Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I wanted to pass along another regulation change.  As you may recall, a while back I did a series on PUCO regulations. As you might expect…regulations are still changing!

I’ve copied and pasted the text from the release below and here is a link directly to the article: Click Here

PUCO grants hours-of-service relief to agricultural carriers

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Nov. 29, 2011) – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) today granted temporary regulatory relief from the hours-of-service requirements for drivers operating commercial motor vehicles that transport agricultural products within Ohio.

The regulatory relief is effective immediately and will expire at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2012. The PUCO granted the temporary waiver to allow farmers and agribusinesses with additional time to complete their annual operations following an uncharacteristically wet planting season and a delayed harvest.

Carriers subject to this regulatory relief are not exempt from any other motor carrier safety regulations, including commercial driver’s licensing, controlled substance and alcohol and testing, and financial responsibility requirements. Carriers should continue to maintain records of duty status and take all measures to ensure that drivers have the ability to safely operate their commercial vehicles.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business, and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe, and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO hotline at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative.

Subscribe and Unsubscribe to the PUCO Media Release e-mail service

The Bottom Line: Check back regularly for updates on the PUCO, the FMCSA, and many other transportation topics! 

 Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I wanted to make sure I passed around new info on the FMCSA’s Cell Phone Ban…this is an important note and I hope you read below.

 …Special Thanks to David Bartosic from the Ohio Trucking Association for sharing…

 “It probably comes as no surprise that FMCSA issued its final rule basically banning the use of all handheld cell phones by commercial motor vehicle drivers in INTERSTATE commerce, which becomes effective 30 days after appearing in the Federal Register.  

Because this new rule comes equipped with an $11,000 fine for employers who fail to require their drivers to comply, you might want to get started if you haven’t already banned the use of such devices. Drivers face a fine of up to $2,750 if caught using one.”

Directly from FMCSA:
FMCSA and PHMSA are amending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). This rulemaking will improve safety on the Nation’s highways by reducing the prevalence of distracted driving-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving drivers of CMVs. The Agencies also amend their regulations to implement new driver disqualification sanctions for drivers of CMVs who fail to comply with this Federal restriction and new driver disqualification sanctions for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders who have multiple convictions for violating a State or local law or ordinance on motor vehicle traffic control that restricts the use of hand-held mobile telephones. Additionally, motor carriers are prohibited from requiring or allowing drivers of CMVs to use hand-held mobile telephones. Click Here Read the Full Text of the Ruling

The Bottom Line: This is a big deal. This new rule and its accompanying fines are significant. For your own sake, dust off your driver manuals and REQUIRE that your drivers stop using phones while driving. Aside from the fines, you should be concerned about what can happen in court if you are lax about the policy. 

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

 Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today the US DOT released the new Hours of Service changes we’ve all been expecting…there are some surprises, so take a look…

I’ve copied and pasted selected sections of the text from the press release below and here is a link directly to the full article: Click Here

Thursday, December 22, 2011

U.S. Department of Transportation Takes Action to Ensure Truck Driver Rest Time and Improve Safety Behind the Wheel

WASHINGTON – U.S.

“This final rule is the culmination of the most extensive and transparent public outreach effort in our agency’s history,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.  “With robust input from all areas of the trucking community, coupled with the latest scientific research, we carefully crafted a rule acknowledging that when truckers are rested, alert and focused on safety, it makes our roadways safer.”

FMCSA’s new HOS final rule reduces by 12 hours the maximum number of hours a truck driver can work within a week. Under the old rule, truck drivers could work on average up to 82 hours within a seven-day period. The new HOS final rule limits a driver’s work week to 70 hours.  

In addition, truck drivers cannot drive after working eight hours without first taking a break of at least 30 minutes. 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.  FMCSA will continue to conduct data analysis and research to further examine any risks associated with the 11 hours of driving time. 

The rule requires truck drivers 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

Companies and drivers that commit egregious violations of the rule could face the maximum penalties for each offense. Trucking companies that allow drivers to exceed the 11-hour driving limit by 3 or more hours could be fined $11,000 per offense, and the drivers themselves could face civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense.
Commercial truck drivers and companies must comply with the HOS final rule by July 1, 2013.

