A few months ago I wrote a blog post about “CSA – A Work in Progress” and now I thought an update might be in order. Previously, I reported that FMCSA initiated a CSA subcommittee with the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) to address the issues being considered with CSA and its Safety Measurement System (SMS) ratings of carriers. The CSA subcommittee includes some members from MCSAC as well as other representatives from industry, safety groups, and enforcement. In April 2013, the CSA subcommittee submitted its initial report that identified some key priorities related to improving CSA and the SMS rating approach. It should be noted that no quick fixes to the issues were raised, and some recommendations mightrequire more analysis and research as well as considerable time to implement.

With the recent explosive growth of in-cab technology, our customers have begun to ask, “How much technology is too much”,” and, “How can we most effectively pinpoint and integrate the right technology to fit our unique operational needs”? The answer is simple: It’s not always about adding more technology to your fleet operations, it’s about adding the right technology.

The use of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) continues to expand as many carriers see the imperative in using these systems. While an FMCSA rulemaking for an EOBR mandate may still be a few years away from taking effect, there is much to be gained in using these systems now. A primary focus for fleets implementing EOBRs is improved hours of service (HOS) compliance and related scores in the Compliance Safety Accountability (CSA) system. Additionally, many carriers realize that their EOBR technology investments can deliver additional benefits, such as...

Hours of service changes, Safety Measurement System changes, CSA program evaluation, the EOBR mandate, and requirements for FMCSA rulemaking and studies...the never-ending list. How do you stay on top of all these industry regulations? On February 28, I had the pleasure of hosting a webinar along with my colleagues, Eric Witty and Jon Van Winkle, during which we explained how industry rules and programs may impact your business and what you can do to be prepared.

With just two years under its belt, the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) still faces a few hurdles to overcome. Some industry experts are suggesting further improvements to the new safety measures. I believe CSA is a work in progress and have captured a brief analysis below...

A couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Evan Lockridge, host of the Lockridge Report on Sirius Radio 106, about the recent Highway Funding Bill and regulations related to the implementation of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs). Evan and I spoke with his listeners about the future of EOBRs, technical challenges faced when transitioning from paper logs to EOBRs and hours of service (HOS) compliance, among other topics. Here are some of the highlights from our conversation:

I recently wrote a post giving an update on the current EOBR mandate and I’ve expanded on this topic in my new whitepaper, “Electronic Driver Logs and Hours of Service Compliance.” Below you will find the executive summary as well as the link to download the full white paper.

As you may know, Congress recently passed the federal highway bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act ("MAP-21”), that included a mandate for EOBRs. On August 15, I had the pleasure of hosting a live webinar to share information on the bill's timeline, scope, implementation, and impact and benefits to carriers and drivers, as well as the future of EOBRs. I invite you to view the recording of the webinar to learn more about the details of the mandate and to get your questions answered. If prompted, you may need to complete a registration form before accessing the recording.