TOUGHER RULES FOR NEW CARRIERS, SMOKE LAWS IN NEVADA, AND...

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
ARE DRIVING DROWSY
By Wayne Schooling

Q: If an individual fails to test during a selection period, are they required to complete THAT test before the year-end period? Will it count towards the year-end total?

A: The federal regulations say, “Each driver selected for testing shall be tested during the selection period.” Note the use of the word “shall” (and not the words “may” or “could”) used in this sentence. This means that the driver must take the test during the applicable period. The test does NOT count if it was not conducted during the selection period. Depending on the reason that the test was not conducted, it is either considered excused (i.e. driver was on extended vacation) or a refusal to test (i.e. driver was notified but never went to have sample collected).

TOUGHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) interim final rule establishing new minimum requirements for all motor carrier applicants domiciled in the United States and Canada, seeking to operate in interstate commerce for the first time, became effective last month on January 1, 2003. New entrant applicants must now file a new Form MCS-150A “The Certification for Applications for USDOT Number” along with the MCS-150 “Motor Carriers Identification Report.” For-hire carriers are still required to apply for and receive their authority from the FMCSA, as well as register that authority with the states under the Single State Registration System before beginning operations.

After the certification process, new entrants are granted a temporary USDOT number to begin interstate operations and are subject to safety monitoring procedures for a period of 18 months. Within that time, a safety audit will be performed. If the safety audit discloses adequate safety management controls, the FMCSA will provide the new entrant permanent authority. If the safety management controls are found to be inadequate, the new entrant registration will be revoked and its operations will be placed out-of-service unless it takes the actions specified in the notice to remedy its safety management practices. Contact NTA for the information on what is required.

MILLIONS DRIVE DROWSY

Being a professional truck driver just gets harder and harder. Would you believe you're safer driving next to that little old lady from Pasadena rather than next to a car filled with a family. Statistics say that about one-half of America’s adult drivers - 51% or approximately 100 million people - are on the roads felling sleepy while driving. Nearly two in ten drivers - 17% or approximately 14 million people - say they have actually fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year.

These are just some of the findings in the National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) 2002 Sleep in America poll released at the National Summit to Prevent Drowsy Driving in Washington, DC in late 2002. This marked the fifth consecutive year that approximately one-half or more of adult drivers admitted to driving while drowsy or sleepy in the NSF’s annual poll. One percent of the respondents say they had an accident because they dozed off or were too tired to drive, a figure that has remained consistent in the polls.

Males and young adults between 18 and 29 are at the highest risk for drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel. In fact, more than two-thirds of these young adults who drive (71%) reported driving while drowsy in the past year. Adults with children in the household are more likely to drive drowsy than those without children, and older adults are the least likely to drive drowsy or to fall asleep at the wheel.

A strong connection between the quantity and quality of sleep and drowsy driving is apparent in the findings. One-quarter of those who rate their sleep as fair/poor are much more likely to drive drowsy than those who say their sleep is good or excellent. Respondents reporting that they sleep less than the minimum they need to be fully alert the next day are more likely to doze off at the wheel than those who sleep enough. More than one-half (59%) of the drowsy drivers admit they did not stop because of their sleepiness. Common sense says get enough sleep and stop when you get tired.

NEVADA CRACKS DOWN ON TRUCK SMOKE

Department of Motor Vehicle inspectors have hit the roads to enforce stricter diesel emissions, backed by steep fines, aimed at cleaning the air in Nevada. Under the new regulations, smoke from diesel vehicles manufactured since 1991 can block no more than 40% of the light on the opacity meter. Diesel engines made between 1977 and 1990 must have no more than 55% opacity. Engines built before 1977 must meet an opacity standard of 70%. The fine for failing to correct the first offense within 45 days is $800, and subsequent violations are $1,500.

EPA DEADLINE

The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held trucking’s feet to the fire on its October emissions deadline in efforts to clear the air from heavy-duty truck soot. Truck specialists say the new EPA-compliant engines will wreak havoc on the industry because they are less fuel-efficient and cost more. Truck manufacturers and dealerships say the new compliant engines are running from $3,000 to $5,000 more.

~ The NTA is a nationwide association established to provide services, benefits and information to owner operators, private fleets and trucking companies. Call (562) 630-7637 or (800) 805-0040 for more information. Until next month, “Drive Safe - Drive Smart!”