The full text of the rule and its explanation is here: 2013 Hours of Service Rules.

The Bottom Line: Check back regularly for updates on the PUCO, the FMCSA, and many other transportation topics! 

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

 Keep on Rollin’

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Here is all you need to know about what you can use and not use with the new cell phone ban.  It goes into effect 01/03/12.  Those of you who are INTRASTATE HAZARDOUS MATERIAL CARRIERS-please see highlighted area

Hand-Held Mobile Phones Now Less Mobile
Beginning January 3, 2012, drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) will not be able to hold, dial, or reach for a hand-held cell phone, including those with push-to-talk capabilities, while driving. This will also include the occasions when the driver is temporarily stopped in traffic due to delays or waiting for traffic signals to change. No longer will a driver be allowed to drive and hold a cell phone, or as many have done or seen, squeeze the cell phone with their shoulder and ear while motoring anywhere on the highways. Once the driver has moved the vehicle to the side of, or off, a highway and has sufficiently parked in a safe location, the use of a hand-held cell phone is allowed.

Section 392.82, describing this ban on cell phones while driving, was recently added to the FMCSRs (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations) and clearly states that motor carriers cannot allow or require drivers to use a hand-held mobile device while driving a CMV. Companies who allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000.00. Drivers who violate this rule will face federal fines of up to $2,750.00 for each offense and will face disqualification of their driving privileges for multiple offenses. Table 2 in §383.51 lists these disqualification penalties.

What is allowable under §392.82 is a mobile cell phone with hands-free capabilities and dialing or answering the mobile phone by pushing one single button. The FMCSA feels that this type of activity keeps both hands of the driver free and their attention fixed on the road ahead. Also, the one button activation of the hands-free cell phone only requires minimal distraction much the same as a driver would change the station on the radio, or adjust the heat in the cabin.

The only exception to this new rule is the emergency exception. Using a hand-held mobile telephone is permissible by drivers of a CMV when necessary to communicate with law enforcement officials or other emergency services. Drivers will be allowed to use CB radios and two-way radios while driving.

The new regulation banning cell phone use, which was issued jointly by the FMCSA and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), also applies to intrastate drivers transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding.

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I wanted to pass along an article that discusses some changes in the weight restrictions Congress is thinking about. Apparently 80,000 lbs may not be enough!

 For now I’m reserving judgment on this initiative. I think increasing weight limits from 80,000lbs to 100,000lbs has some advantages, though some disadvantages may be overlooked. PLEASE COMMENT as I’d love you opinion!

 I’ve copied and pasted the text from the article below and here is a link directly to the article: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/25/congress-states-debate-heavier-trucks/

Congress, States Debate Heavier Trucks

By Jonathan Serrie  – Published November 25, 2011 – FoxNews.com

Large trucks on America’s interstates could become 20 percent heavier. The Coalition for Transportation Productivity, a group of more than 100 major shippers including Coca-Cola and The Home Depot, is supporting legislation in Congress that, proponents say, would increase efficiency and reduce emissions.

“With the Panama Canal being deepened, these larger cargo ships coming in are going to be carrying containers that weigh 97,000 pounds,” said Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA). “If we continue to have our weight limit at 80,000 pounds, then we would have to take the containers, unload them, repack them, put them on trucks and use more trucks to do that.” 

Oct. 19, 2011: Trucks traveling on Interstate 89 in Berlin, Vt. Trucks that weigh up to 100,000 pounds will be allowed on interstate highways in Maine and Vermont under an agreement reached in Congress Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011.

In 2009, nearly 300,000 trucks were involved in crashes in the United States, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  Safety advocates argue heavier trucks may cause more serious accidents. But proponents of the legislation say increasing the weight limit would actually reduce the number of trucks on roads, making them safer.

Either way, many state transportation officials worry about the impacts of heavier loads on their roads and their budgets.

