CUMBERLAND NEWS

The addition of four commonly prescribed opioids to the DOT drug testing panel effective January 1, 2018, has left some drivers and carriers with unanswered questions, especially when the Medical Review Officer (MRO) calls into question a driver's fitness for duty....

Prescription Drugs and Commercial Motor Vehicle Operation Do Not Always Mix Our society continues to be challenged with opioid overdoses. As managers of commercial drivers, we need to be aware of the medications our drivers are taking as they may have a direct effect...

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has issued a final rule requiring State Driver Licensing Agencies to implement a system and practices for the exclusively electronic exchange of driver history record information through the Commercial Driver’s License...

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) Analysis & Information (A&I) online data, the top three hazardous materials regulations violations so far this year are as follows: Package not secure in vehicle (177.834(a)) No copy of...

We are now in the middle of work zone season and you cannot drive anywhere without experiencing a work zone. As traffic volumes begin rebounding as COVID-19 lockdown orders are relaxed, renewed emphasis is being placed on highway work zone safety especially as higher...

A warning letter is your chance to improve your safety performance and compliance without further intervention from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Read the letter carefully because it identifies your company’s specific safety performance and...

Drivers should be especially cautious of construction zones this summer. States are making a concentrated effort to raise the awareness of the dangers in these zones. Here are some safety tips you can share with your drivers regarding construction zones: SLOW DOWN and...

This crazy weather continues this year and the heat is setting record temperatures across North America. What are you doing to protect your employees from heat stroke and exhaustion? These conditions are created when our body is unable to regulate our heat production...

A proper pre-trip on ThermoKing and Carrier units is the start to Loading Best Practices: Initiate an automatic pretrip to identify any operational concerns while the reefer cycles through all its modes. Do not load truck/trailer if alarm codes indicate service is...

When issues with your A/C system begin to occur internally, your truck will give you some warning signs. Listen to your truck and invest the time now to avoid spending more time in the shop later on. If you experience one or more of the following, you should have your...

FOR MANY, THE HEAT HAS BEEN HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME With much of the U.S. experiencing unprecedented heat and drought, you’ll want to consider the following precautions to beat the heat while on the road during these hot summer months. Stay Hydrated: It’s easy to...

June 1st was the official start date of the 2021 hurricane season that runs through November 30th. If we have learned anything from prior storms, preparation is critical. Now is the time to re-evaluate emergency plans and update as needed. The information below should...

Safe driving requires a combination of good vision, adequate visual field, ability to spread attention over the field of view, and motor skills. While protecting your eyes from UV is important, let’s not forget about how well you need to be able to see overall. ...

Thanks to eyeandhealth.com, we found the below information to be extremely helpful to protect yourself from harmful UV rays. During the summer there is usually emphasis on protecting your skin from UV rays. But you shouldn’t forget about protecting your eyes—exposure...

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provided a three-month extension to several emergency waivers enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Declaration and license and medical-card waivers were due to expire on May 31, 2021, after...

This year's Brake Safety Week is scheduled for August 22-28, according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The enforcement campaign is a part of the larger Brake Safety Awareness Month, which takes place in August. During CVSA's annual enforcement event,...

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance has issued an Inspection Bulletin to assist roadside inspectors in identifying motor carriers.  The bulletin discusses use of documents and driver interviews to ensure that the inspection report, and any violations, are...

When is the last time you looked inside the cab, body, or trailer of the trucks that your drivers are operating? Over the years of inspecting and looking inside commercial motor vehicles for the companies I have worked for, I have seen the following items inside...

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...