Truck Driver Medical Certificate Changes

Posted December 29, 2011 by azlogistics.com in Truckers Corner | No comments yet

In 2008, the FMCSA issued a final rule that changes the way states must verify the medical certification for commercial truck drivers who are renewing or applying for a CDL.

The purpose of the changes is to link the medical certificate to the CDL and include the driver medical record in the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS), the federal electronic database. The new rule will help prevent medically unqualified drivers from operating on the Nation’s highways by providing state licensing agencies a means of identifying interstate CDL holders who are unable to obtain a medical certificate and taking action to downgrade their CDLs accordingly.

On November 15, 2011, the FMCSA published a final rule that extends the requirement that drivers maintain a copy of their medical certificate on their person. The requirement was originally scheduled to expire on January 30, 2012, but the extension was necessary because all states are not yet able to post the required data on the CDLIS driver record. Once all states are deemed in compliance, FMCSA will drop the requirement to keep paper copies of the medical examiner’s certificate.
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FMCSA issues final Hours-of-Service (HOS) rules

Posted December 22, 2011 by azlogistics.com in Truckers Corner | No comments yet

As expected, the final rule for truck drivers’ hours-of-service (HOS) was issued by the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today.

Back in December 2010, the FMCSA rolled out its proposed HOS rules changes, which have received decidedly mixed reviews in terms of their potential impact, in terms of its potential for an increase in the cost of doing business, as well as questions from trucking industry stakeholders as to whether or not these rules need to be changed from their current version, which have been in effect since 2004.

The final HOS rule is comprised of the following, according to FMCSA:

- the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work within a week has been reduced by 12 hours from 82 to 70;

- truck drivers cannot drive after working eight hours without first taking a break of at least 30 minutes, and drivers can take the 30-minute break whenever they need rest during the eight-hour window;

- the final rule retains the current 11-hour daily driving limit (the FMCSA was considering lowering it to 10 hours) and will continue to conduct data analysis and research to further examine any risks associated with the 11 hours of driving time;

- truckers who maximize their weekly work hours to take at least two nights’ rest when their 24-hour body clock demands sleep the most – from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. This rest requirement is part of the rule’s “34-hour restart” provision that allows drivers to restart the clock on their work week by taking at least 34 consecutive hours off-duty. The final rule allows drivers to use the restart provision only once during a seven-day period; and

- carriers that allow drivers to exceed the 11-hour driving limit by 3 or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and drivers could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense.

FMCSA officials said that commercial truck drivers and companies must comply with the HOS final rule by July 1, 2013.
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Top 5 Ways To Use The Internet To Buy And Sell Trucks

Posted December 15, 2011 by azlogistics.com in Truckers Corner | No comments yet

A few years ago, the only way to buy or sell trucks was to list an ad in your local newspaper or place a sign in the windshield. These days, the Internet has made these methods almost obsolete. The Internet offers both buyers and sellers a number of advantages over more traditional marketing methods including offering a wider audience and keeping expenses low.

In order to be successful in finding the truck you want or selling one that you don’t, keep these tips in mind.

1. Global Audience: The Internet grows by leaps and bounds every single day. Thousands of new users make their way onto the World Wide Web daily, which means that the pool of potential buyers grows exponentially with each passing week. The main benefit of an online market for buyers is that the fierce competition and the lower cost of advertising tends to force prices down. This equates to better deals for both buyers and sellers.
The truth is that newspaper ads just don’t work anymore. Fewer and fewer people subscribe to local newspapers, which in turn bumps up the price for advertisers in order to keep the paper afloat. The pool of potential buyers is limited, which results in lower chances for success.

2. A picture is worth a thousand words: Sellers looking to truly reach their audience should be prepared to supply plenty of pictures in order to capture the attention of would-be buyers. Pictures of the exterior, interior, tires, tread wear, and engine are all essential to creating a successful advertisement. Studies have shown that ads with strong descriptions and plenty of ads have an 85% higher click through rate over their less illustrated counterparts.

3. Choose the right website for your application. There are literally thousands of websites aimed at helping you sell or buy a truck. Some are free, some are not, but just like in the real world, you get what you pay for when it comes to the options you have for making your advertisement stand out. While spending lots of money on your ad really doesn’t make sense, since it cuts into your profit, paying a small fee for extras such as listing standard and optional equipment is a great way to snag buyers looking for specific feature.

4. Shop from the comfort of your own home. For buyers, looking at trucks online is the best way to see the greatest number of trucks without spending a dime in gas. Buyers looking for a specific make or model can browse the Internet, view thousands of offerings and create a short list of sellers to contact in a matter of hours, a process that used to take days, weeks or even months. Most buyers are able to locate the specific vehicle they are looking for, in a price range that fits their budget, and make arrangements to view and test drive the vehicle(s) in the same day, saving time, money and effort.

Using the online marketplace is definitely the best and most efficient way to buy and sell trucks. The process is easy, low cost, and can reach the largest number of people in the shortest amount of time.