CSA(Compliance,
Safety, Accountability) inspection is carried out by a DOT( Department of
transportation) FMCSA inspector. These roadside
inspections along with other data like crash reports and previous DOT
audits or interventions collected over a period of 24 months allow for DOT enforcement.
ELD - Electronic Logging Device
Considering we have evolved to a digital world, it comes as
no surprise to American truckers that paper logs are currently taking a turn
towards digital logs. An ELD (electronic logging device), popularly known as an
eLog, is the current technology being adopted by numerous truckers as well as
truck companies. Although this new technology comes with several advantages, it
also comes with some disadvantages. Below are some of the ELDs pros and cons:
Pros
Accuracy
ELDs, which are GPS enabled, keep a log of the time a driver
has been driving, the speed they move, and the time they go through a weigh
station or stop as they wait to load. Considering this, part of the paperwork
that the driver had to fill in is removed helping both fleet owners and dispatchers
trust the data received from the electronic devices. Additionally, it helps
relieve drivers from falsifying logs and exceeding their driving hours.
Hours of service
(HOS) are tracked easily
Considering the electronic gadget keeps a log of the time spent
driving, rather than the drivers focusing on the time logs, they can pay
attention to the hauled freight keeping their eyes on the road. In addition,
much time is saved, as the drivers do not have to wait for the approval of
their paperwork after offloading or picking a load.
Compliance checks are
faster
ELDs make it easier and faster for enforcement officials to
make sure that drivers adhere to rules thus quickly getting them back on the
road.
Quicker and accurate
paychecks
Since data is electronically sent, fleet operators can
quickly process it and pay the drivers quicker as well. Moreover, given that
the data provided by the devices are accurate, the time used to prepare
paychecks caused by disputes decreases.
Ease of the truck
driver’s families
Considering the electronic devices are GPS-enabled, families
of the driver can log on a site to track the driver’s safety, and when he or
she is expected back home.
Cons
Expensive
Compared to paper logs, digital logs are costly to install
and particularly in the case where compliance with the ELD mandate of a more
massive fleet is involved. Besides, in the case where older trucks have to
comply with the mandate, retrofitting becomes much more expensive.
Learning curve for
Electronic Logging Devices
Due to technology’s involvement, the enforcement personnel,
fleet operators, dispatchers, and most importantly professional drivers will
have to go through a learning curve of the ELDs. Consequently, this means that
much time and cost will have to be incurred during the process. Other than
learning how these devices work, drivers will also be required to learn how to
troubleshoot them in case an issue such as losing GPS connection arises.
Loss of privacy
Since the electric devices are GPS-enabled, drivers are highly
likely to experience an invasion of their privacy considering that trips are
monitored and logged by both fleet operators and the enforcement personnel.
During their working hours, ELDs track their move within a mile’s radius and a 10-mile
radius while off duty.
How To Be Successful As An Over The Road (OTR) Semi-Truck Driver
As an OTR semi-truck driver, living on the road becomes part
of your life—it just goes without saying. However, not all drivers get the
transient lifestyle effect, just the ones traveling outside their home-base
range; long-haul OTR semi-truck drivers. Being the case, living on the road
comes together with its own set of challenges. A good way to summarize the
challenges semi-truck drivers have to go through over the road is the challenge
of keeping up their life’s balance. There are numerous things these drivers try
fitting in their lives, businesswise and personally. They have to fit in their
leisure activities, exercises, time with their families, and the long hours
they have to spend on the road to complete the required job. In short, a
semi-truck driver’s life over the road can be a huge act of balance.
With that in mind, here are a few ways that an OTR
semi-truck driver can be successful:
Maintaining a
Schedule Regularly
Considering the job can demand close to 18-20 hours a day
for an OTR driver, a big advantage brought forth by the ELDs is promoting the
driver’s quality of life over the road. If properly used by the driver, he or
she can rather enjoy a relaxed road schedule. The semi-truck driver can attempt
to match their routines closer to their home schedule, or as close to normal as
possible. He or she can keep a regular sleeping schedule, meal, some leisure
time, and exercise on every possible occasion. While off duty, he or she can
try keeping up with the regular schedule they made.
