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Fleets turn to leasing companies for help
Even though the new Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program was initiated last December by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), many fleets are still struggling to meet the requirements as well as handle their costs. CSA was implemented because the "rate of crash reduction slowed, prompting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to take a fresh look at how the agency evaluates the safety of motor carriers and drivers and to explore ways to improve its safety monitoring, evaluation, and intervention processes. Compliance, Safety, Accountability is the result of this comprehensive examination," according to FMCSA.
Although the regulations remained largely the same after CSA implementation, CSA did change how FMCSA prioritizes carriers for enforcement and how it enforces compliance through a new Safety Measurement System (SMS) that gives a more comprehensive profile of carriers and drivers, better pinpoints the source(s) of safety problems, and more effectively identifies high crash-risk behavior; a new intervention process that influences compliance earlier; and a proposed change to the Safety Fitness Determination (SFD), which will cover more fleets and be based on roadside performance and intervention results. Ratings will be updated more often in order to convey current safety conditions.
Many fleets complain that CSA takes up too much administrative time and money, so they are turning to outside help. One source is from full-service leasing companies. These companies not only keep trucks in safety compliance but also assist with driver issues that can put a truck out of service during a roadside inspection. For example, leasing companies offer online or DVD driver training modules in areas such as hours of service (HOS) to help them stay in compliance. This often includes topics such as drive time vs. on-duty time, maximum hours exception, sleeper berth exceptions, split-berth exemptions, fatigue, record of duty, driver wellness, and driver qualifications. Many leasing companies also offer log auditing services to make sure HOS regulations are being met. Another topic area offered is pre- and post-trip training for drivers. This may cover walkaround inspections, tires and tanks, emergency equipment, brakes, inside cab inspection, under the hood, and lights. While almost all drivers inspect their rigs before a trip, it’s important that they do it in a uniform way throughout the fleet.
Carriers can also use leasing companies to handle their drug and alcohol testing and make certain that the tests are both cost-effective and legally defensible. Usually done by a third party, these tests can reduce testing costs and administrative burden associated with meeting DOT regulations.
Leasing companies can also offer securement training and equipment such as bungee straps, internal load bars and beams, internal load straps, ratchet strap assemblies, tie-downs, winches, and winch straps.
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