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Jun 28, 2012

TRUCKS CONTROLS & INSPECTIONS * USA

* DC - FMCSA drug/alcohol sweep removes 287 commercial drivers 

(Photo)
Washington,DC,USA -Fleet Owner -Jun. 26, 2012: -- The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) removed 287 commercial bus and truck drivers from the roads and said over 128 companies face enforcement actions as a result of the agency's annual drug and alcohol “strike force sweep,” which took place from April 30 through May 11... The agency said that during the two-week enforcement action, nearly 200 federal investigators examined the drug and alcohol safety records of commercial drivers employed by bus and truck companies, including school-bus operators, interstate passenger carriers, haz-mat transporters and general freight long-haul trucking companies... What’s more, 128 truck and bus companies face pending enforcement actions for violations, such as using a driver who has tested positive for illegal drugs and for not instituting a drug and alcohol testing program. Both drivers and carriers will have an opportunity to contest the alleged violations and the amount of the civil penalties, FMCSA noted...

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posted by Unknown @ 8:14 AM  1 comments

Jan 27, 2012

TECHNOLOGY on TRUCKS * USA

* DC - Data Shows Speeding and Log Violations are Main CSA Culprits; Technology Can Help

(Photo courtesy of PeopleNet)
Washington,DC,USA -TruckingInfo, by Jim Beach -20 Jan 2012: -- Electronic logs are touted as a high-tech solution for the two leading violations in the Fatigued Driver BASIC: driver's record of duty status is not current and a log violation in general form and manner...  When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rolled out its Compliance, Safety, Accountability program in late 2010, a number of carriers were surprised to find a poorer safety rating than they enjoyed under the old SafeStat. Fortunately, for many fleets, the areas where their safety ratings have taken the biggest hit are also areas that are among the easiest to fix, and a variety of technology vendors offer products to help... For instance, if a manager knows that driver A speeds consistently he presents a risk, even if he hasn't been pulled over by law enforcement yet. The same goes for the driver who shows a high level of hard-braking incidents or one who can't keep his logbook straight...


* Michigan - Road Safety Agency Is Urged to Add Expertise in Electronics Systems

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images - Last February, a Toyota technician in California repaired a Camry recalled over the possibility of a sticky accelerator pedal)
Detroit,MICH,USA -The New York Times, by BILL VLASIC -January 18, 2012:  --  A branch of the National Academy of Sciences reported Wednesday that federal safety regulators lack the expertise to monitor vehicles with increasingly sophisticated electronics...  With electronics systems becoming more complex, the agency needs to “gain a stronger understanding” of both the hardware and computer software that automakers are installing in their latest models, the group said...  The National Academy of Sciences was asked to review procedures at N.H.T.S.A. after the agency’s investigation of unintended acceleration of Toyota vehicles and a possible link to electronic-control systems. The Japanese automaker recalled more than eight million vehicles worldwide in 2009 and 2010 to fix sticky accelerator pedals or replace faulty floor mats that Toyota had claimed could cause unintended acceleration...  Members of the science committee said that despite its shortcomings, the safety agency had done all that it was capable of doing to determine why Toyotas were suddenly accelerating out of control and causing serious accidents. They concluded that the agency had correctly closed its investigation after failing to find evidence of defects in Toyota’s electronic throttle systems...


* Trying to Nudge Drowsy Drivers

(Photo: As an option in its 2013 Fusion and Explorer, Ford will offer a technology package intended to keep cars in the center of their lanes on the road)
 New York,NY,USA -The New York Times, by Randall Stross -January 21, 2012: -- A driverless car is not yet ready for the market. But in the meantime, automakers are continuing to market some components of one. The Ford Motor Company announced last month that it would offer “lane-keeping technology” as an option for its 2013 Ford Fusion and Ford Explorer...  When lane-keeping technology works, it can save lives. But it is suited only for certain road conditions, and there are reasons to doubt that it will activate as consistently as it should... Ford’s technology relies on a camera mounted to the rear-view mirror. When the system is switched on and the vehicle is traveling more than 40 miles per hour, it will use the road’s lane markings to sense veering near one edge of the lane or the other. If the turn signal is off, the system will assume that the drift is unintentional and will send a vibration to the steering wheel as a warning...   If the driver doesn’t correct the drift, the software is then supposed to engage the power steering and turn the car back toward the center of the lane...  When all goes well, this will be flat-out wonderful. But the camera may have difficulty detecting the lane markings — when the sun is at a low angle, for example, or during heavy rainfall or on curves. If it fails to see the markings, it simply remains dormant... 
(Photo: The “Driver Alert System” will warn drivers if it detects a weaving pattern associated with drowsiness)

Ford’s new technology package also includes what it calls a “Driver Alert System,” which will provide warnings when the software detects a pattern of driving associated with drowsiness, such as weaving within the lane boundaries... As humans, we have one thing that works in our favor while driving: we are more likely to handle unexpected events successfully than the software in an autonomous car...

