Check wheel/ rim fasteners

• The wheel nut does not fully engage the thread of the wheel stud or the fitting of the wheel nut does not match the taper of the wheel stud hole;

• Any hub has missing, cracked, stripped or broken wheel mounting nuts, studs or bolts;

• Fasteners are not of the correct type for the wheel being used or allow a rim to slip on its spider.

Safety Belts Save Lives and Dollars

• In 2003, safety belts saved society an estimated $63 billion in medical care, lost productivity, and other injury-related costs. In this same year, the needless deaths and injuries from safety belt nonuse caused an estimated $18 billion in economic costs to society.

• It is estimated safety belts saved more than 14,900 lives in the United States in 2003. Yet, during this same year, 56 percent of passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were unrestrained. If all passenger vehicle occupants (over 4 years old) wore safety belts, more than 6,000 additional lives could have been saved.

• Research has shown that lap/shoulder belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. For light-truck occupants, safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury by 60 percent and moderate-to-critical injury by 65 percent.

Check headlights

• Headlight reflector is tarnished or peeling to the extent that headlight performance is impaired;

• Headlight lens is cracked or broken;

• Headlight assembly is not secured or is out of position;

• Headlight does not show while light.

Visually inspect externally mounted containers

• On vehicles less than 4.5 tonnes tare mass or where the chassis has 600mm ground clearance or less:

• the tank, or any tank component, has less than 200mm ground clearance;

• the tank, or any tank component, is not a minimum 200mm inboard of the original equipment bumper bars (measured on the centreline of the vehicle);

Check steering components inside cabin

• Steering wheel is not located in the centre or to the right hand side of the vehicle unless specifically authorised in writing by the State or Territory licensing authority and the vehicle is less than 15 years old;

• steering wheel is loose on the shaft;

• The steering column is insecure;

• The steering wheel structure is fractured or the hub, rim or spokes are loose.

Check air compressor/vacuum pump

• The air compressor or vacuum pump has loose mounting bolts, or cracked or broken mounting brackets, braces or adaptors, or is inoperative;

• Drive pulleys are cracked, broken or loose;

• Drive belts are loose, cracked through to reinforcing plies, extensively frayed or missing drive sections.

Driver Alertness Indication System (DAISY) – TRB IDEA Program

This project conducted an initial development and assessment of Sphericon’s (Israel) innovative concept for detecting driver inattentiveness based on steering system dynamics, the separation of driver action from the effects of the external world on the vehicle’s lateral motion and using that relationship to evaluate driver alertness. Driver action is weighed against the effect of disturbances (bumps and road imperfections, wind gusts, etc.) on lateral motion of the vehicle, a good measure as to the alertness or attentiveness of the driver.

Restrict passengers

Teen passengers in a vehicle can distract a beginning driver and/or lead to greater risk-taking.Because young drivers often transport their friends, there’s a teen passenger problem as well as a teen driver problem. About 6 of every 10 teenage passenger deaths (59%) during 2003 occurred in crashes with a teen driver. While night driving with passengers is particularly lethal, many fatal crashes with teen passengers occur during the day.The best policy is to restrict teenage passengers, especially multiple teens, all the time.

Proper Recording - Critical Information

In addition to identifying the responsible motor carrier, it is critical to accurately record the USDOT number, the complete name and/or DBA “doing business as” name of the carrier and the carrier’s complete physical address (not PO Box). All three pieces of information are extremely important. Many carriers around the country have the same or similar names. Additionally, multiple names can legally appear on the vehicle. As a result, any recording errors or ommisions are difficult to accurately resolve with incomplete information. See examples below

Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010

The purpose of the CSA 2010 initiative is to develop more effective and efficient methods for FMCSA, together with industry and state partners, to achieve its mission of reducing commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crashes, fatalities, and injuries.

Key Features of CSA 2010 are to:

• Increase the opportunity to have contact with more carriers and drivers;

• Use more and better data to improve performance measurements for identifying high risk carrier and driver behaviors; and

• Apply a wide range of interventions to correct these high risk behaviors before they become chronic and habitual.

If you have any questions or comments about the CSA 2010 initiative, please send us your feedback.

Graduated Licensing Can Help

Teenagers perceive a driver’s license as a ticket to freedom.It’s momentous for parents, too. Though they are oftenaware of 16-year-olds’ high crash risks, they’re relieved not to have to chauffeur their children around anymore. But the price is steep. Crashes are the leading cause of death among American teens, accounting for more than one third of all deaths of 16- to 18-year-olds.

