Overdrive

March 2018

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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16 | Overdrive | March 2018 Logbook The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last month issued further guidance to clarify how owner-operators and carriers can dispute certain crashes initially ruled preventable and have them removed from their Compliance, Safety, Accountability scores. The Crash Preventability Demonstra- tion Program is a pilot program launched in August that allows carriers to send crash review requests through the DataQs system. The notice states carriers that submit crashes with the selection of "Not an FMCSA-reportable crash" will have the request closed without a preventability determination. For the crash preventabili- ty program, carriers need to select "Crash could not be prevented," ensure that the crash occurred after June 1, 2017, and select an eligible crash type. When reviewing requests, FMCSA can make determinations of preventable, not preventable or undecided. When the program was announced in July, FMCSA said these crash types are eligible for review during the pilot program: • When a truck was struck by a driver under the influence or a related offense. • When a truck was struck by a motor- ist driving in the wrong direction. • When a truck was hit in the rear. • When a truck was hit while legally stopped or parked. • When a pedestrian or driver gets in front of a truck to attempt suicide. • When a truck sustains disabling dam- age after hitting an animal in the road. • When a crash is caused by an infra- structure failure or falling trees, rocks or other debris. • When a truck is hit by cargo or equipment from another vehicle. For a preventability determination to be reversed, petitioners are required to submit "compelling evidence that the crash was not preventable," FMCSA says in its Feb. 7 notice. The agency doesn't require any specific documentation, so it is up to the carrier to submit any evidence relevant to the crash. If a crash is determined after review to still have been preventable, carriers can choose to reopen the request if they have additional documentation that could prove nonpre- ventability. – Matt Cole FMCSA clarifies crash review process RHODE ISLAND last month began construction on the state's first two trucks-only toll gantries in Exeter and Richmond, which were expected to begin tolling about a month after they were installed. Specific rates had not been set at press time. Tolls will be lim- ited to once per toll facility per day in each direction, with a $20 total to travel Interstate 95 across the state. Tolls cannot exceed $40 per day. They are part of 14 toll locations to be installed in the state. TRUCK PARKING USA, using an integration with ProMiles, announced a tool to view current retail diesel prices at thousands of truck stops while simultaneously considering routes with appropriate commercial vehicle capacities. CONNECTICUT OFFICIALS say the state's seven rest areas, which have 222 truck parking places, will close July 1 if funding problems are not resolved. The state already has a shortage of truck parking. A DISABILITY INSUR- ANCE plan that covers downtime due to illness or injury now is available from the National Association of Independent Truckers via TIEMarketplace.com. LOVE'S TRAVEL STOPS expanded the tire brand offerings at most of its 52 Speedco locations that have offered Bridgestone and Firestone. Now, 46 of those locations also offer Aeolus, Goodyear, Yokohama and Love's Retread tires. The entry period for Overdrive-Red Eye Radio's Trucker Talent Search is open through May 1 for truckers who love to sing. Applicants should record a video clip of themselves singing — a smartphone record- ing is acceptable. Judges request minimal audio enhancement and that no pitch correction software be used. A panel of music and industry professionals will watch all the videos and select three finalists, who will attend The Great American Trucking Show in Dallas in August and compete live for first place, which comes with a $1,000 cash prize, plus a recording session provided by AxleOutPro. The event's emcee and special musical guest will be trucker and singer- songwriter Tony Justice. Visit TruckerTalentSearch. com for more information and to enter. Previous winners of the contest are Richard Woods, Jason Lee Wilson, Nate Moran and Keith Sampson. – Kathleen Craft Talent search looks for singing truckers Owner-operator Richard Woods won the 2017 Trucker Talent Search contest.

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