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posted by Unknown @ 11:41 AM  0 comments

Dec 7, 2011

SAFETY OPERATION * Europe

* Almost 2,500 trucks taken off the road


(Photo from Associated Press - Trucks and buses in Europe roadway) 

London,EN,UK -HGV UK -December 1, 2011:  --  A week-long police safety operation across Europe has led to the removal from the road of some 2,419 trucks for dangerous defects. The action followed checks of more than 183,000 trucks across 26 countries on 10-16 October...  Co-ordinated by TISPOL, the European Traffic Police Network, the operation saw police carrying out a wide range of safety inspections that focused on speeding, alcohol, drugs, seatbelt use, tachograph infringements, excess weight, dangerous loading and document offences...  A total of 41,379 offences were reported, including the following:

· 477 drivers for alcohol and drug offences
· 9,237 offences of exceeding the speed limit
· 9,925 instances of drivers exceeding their maximum permitted time at the wheel
· 2,247 overweight trucks and 1,582 insecure loads. Of the 2,419 trucks prohibited from continuing their journeys, most were because of technical defects on the vehicles
· A number of countries also carried out checks for illegal immigration and people trafficking, as well as the transporting of illegal drugs, firearms and stolen goods. A total of 71 crimes were detected for these activities including 10 for illegal immigration, eight for illegal drugs, two for firearms offences and seven for stolen goods.

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posted by Unknown @ 5:56 AM  0 comments

Jun 3, 2011

Roadcheck 2011 * USA - To focus on HOS violations

Washington,DC,USA -Land Line Magazine -June 1, 2011: -- Each year, approximately 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial and federal inspectors at 1,500 locations across North America perform the truck and bus inspections...   Roadcheck 2011 is the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 72-hour safety blitz. CVSA sponsors Roadcheck with participation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico)... Considering that 70 percent of HOS violations are “form and manner” violations, this would be a good week to take a long hard look at your logbooks. The CVSA annual Roadcheck safety blitz will focus its enforcement on HOS and logbook violations next week, June 7-9... Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world, with approximately 14 trucks or buses being inspected, on average, every minute from Canada to Mexico during a 72-hour period...

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posted by Unknown @ 2:58 PM  0 comments

Dec 8, 2010

TECHNO CONTROLS * Canada - Patrol Vehicle Mounted Thermal Inspection System

Mobile system provides CVE inspectors with instant roadside inspection capabilities optimized for safety pre-screening

Edmonton,Canada -Intelligent Imaging Systems Inc. (PR) -6 Dec 2010: -- The Patrol Vehicle Mounted Thermal Inspection System (PVMTIS) is the first of its kind available to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) market. The PVMTIS is designed and engineered exclusively to meet the requirements of CVE operations...  The ruggedized mobile system provides CVE inspectors with instant roadside inspection capabilities optimized for safety pre-screening. In addition to providing an economic alternative to full-sized inspection systems, the PVMTIS also offers the versatility of being redeployed for night-time driver safety or for search and surveillance operations...

- Thermal inspection systems: Designed with the roadside in mind. No other organization in the world has deployed more Thermal Inspection Systems for highway safety than IIS. We have an expertise and track record that you can trust to deliver the most effective inspection systems available in the marketplace.

- Infrared Inspection System (IRIS): Employs a military class thermal imager with industry leading functionality and sensitivity so that officers can quickly and accurately identify specific equipment malfunctions on passing vehicles in multiple deployment formats. IRIS components are certified from -30 C (-22 F) to 170 C (338 F) and stressed to withstand 2G constant vibrations and 5G impact force. Advanced software interfaces and communication systems support coordinated enforcement efforts and remote deployment operations.

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posted by Unknown @ 9:36 AM  0 comments

Oct 19, 2010

TRUCKS' CONTROL * USA - Fewer trucks removed for defective brakes

More inspections uncovered fewer brake defects during Brake Safety Week this year


Greenbelt,MD,USA -CVSA -October 18, 2010: -- The number of vehicles inspected during Operation Air Brake’s Brake Safety Week reached a high this year while also showing a drop in the number of out-of-service defects for brake components and overall out-of-service defects, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced Oct. 15... Overall, 30,472 vehicles were inspected, the record since the program started in 1998 and up from 26,630 inspections in 2009. Also, 2,717 vehicles were placed out of service for brake adjustments (8.9 percent in 2010, 9 percent in 2009); 2,435 vehicles were placed out of service for brake components (8 percent in 2010, 9.2 percent in 2009); and 4,117 vehicles were placed out for brakes (13.5 percent in 2010, 15.1 percent in 2009)... Brake Safety Week is a component of the Operation Air Brake campaign, an ongoing effort of an international truck and bus brake safety program dedicated to improving commercial vehicle brake safety throughout North America. Brake Safety Week took place Sept. 12-18 across North America...