“If we advocate for higher weights, it’s going to be more wear and tear on our roads, which means more money,” said Jim Cole, a board member of the Georgia Department of Transportation. “We have to balance that with an economic picture of the future, as well.”

While GDOT officials have yet to make a recommendation to state legislators, their counterparts in Mississippi are voicing opposition to increased truck weights. Meanwhile, Maine and Vermont have already been testing special six axle trucks weighing up to 100,000 pounds.

But large company fleets and independent operators often differ on the short-term impact of the retrofits and upgrades involved with increased loads.

“The manufacturer will be able to offset the equipment with the economies of scale they get, the productivity they get out of it,” said Ed Crowell, president of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association. “The for-hire trucker who doesn’t do any manufacturing will be faced with the cost, but all the benefit will go to the customer.”

The proposed legislation would allow individual states to opt out, leaving an open question as to whether the U.S. continues its patchwork of weight limits, or whether the heavier trucks become the new normal.

The Bottom Line: At the end of the day you’ll have to asses how increased weight limits will affect your business. When you’ve thought about it, let me know by emailing or posting to this BLOG. 

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I want to talk about the hidden winter driving hazard – Deer – and why this year marks a change.

I recently did a “Winter Driving Hazards” safety meeting with one of my clients and we covered the typical, standard winter safe driving tips…give extra distance when braking in the snow, watch for black ice, if you can’t see because it’s a blizzard…don’t be a hero, PULL OVER!

One new thing this year, though, is the deer issue. This particular client has had 2 deer strikes this year already, and with a fleet of under 30 trucks, not only does the down time cause problems, but the strikes are indicative of the significant increase in the deer population in Ohio and the Midwest, and the potential affect it could have on truckers if they aren’t extra diligent.

The Ohio Department of Transportation reports that there are more than 60,000 deer strikes reported in Ohio annually and they expect there are several thousand more every year that go unreported. ODOT expects the number to rise this year.

Ohio isn’t alone. In the last 2 years Wisconsin, North Carolina, Alabama, Michigan, West Virginia, and many others are reporting increased or record numbers of deer-related incidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says there are approximately 1.5 million accidents with deer each year that result in $1 billion in vehicle damage, about 150 human fatalities and over 10,000 personal injuries. Ohio ranks fourth in the nation for deer related collisions. See the Article Here:
Ohio Highway Patrol is reporting the number of motor vehicle crashes involving deer are on the rise.

Many truckers believe in “Deer Whistles”. The NTSA says these are useless and that you’re just wasting your money. The best defense is to slow down in low visibility and a little extra diligence and anticipation.

I recommend incorporating a few minutes to talk about deer in your winter driving meetings this year. I’m doing it when I speak to the fleets we work with. With any luck, the reminder might just save a life.

The Bottom Line:  Truckers need to actively look out for deer this year. The extra healthy herd is a problem for drivers of all kinds and the accidents they cause are increasingly frequent. The number one thing to remember is that your 80,000lb truck and a 150lb deer are no match for each other. Don’t swerve. You probably buy truck insurance and life insurance. Let your insurance pay for your truck instead of your life.

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I want to talk about the way the public perceives your CSA scores and how you can protect yourself.

Recently I saw a news story that really got me fuming. I may be an insurance agent but I consider myself a member of the transportation industry and I was pretty upset with the way that trucking companies were being covered…the company in the story could have been one of my clients or my friends…and the suggestion that they’re patently unsafe isn’t accurate, isn’t fair, and isn’t right.

The story goes like this: a trucking company in Minnesota had an accident and it turned out to be fatal to both the driver of the truck and a driver of a private passenger vehicle passing by. The truck driver wasn’t necessarily doing anything wrong, his rig simply slipped on some black ice on a country road and he jack-knifed without warning causing a pretty bad scene.