An effective way to reduce this toll is to enact graduated licensing, under which driving privileges are phased in to restrict beginners’ initial experience behind the wheel to lower-risk situations. The restrictions gradually are lifted, so teenagers are more experienced and mature when they get their full, unrestricted licenses.

Graduated systems that are well designed restrict night driving, limit teen passengers, set zero alcohol tolerance, and require a specified amount of supervised practice during the initial phase. Graduated licensing laws have reduced teens’ crash rates in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand. But not all States have such laws, and the laws aren’t all strong.

Full Value Protection

Under Full Value Protection, your mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods in your entire shipment. This is the more comprehensive plan available for the protection of your belongings. Unless you select the alternative level of of liability described below—Released Value—your mover will transport your shipment under the Full Value Protection level of liability. If any article is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover's custody, your mover will, at its discretion, offer to do one of the following for each item:

• the item

• Replace with a similar item

• Make a cash settlement for the cost of the repair or the current market replacement value

Under this option, movers are permitted to limit their liability for loss or damage to articles of extraordinary value, unless you specifically list these articles on the shipping documents. An article of extraordinary value is any item whose value exceeds $100 per pound (i.e., jewelry, silverware, china, furs, antiques). Ask your mover for a written explanation of this limitation before your move.

The exact cost for Full Value Protection varies by mover and may be subject to various deductible levels of liability that may reduce your cost. Ask your mover for written details of their Full Value Protection plan.

Thermal Imaging Inspection System

FMCSA has launched a project to demonstrate a thermal imaging inspection system (TIIS) that leverages state-of-the-art thermal imagery technology, integrated with signature recognition software, in order to provide the capability to identify in real-time faults and impending failures in tires, brakes, and bearings mounted on large trucks and motor coaches. A two-year research grant was awarded to International Electronic Machines Corporation for $1.4 million to conduct the TIIS project, as directed by Congress under Section 5513(a) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) Act of 2005.

The project will be conducted in a field environment along the interstate highway to further assess the system ability to identify commercial motor vehicle (CMV) component faults and failures. A predictive tool that identifies impending tire, brake, or bearing failures and provides a timeframe in which these failures may occur will be developed and integrated into the TIIS. This project will also assess technological enhancements in the capabilities of thermal imaging systems, as related to the Agency prior research of infrared technology conducted six years ago.

Driver Fatigue Alertness Technology (DFAT) – SBIR, Phase I

Based on a review of the commercially available systems and the limitations of the current systems, FMCSA initiated additional research to improve in-vehicle alertness monitoring. This study, which is being conducted through FMCSA’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program, will develop a device to improve alertness monitoring. FMCSA anticipates the integration and/or selection of these research efforts will produce a device that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with all drivers. The goal is to develop a fully functional device that will monitor and warn as well as educate drivers when they have become too impaired to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely.

Check fuel tanks and system for leaks (nonLPG/CNG)

1. Any leakage from the fuel system;
2. Fuel lines are in contact with moving parts or a heat source, are kinked, cracked or not secure;
3. Fuel tanks are not securely mounted, straps, supports, mounting brackets or fasteners are missing, cracked, broken or loose;
4. Fuel filler cap is missing or not suitable for the type of tank;
5. Fuel filler cap seal is damaged or missing.
   

Full Value Protection

Under Full Value Protection, your mover is liable for the replacement value of lost or damaged goods in your entire shipment. This is the more comprehensive plan available for the protection of your belongings. Unless you select the alternative level of of liability described below—Released Value—your mover will transport your shipment under the Full Value Protection level of liability. If any article is lost, destroyed or damaged while in your mover's custody, your mover will, at its discretion, offer to do one (1) of the following for each item:

• Repair the item
  
• Replace with a similar item
• Make a cash settlement for the cost of the repair or the current market replacement value

Under this option, movers are permitted to limit their liability for loss or damage to articles of extraordinary value, unless you specifically list these articles on the shipping documents. An article of extraordinary value is any item whose value exceeds $100 per pound (i.e., jewelry, silverware, china, furs, antiques). Ask your mover for a written explanation of this limitation before your move.The exact cost for Full Value Protection varies by mover and may be subject to various deductible levels of liability that may reduce your cost. Ask your mover for written details of their Full Value Protection plan.