Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/619872
LOGBOOK January 2016 | Overdrive | 13 A rulemaking for obstructive sleep apnea took a step forward last month with a request for data. The data collection eff ort by the U.S. Department of Transportation is intended to gauge how many truck operators have sleep apnea and what impact a sleep apnea rule could have on the industry. The federal regulatory dash- board said the White House Offi ce of Management and Budget received the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Ad- ministration Dec. 15, which would have allowed time for it to be pub- lished by the end of December. The data request, conducted jointly by FMCSA and the Federal Railroad Administration, is intend- ed not only to gauge the preva- lence of sleep apnea among truck drivers but also to get industry feedback about how a sleep apnea rule could aff ect truckers and the industry at large. – James Jaillet Sleep apnea rule advances Why do I have to top-off oil in my engine? Most of you probably check your oil level each day or when you fill your fuel tank. Low oil level can lead to faster degradation (oxidation) of the oil, faster consumption of the oil additives and potentially shorter engine life. When discussing the issue of oil consumption, we must keep in mind that there are only two ways oil is consumed in a diesel engine: oil is either burned in the combustion chamber or it leaks through seals or gaskets. There are also a number of factors or conditions that can affect the amount of oil an engine consumes. Some of the factors that affect oil consumption include engine idle time, driving conditions, load, terrain, engine operating temperature, oil volatility, fuel dilution, and miles on the engine. Another important point to remember is that no two engines are alike. You may have noticed that engine oil consumption has been reduced with late model trucks. New oils help control piston deposits which results in better oil consumption control. Newer piston and piston ring designs, along with changes in engine operating conditions, are also factors. Oil formulation can help provide the best oil consumption control. Premium motor oils are formulated to exceed the most current requirements of all North American truck engine manufacturers, as well as those of the American Petroleum Institute. Shell Rotella ® engine oils are formulated with a careful balance of detergent, dispersant, anti-oxidant and anti-wear chemistry designed to maximize engine protection. Adding a gallon of oil every few thousand miles was once common. We now see late model engines that will go an entire drain interval without requiring that any additional oil be added. However, we still recommend you check your oil daily and top-off as required. To further help monitor conditions in your engine, we recommend having an oil analysis program. It is one of the most effective ways to monitor the condition of your engine. A regular oil analysis program helps you build a historic database and watch for trends in a variety of areas. Ideally, you want to analyze a sample of used engine oil after every oil change. By Dan Arcy Shell Lubricants The term "Shell Lubricants" refers to the various Shell Group companies engaged in the lubricants business. This monthly column is brought to you by Shell Lubricants. Got a question? Visit ROTELLA.com, call 1-800-BEST-OIL or write to The ANSWER COLuMN, 1001 Fannin, Ste. 500, Houston, TX 77002. PAMELA PARKER was indicted Nov. 18 in Shreveport, La., for mak- ing a false statement to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration concerning prior motor carrier involvement on her September 2013 application for operating authority. Agency inspectors previously had found multiple violations during a May 2013 compliance review of Parker Trucking and had ordered the company out of service. TWO PEOPLE were sentenced for their roles in a fraudulent commercial driver's license testing scheme in New York. Marie Daniel was sentenced Nov. 23 to three years' incarcera- tion and three years of supervised release, and Firdavs Mamadaliev was sentenced Nov. 4 to 24 months' probation and a $500 fi ne. A proposed federal rule that would give the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration another means to score and target unsafe carriers cleared the White House Offi ce of Management and Bud- get last month. The Safety Fitness Determina- tion rule now is in the hands of the U.S. Department of Transporta- tion. It's ready for publication as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Since this is the proposed version of the rule, there will be a public comment period, likely either 60 or 90 days, following its publication. DOT has been working on the rule since 2007, but few details are known about it. According to the agency's regulatory summary, the rule would give FMCSA a new system to "determine when a mo- tor carrier is not fi t to operate." The safety determination would be based in part on the Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improve- ment Categories in the agency's Compliance, Safety, Accountabil- ity program. It's unclear whether recent congressional action to remove CSA rankings from public view will impact the SFD rule. – James Jaillet Proposed safety rule cleared for publication