The reporter jumps onto the screen holding a “24 page list of terrible and dangerous violations” attributed to the trucking company over the last 2 years. “How is it possible this company is still in operation?” the reporter wants to know, “how can it be that a company with 102 equipment violations isn’t shut down?”, and “what about 2 pages of fatigued driving violations, maybe the driver fell asleep at the wheel? We’ll never know, what a tragedy…”. And you can imagine what’s going to happen in the court room… 

Well I happened to look into that company’s scores…

They have 27 Tractors and went approximately 2,470,000 miles in 2010.

154 Total Inspections, 21% OOS rate

Unsafe Driving————–31.8%
Fatigued Driving———–66.4%
Driver Fitness————— Inconclusive
Controlled Substance—–No Violations
Vehicle Maintenance——71.4%
Cargo Related—————–Not Public
Crash Indicator————–Not Public*  (4 Total Cashes,
                                                             2 Tow-Aways, 2 Injury/Fatal)

And NO ALERTS 

That being said, the uneducated public might view your SMS scores or your BAISC metrics differently than you and me. If you’re ever in a situation when you have to defend yourself in court like the folks in Minnesota, you’d better believe that “Fatigued Driving” or “Unsafe Driving”, etc are going to be admissible and will paint your company in a bad light.

Even if you’re in the top 10% of operators your size, a “violation” sounds bad and looks worse.

Here’s an example:

I have a client with 29 power units whose satisfactory rating is not in any jeopardy. They’ve had 164 inspections and have a 28% OOS rate – Pretty normal stuff for a company of this size.

The company’s “Unsafe Driving” metric is at 52.9%, “Vehicle Maintenance” is at 72.9%, and “Fatigued Driving” is at 82.5%. Only one of these is in alert status, “Fatigued Driving”.

Here’s a list of the 5 most recent “Unsafe Driving” violations:

1. Speeding
2. Failure to obey traffic control device
3. Lane Restriction Violation
4. State/Local – Speeding
5. Failure to yield Right of Way

These violations span from 8/14/11 to 11/17/11, only 3 months. Imagine you’re a member of the non-transportation-industry public…if you had these violations on your record in the last 3 years you’d have had your license suspended or worse, let alone 3 months! 

Now add these to the rest of the 10 “Unsafe Driving” violations, the 50 “Fatigued Driving” violations and the 156 “Vehicle Maintenance” violations over just 2 short years and you’re starting to get the picture of an unbelievably negligent motor carrier! 

What’s lost on the public (and most juries) is that these violations account for roughly 5.5m miles of driving (it would take the average American 408 years to accumulate this many miles driven). The general public is also unaware that truckers have their own branches of the federal and state governments devoted to pulling truckers over and inspecting them, and that truckers are checked for everything from paperwork to marker lights and everything in between…and that each minor error in paperwork, etc constitutes a “violation”. 

Another interesting fact is that Americans get a speeding ticket once every 62,655 miles driven. Truckers; once every 329,333 miles. That’s right…truckers are more than 5 times less likely to speed than regular drivers. I bet you won’t hear that on the news… 

In any case, what can you do to limit your exposure to this kind of situation?

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to limit your chances of having a problem. Work constantly to reduce your overall BASIC Scores and make sure you don’t have any Alert status issues. Convey the importance of this to your drivers ALL THE TIME. 

Also, hoping you have a good attorney and the right insurance agency and policy after an accident is the wrong time! Make sure you’re protected before you have a claim. The most important thing, though, is to document, all of your procedures and due diligence. This includes your drivers. Drill into them the fact that they’ll be named and targeted too if there’s a bad accident. The number one saving grace in court: documenting that you did everything legally required and logically expected of you to ensure proper maintenance, training, and due diligence. The better you document, the better your position argument you’ll have when it’s you on the news… 

The Bottom Line:  The world is full of information. Some of it is good, some of it not so good. The public information about your company will be used against you if you have a claim. Whether the system is accurate, or fair, or right is certainly debatable; but you’ve been warned. Make sure you take the necessary steps to ensure that you’re in a good position to defend yourself if you have an accident or issue that lands you in court. If you’re not sure if you’re doing enough, call me. I can help.

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’! 

