CUMBERLAND NEWS

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Medical Review Board will meet via videoconference on May 19-20, 2021.  86 Fed. Reg. 23780 (May 4, 2021).  The MRB is an advisory committee to the FMCSA and provides the agency with input on current medical issues...

With ELD’s now in full swing, motor carriers feel that their hours-of-service violations have now been completely taken care of. However, there is one area of compliance that the ELD does NOT address, and that's a driver with other compensated work.  A driver with...

Canada's electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, slated to be effective on June 12, is experiencing a slight detour. The mandate will still be effective on that date, but enforcement will be delayed. On May 5, 2021, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport...

So how long do I have to keep records and documents that are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations? Answer: It depends on which documents we are talking about.  The record retention requirements vary greatly.  I have summarized the retention...

With the vaccines now in full swing, we are seeing the benefits and states and provinces are “opening” and lifting restrictions that have been in place with COVID-19.  We already have evidence that the driving habits of the general population tend to result in...

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Motorist awareness is an important component of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's comprehensive motorcycle safety program. Over two-thirds of fatal motorcycle crashes involve a motorcycle and another vehicle....

. Seat belts have been proven to be one of the best ways to save your life in a crash. Yet many still do not buckle up. Worse still, not wearing a seat belt is a habit that will pass on to impressionable youth who, in turn, will think it is safe to not buckle up....

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposes to again extend the compliance date for several provisions of its Medical Examiner's Certification Integration final rule. The compliance date for these provisions was postponed previously from June 22,...

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has scheduled Operation Safe Driver Week for July 11-17 with an emphasis on speeding. During Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement personnel will be on the lookout for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle...

The National Transportation Safety Board has updated its Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements for 2021-22. The list serves as the agency’s primary advocacy tool to help save lives, prevent injuries, and reduce property damage resulting from...

In January, the Heavy-Duty Trucking Magazine released its 2021 Economic Outlook with four items that they see will have an impact in 2021 for the trucking industry. The first one on their list is that in 2021 there will be fewer drivers available: Fewer drivers, more...

Senator Todd Young (R-IN) and a bipartisan group of seven other Senators have reintroduced the “Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy Act” or “DRIVE Safe Act,” in the Senate.  The bill would allow 18-20 year-olds to drive commercial motor vehicles...

CVSA published this tip sheet for carriers and drivers in preparation for this year’s Roadcheck that you can print off as a handout for your drivers. Question of the WeekMy driver has gone through a roadside inspection, how long do I have to keep this documentation on...

International Roadcheck Set for May 4-6 with Emphasis on Lighting and Hours of Service The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has set May 4-6 as the dates for this year’s International Roadcheck. Over that 72-hour period, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in...

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released new information related to the new entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements, set to go into effect in less than a year. With the opening of the ELDT Training Provider Registry (TPR) slated for...

The South has been inundated in the past month with unprecedented storms that have brought tornados, high winds, and torrential rains. Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, Turn Around, Don't Drown. You will not know the depth of the...

The Drivers Daily Vehicle Inspection (DVIR) is part of a driver’s daily responsibility to protect themselves, the motoring public, and the equipment they operate.  But does your driver know the difference between a “defect” and a “safety sensitive” defect? Drivers and...

Did you know your brain can miss seeing up to 50% of your driving environment when you talk on a cell phone? And that according to research, drivers talking on cell phones had slower reaction times than drivers with a .08 blood alcohol content. April is Distracted...

The COVID-19 pandemic led to several enforcement notices that extended expired medical cards and driver's licenses. The limited availability of vital services needed by motor carriers and their drivers led to the waivers released by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety...

The Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor is proposing to withdraw a Trump Administration final rule on Independent Contractor Status under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which was published on January 7, 2021 and the effective date of which is...

With Miles Driven Remarkably Down in 2020 Vehicle Fatality Deaths Have Increased Total miles traveled by motor vehicles in 2020 were down 15% compared to 2019. However, a new report found a surprising and alarming statistic: Traffic deaths rose last year by 8% over...

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has set May 4-6 as the dates for this year’s International Roadcheck. Over that 72-hour period, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct inspections on...