Feds modify some drug testing requirements

Mileage Matters | April 12, 2022

Federal regulators modify some drug testing requirements

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reaffirmed, and in some cases tweaked, the agency’s oral fluid and urine drug testing requirements for federal safety-sensitive government employees, including truck drivers.

2022 Safety on the Road nominations

Deadline: April 22

2022 MI Truck Driving Championship registration

June 10-11

Government

White House touts efforts to improve working conditions for truckers

Commercial Carriers Journal- In a press conference on the White House lawn last Monday, President Biden and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, among others, touted the administration’s efforts to expand and improve jobs in the trucking industry through its Trucking Action Plan.

DOT, DOL to address predatory truck leasing

Heavy Duty Trucking- If you've talked to many truck owner-operators, you've likely heard horror stories about motor carriers with truck-leasing agreements that take advantage of those drivers.

As a result, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is accepting applications for the new Truck Leasing Task Force. Working with the U.S. Department of Labor, the task force will evaluate the impacts of commercial motor vehicle lease agreements and discuss best practices for future agreements.

Regulations

CVSA seeks mileage, time limits for personal conveyance guidance

Transport Topics- The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has petitioned federal trucking regulators to add a maximum time and/or mileage limit to clarify the definition of personal conveyance use by commercial truck drivers.

FMCSA’s guidance for personal conveyance, the use of a commercial motor vehicle for personal use while off duty, has become a source of confusion for not only truck drivers, but also fleet managers.

More spring weight restrictions lifted Monday, April 11

MDOT- Effective Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6:00 am, weight restrictions will be lifted from the southern Michigan border north to and including US-10 in Ludington in Mason County from the M-116 intersection then east to US-127 in Clare County then south to US-10 in Clare County then East on US-10 to M-25 in Bay City and including the entire thumb area.

Operations

How insurance companies are approaching under-21 pilot program

Commercial Carrier's Journal- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot program is already drawing attention from both inside and outside of trucking.

There are likely implications on the insurance side of the business for participating carriers. With already sky-high insurance rates for many fleets, bundling coverage for younger and inexperienced drivers isn't likely to help.

Operation Safe Driver Week 2022 focuses on speeders this summer

FleetOwner- Speeding, distracted driving, following too closely, improper lane change, drunk or drugged driving—and other risky driving behaviors—are the focus of this summer's

Operation Safe Driver Week, scheduled for July 10-16.

Amounts for violations of FMCSA regulations increased

Truckers News- The Department of Transportation recently published a final rule updating the civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations, including Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations focused on in trucking company audits.

Visa, Mastercard to ease rules, allowing stations to raise pump limit

Transport Topics- Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. are planning a raft of changes to rules for gas stations to allow larger transactions after a surge in fuel prices across the U.S. made it hard for some drivers to fill up using credit cards.

Recruitment & Retention

Driver apprenticeships prove effective, but...

FleetOwner- While apprenticeships are another tool in the trucking industry’s driver recruitment and training toolkit, they’re just a patch for the driver turnover leak. Fleets would be better served by first making the position more accommodating.

Carriers need to recognize that most people aren’t cut out to live on the road for weeks at a time, and putting new drivers in cross-country positions is not a good retention strategy.

Proposed bill would create two-year refundable tax credit for Class A CDL truck drivers

FleetOwner- The bipartisan Strengthening Supply Chains Through Truck Driver Incentives Act would provide an incentive to attract and retain new drivers.

Specifically, the bill would create a two-year refundable tax credit of up to $7,500 for truck drivers holding a valid Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL) who drive at least 1,900 hours in the year.