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I want to mention a few things about what the state’s doing to reduce excessive regulation…and I’d really like your feedback…

Special thanks to Mike Baach of the Philpott Rubber company for his commitment to the state and to small business.

I’ve copied an email Mike recently sent me below. Mike Baach is a friend and colleague and he’s been tapped by the Governor to participate on a 9-member Small Business Advisory Council that will advise the Lt. Governor and Governor on regulations that are outdated, unnecessary, duplicative, or just plain make it hard for business to get done in the state of Ohio.

I don’t intend this to be a political statement but I believe that business in the state could be easier to conduct and I’m willing to help anyone working to make it that way. Most of us deal with the frustrations presented to us by government bureaucracy from time to time and Mike and his Advisory Council want to hear how regulations are affecting your business and how relaxing or removing certain regulations altogether can help your business grow or prosper.

If you can take 2 minutes and respond I’ll forward on to Mike so he can take your comments/concerns directly to the top.

From: Mike Baach
Sent: Sunday, October 02, 2011 2:46 PM
To: Jason Stevenson
Subject: Excessive Ohio Business Regulations

Jason,

If there are rules or regulations in Ohio that are placing The Hoffman Group, its customers or suppliers at a competitive disadvantage, we have a voice at the table to try to repeal or fix them.  As I have been appointed to Lt. Governor Mary Taylor’s 9-member Small Business Advisory Council, you can help Ohio return to prosperity by ensuring a regulatory environment that is attractive to businesses.  The Common Sense Initiative will review Ohio’s regulatory system to eliminate excessive and duplicative rules that stand in the way of job creation. The goal of this Initiative is to make Ohio a jobs and business-friendly state because excessive, duplicative and costly business regulations can put Ohioans out of work.

Please help me identify any such opportunities that I can bring to our Council’s next meeting with Lt. Governor Taylor on October 11^th.  I promise to bring any ideas you send me to the highest levels of Ohio state government.

Many thanks,

Mike

Michael K. Baach

President & CEO

The Philpott Rubber Company

The Bottom Line: The state of Ohio ranks among the lowest in the country for any number of the metrics designed to measure how business-friendly the state is. Today you have a chance to voice your concerns and make your suggestions—and they’ll go straight to the top. Comment on the BLOG or email me and we’ll make sure you’re heard.

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our regular updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I want to talk about the CSA’s “You Talked, We Listened” updates and how they affect you!

In late July the folks from the FMCSA sent out a “You Talked, We Listened” email noting some changes they’ve made to their system that make it more ‘user friendly’. I included a copy of the text from that email below. Additionally, I investigated some of those changes and this is what I think:

7/22/2011 – You Talked, We Listened … Visit the Improved CSA Website and See What’s Changed!   

Since the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) Website launched in August of 2008, we have directly responded to more than 6,500 questions from motor carriers, drivers, and others in the commercial vehicle safety industry.  In response to our visitors’ feedback, we improved several areas on the CSA Website in order to support stakeholders’ efforts to increase safety on the nation’s roads.

• The “Your Role” pages have been enhanced and a new section specifically for drivers has been added.   Each role page now contains a stakeholder-specific toolkit of CSA materials, links to important FMCSA websites, and a comprehensive list of questions and answers specific to each major stakeholder group.
• A new Resourcespage, where stakeholders can download a toolkit customized to their role, has replaced the previous news and media page. A new search feature allows visitors to customize their searches using keywords or simple checkboxes. The search results provide the most relevant documents as well as a list of the top five relevant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
• Functionality on the FAQs page has been improved. In addition to being able to search by keyword, website viewers can now also filter their searches by stakeholder and topic.

Please check out the improved CSA Website and continue to give us your feedback.  Together we can improve safety.

Thank You,
CSA Web Team
USDOT/Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

The improved “Your Role”section of the site is quite user friendly. There are sections for Carriers, Drivers, FMCSA and State Partners, and for others interested in how they fit into the system. Generally, the info is straight forward. The text is short and manageable. In addition, each segment of the Your Role section features “Toolkits” which include PowerPoints, information previously sent out by FMCSA, educational materials, etc. all for free download. I recommend anyone interested in the “What/When/How” of CSA to check out the “Your Role” section of the site.