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posted by Unknown @ 5:22 AM  0 comments

Jun 10, 2010

Political Greed * USA - Trucking CSA 2010 Big Money Maker for States

The upcoming safety initiative for the trucking industry, CSA 2010 is beginning to show signs of becoming a big money maker for the States

Dunnellon,FL,USA -Ask the Trucker, by Allen Smith -June 3, 2010: ... According to a report received from a driver, a Georgia state officer was reported as saying that the State of Georgia is currently in the process of hiring and training 200 – 300 law enforcement officers that will perform DOT inspections on truck drivers when trucks are pulled over for any type of violation within the CSA 2010 safety analysis... Due to the recession, many municipalities experienced cutting back on police officers and other law enforcement personnel due to city, county and state budgets. Thanks to the new safety plan for the trucking industry, it appears states are beginning to see a huge windfall of income... If the state of Georgia can come up with enough money to hire, train and pay for 200 – 300 more officers, then they must be looking at CSA 2010 on paying the bill. Of course, who will really be paying the bill are the truck drivers and the motor carriers... (Photo from adslogistics: CSA2010)


* CVSA Roadcheck Targets Unsafe Trucks, Drivers

Washington,DC,USA -The Journal of Commerce Online, by William B. Cassidy -Jun 7, 2010: -- More than 70,000 trucks to be inspected June 8-10 in federal, state safety blitz... Tens of thousands of trucks and buses will be stopped for safety inspections by state police this week in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Roadcheck... Starting Tuesday, state, federal and provincial truck inspectors will begin pulling trucks and drivers considered likely to be a safety threat off the road for inspections... Those truckers and their vehicles will be put through North American Standard Level I inspections and other roadside enforcement checks to put unsafe vehicles out of service... Last year, nearly 10,000 inspectors checked more than 72,000 trucks and buses, putting 57,000 through comprehensive NAS Level I inspections, CVSA said...

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posted by Unknown @ 6:33 AM  0 comments

Oct 18, 2009

Ticketing Truckers * USA - 5'3 officer takes on

Specialized in enforcing speed limits for commercial vehicles


(Photo by Steven Mayer / The Californian Reno, Nev.-based trucker Dan Hays didn't argue when CHP Officer Carrie Creel cited him for speeding on Highway 58. "It's our own fault when we get pulled over," Hays said)

Bakersfield,CAL,USA -The Bakersfield, by STEVEN MAYER -Oct 17 2009: -- One moment she was talking about the joys and challenges of being a professional cop, the next she was cranking a hard U-turn across the dirt median of Highway 58, hitting the gas on her souped-up Crown Vic and accelerating quickly to 110 mph... She may be only 5 feet 3 inches tall. And she writes more tickets than any other CHPer in town... California Highway Patrol Officer, Carrie Creel, specializes in enforcing speed limits for commercial vehicles -- and she's very good at her job, say her superiors in the CHP's Bakersfield office, including ranking officer Capt. Brian Smith...


(Photo by Steven Mayer / The Californian CHP Officer Carrie Creel uses her visual abilities and training to spot speeders headed in the opposite direction. She also uses the radar gun mounted on the left side of the dash to "lock in" their exact speed, which is displayed on the readout in front of her)

CHP officers in Bakersfield typically write between 900 and 1,100 speeding tickets a year, said CHP Sgt. Larry McGuire. In 2008, Creel handed out 2,369 citations for excessive speed, mostly to truck drivers barreling down Highway 58 with 70,000 pounds of cargo on their tail.

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posted by Unknown @ 7:02 AM  0 comments

Jul 1, 2009

"Risk Register" * Ireland - Gardai to target rogue operators

Haulage companies that continually flout the road safety rules, are to be targeted by the Gardai, it has been confirmed

Dublin,Ireland -HGV -22 June 2009: -- ... Speaking last week at a Road Safety Conference in Dublin, Superintendent, Declan O'Brien, of the Garda Traffic Bureau said the checkpoints mounted on main roads at peak times earlier in the year had identified rogue operators who have been placed on what he termed a "risk register"... Several haulage companies had committed multiple road transport offences and would in future be targeted, he said... Under an initiative launched earlier this year, gardaí, members of the RSA, the HSA and Customs officials have been targeting commercial vehicles to ensure compliance... (Picture from heavyhaulageireland)

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posted by Unknown @ 4:33 PM  0 comments