Planning a Trip
As an OTR semi-truck driver, it is advisable to do some
planning, before embarking on any trip. Before dispatch even allocates you with
a load, you should look at the distance of the trip, and schedule expected
delivery. By so doing, you can work on some calculations such as the time it
will take you driving, sleeping time, meal and fuel stops, as well as any other
unexpected delays, to ensure that you have more than enough time to make the
expected delivery. In the case, the schedule appears to be reasonable enough;
you can then accept the load. In case it appears unreasonable, endure that any
issues with the delivery schedule are addressed immediately given that logging
in the trip legally is essential.
After reviewing the delivery schedule and you find it
satisfactory, make sure that you plan for sleep and meal spots, and check the
route’s weather as well. On addressing all these things, you can be sure that
the trip will go smoothly thus relieving you of any stress beforehand.
Long Haul Trucking
OTR trucking has an advantage when it comes to jobs
entailing short haul driving. In such cases, the time taken to load packages is
shorter, and the incomes more since OTR semi-truck drivers are usually paid per
each mile. However, this is not the case when it comes to long-haul trucking.
However, as mentioned earlier on, it is essential that long-haul OTR semi-truck
drivers come up with a balance in their day-to-day routines.
Information Sourced by : http://mgrfreightsystem.net/
Information Sourced by : http://mgrfreightsystem.net/
How To Exercise On The Road/In The Truck
The United States Labour Department recently conducted a
study and found that the largest occupations in the country were truck drivers,
who account for approximately 3.2 million people. In just about every form of
commerce, truck drivers play a significant role, from delivering mail to
packages and food, to trucks and cars. Truck drivers, and especially the long
haul ones, spend much time in trucks, spending close to 11-12 hours on the road
each day. Being the case, exercising on the road or in the truck can be a good
break; one that can yield fruitful results physically. Below are some exercises
a truck driver can easily do while or the road or in their trucks:
Hand Stretch
Considering the time truckers spend steering across the
nation or around and within towns, their hands, and fingers may begin feeling
painful or stiff to move once they are off the road. As such, using hand
stretches can help you decrease the pain as well as reduce the risk of chronic
diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis. During heavy traffic, you
can circularly rotate your wrist; either to your right or left. Additionally,
by the fingertips of one hand on top of the steering wheel, you can easily
stretch your wrist. By pressing your weight gently into your hand and holding
for a minute or so, you can stretch your hand and do so with the other hand as
well.
Abdominal Crunch
While you are on the road, you can also build up your
abdominals. You can do so by squeezing the muscles of your abdominals and
holding them for some time. For instance, hold the muscles for an entire news
report or song duration. Optionally, in the case you are unable to do so for
that long, you can purpose to squeeze your abdominal muscles for approximately
a minute or two. You can do this repeatedly while at a red light or each song
that plays on the radio.
Planks
Plank exercises can be easily done with drivers whose trucks
have a sleeper cabin during their break. Through this exercises, you can make
your back stronger by strengthening you are not only your core muscle but also
your leg and arm muscles. Anywhere you can find some space; you can begin this
exercise by getting on your knees and hands. With your palms in a downwards
position since your hands and forearms are on the ground, you can kick your
legs backward so that your toes receive all your weight. A straight line ought
to be maintained by your body while you hold the position for at least a minute
or two.
Shoulder Shrugs
Through the shoulder shrug exercise, your body can be
relieved of the tension and stress from the area of your shoulders. You can
easily do this while in traffic, or during your dinner or lunch break. For this
exercise, lift up your shoulders in a manner suggesting the ‘I do not know’
body language. Hold your shoulders up for a minute or two then back down and
perform it repeatedly as you drive or whenever you feel some stress or
tension.
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