The new “Resources”section of the site is an excellent resource for anyone struggling to find ‘exactly what you’re looking for’. The site is designed to be a searchable database of CSA info and searches are fully customizable. For example: you can search for an informational poster, relevant to the carrier, which defines CSA information, in English, and get 2 results, with photos, for your free download. It’s easy to use, and worth a try. Take a look: CSA Resources.

Finally, the “FAQ” site has been improved to work like the “Resources” page. The topics are well defined and narrowing what you’re looking for is easy. With ‘check boxes’ located on the left of the screen, you can easily narrow your search and learn pretty easily. For example: Ever wonder when you have a safety basic in the alert status if the first you’ll hear from the FMCSA is the warning letter they send? Just click this link: CSA FAQ and check the “Carrier” box and the “Interventions” box…and it’s the 8^th answer down…easy!

The Bottom Line: The FMCSA is doing a fairly good job trying to keep motor carriers in the loop with their changes. Love them or hate them, this improved site should help you understand them. Good Luck!

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com

Welcome back and thanks for reading The Bottom Line! Today I wanted to make sure I passed around the Ohio Turnpike Travel Advisory for 7/25 and 7/26 2011…Special Thanks to David Bartosic from the Ohio Trucking Association for sharing…

Travel Advisory – Ohio Turnpike construction underway

Berea, Ohio – On Monday, July 25th and Tuesday, July 26th, the Ohio Turnpike will be conducting a traffic drag (Rolling Roadblock) to erect a natural gas pipeline over the Ohio Turnpike at milepost 179.5 in Summit County. Traffic will be blocked in the vicinity of the bridge to safely allow the installation of this structure. A rolling roadblock will slow traffic to between 5 and 10 miles per hour for approximately 40 – 45 minutes. They will begin approximately 20 miles from the work zone in order to provide sufficient time for construction. Due to the size of the crane required, traffic will be reduced to only one lane at the construction site. LONG DELAYS are expected for the traveling public. (See further explanation below.)

WESTBOUND MOTORISTS:

MONDAY, JULY 25TH: ROLLING ROADBLOCK WESTBOUND AT MILEPOST 200 NEAR THE PORTAGE SERVICE PLAZA WILL BEGIN AT 12:00 (MIDNIGHT) AND LAST UNTIL 12:45 A.M.

* All work is weather permitting, if delayed due to weather Rolling Roadblock will commence after weather breaks.

Suggested detour: Exit at Interchange 218 (Niles-Youngstown) and take I- 76 West to

I-77 North to Ohio Turnpike Interchange 173 (Cleveland).

EASTBOUND MOTORISTS:

TUESDAY, JULY 26TH: ROLLING ROADBLOCK EASTBOUND AT MILEPOST 160 NEAR INTERCHANGE 161 (STRONGSVILLE-CLEVELAND) WILL BEGIN AT 12:00 (MIDNIGHT) AND LAST UNTIL 12:45 A.M.

* All work is weather permitting, if delayed due to weather Rolling Roadblock will commence after weather breaks.

Suggested detour: Exit at Interchange 151 (North Ridgeville-Cleveland) and take I-480 East to I-271 South Exit at SR8 South and take SR8 South to Ohio Turnpike Interchange 180 (Akron).

We would like to thank our customers in advance for their patience and understanding during this construction project. Any delays will be posted on the Ohio Turnpike Commission’s website under Traffic Alerts on the home page at www.ohioturnpike.org.

The Bottom Line: Check back to TruckInsurancePro.com regularly for useful updates!

Hopefully you’ll check back soon to see our weekly updates. And always, if you have any questions for the Truck Insurance Pro…please just let us know and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Keep on Rollin’!

Jason Stevenson, MBA, CPIA
Truck Insurance Pro
The Hoffman Group–Transportation Services
800.826.4006
jstevenson@thehoffmangrp.com