ELD use for drivers at the turn of the year.

The California Highway Patrol has issued a final rule requiring ELD use by intrastate drivers on and after Jan. 1, 2024. The rule requires the use of devices that meet the requirements in Part...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-california-intrastate-eld-mandate

5 advantages of outsourcing driver qualification file management

Hiring qualified drivers and ensuring they remain qualified to drive is central to a good safety compliance program. Trucking companies must ensure all new and existing drivers are up to code with state and federal regulations governing truck drivers, which indicates they meet the minimum safety and health requirements to operate a commercial motor vehicle. A driver’s record of these qualifications is called a driver qualification (DQ) file.

Because of the frequent onboarding due to high driver...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/5-advantages-of-outsourcing-driver-qualification-file-management

International Roadcheck results: Carriers have room for improvement

Results of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2023 International Roadcheck are in. The numbers reveal not much has changed since last year, and there is still plenty of room for motor carriers to improve their overall safety and compliance.

The annual three-day inspection effort took place May 16-18 throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. CVSA-certified inspectors hit the roads to conduct as many level I, II and III inspections as possible. This year, 59,429 Roadcheck inspections...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/international-roadcheck-results-carriers-have-room-for-improvement

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