Idealease Idealsafe Safety Bulletin - April 3rd, 2020

Read and share the latest Idealease Safety Bulletin, "Thank you All" for important facts and safety tips for your fleet. Plus, find additional information on National Work Zone Awareness Week, along with tips for driving safely in work zones. 

VIEW AND DOWNLOAD the complete PDF version of this April 3rd Idealease Safety Bulletin below. Be sure to SIGN UP to receive these fleet safety tips directly to your email inbox each week or check back regularly for new updates to help keep you and your team informed and compliant. 

Find information and details on the following items in this week's edition:

1. THANK YOU ALL - Just a quick note of full appreciation to everyone on the front lines, potentially exposing themselves to this deadly virus.  Our customers, dealerships and suppliers all make it possible. 

• Thank you to all! It takes ALL of us together to make sure the supply chain stays intact and our citizens receive the lifesaving essentials they need. 
  1.  All the drivers picking up medical waste, delivering necessary food and supplies across the country
  2.  Technicians and Service Managers keeping trucks repaired and maintained
  3.  Suppliers who keep manufacturing plants up and running to produce the items we need as well as necessary parts for services and repairs
  4. Local vendors making roadside calls, replacing tires and towing units as breakdowns occur
  5. Everyone behind the scenes maintaining services and support without skipping a beat for our locations and customers that need us
     
     

2. National Work Zone Awareness Week April 20-24: Visit http://www.nwzaw.org/  for more information 

10 Tips for Driving Safely in Work Zones

• EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! Pay attention to reduced speed limits, changing traffic lanes and workers in or around the roadways. 
• SLOW DOWN! Speeding is one of the major causes of work zone crashes.
• KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE CAR AHEAD OF YOU. The most common crash in a highway work zone is the rear end collision. Don't tailgate!
• KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOUR VEHICLE AND THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT.
• PAY ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS! The warning signs are there to help you and other drivers move safely through the work zone.
• OBEY ROAD CREW FLAGGERS! The flagger knows what is best for moving traffic safely and has the same authority as a regulatory sign. You can be cited for disobeying his/her directions.
• STAY ALERT AND MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS! Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and the work zone 
• KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW. Maintain traffic flow and posted speeds by merging as soon as possible. Don't drive right up to the lane closure and then try cut over. 
• SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIME TO DRIVE SAFELY AND CHECK RADIO, TV AND WEBSITES FOR TRAFFIC INFORMATION. Expect delays and leave early so you can reach your destination on time.
• BE PATIENT AND STAY CALM.  Work zones exist to improve the road and make your future drive better.
• Keep in mind that most States have a 511 Road condition app that you can download to your smart device.

3. CVSA Publishes 2020 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC)

• The OOSC is the decision-making guide officers use to determine if a driver or vehicle with a violation will be allowed to leave the inspection site. If the violation is covered by the OOSC, the officer will require the violation to be corrected before the driver or vehicle will be allowed to continue.
• Many technical changes this year, including these (most significant):
  1. Drivers that have a disqualifying violation listed in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse will be placed out of service (OOS)*
  2. All references to automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRDs) were removed. Drivers will be placed OOS if found using an AOBRD in place of an ELD. While this has been the case since last December, dropping all AOBRD references clearly shows ELDs are the only compliant electronic log (though drivers do have the option to use other electronic devices when allowed to use paper logs).
  3. Drivers who do not have a log in Canada will no longer automatically be placed OOS for 72 hours. Once drivers provide a log that shows they comply, they will be released. Note that drivers should be prepared to have their logs examined with a fine-tooth comb after receiving a violation.
  4. Defects involving sway bars that are not involved in axle positioning are no longer an OOS violation. Any missing or unsecured securement devices on the manhole cover on a tank containing hazardous materials will be considered an OOS condition.

*Clearinghouse specifics
When a disqualifying entry is entered in the Clearinghouse, an entry stating that the driver is prohibited from operating commercial vehicles under §382.501(a) will appear on the motor vehicle record (MVR) system that officers use. The entry will remain visible in the law enforcement MVRs until:

• The driver completes the substance abuse professional (SAP) evaluation and treatment process,
• The SAP enters the completion of the evaluation and treatment in the Clearinghouse, and

A carrier makes an entry in the Clearinghouse indicating the driver has passed a return-to-duty test.

No 'soft enforcement' period
The changes to the OOSC were developed last year, and officers were trained on using the new criteria earlier this year. As a result, there will be no "implementation" or "soft enforcement" period.

Check back each week for more safety tips - or sign up to receive them automatically. Please visit our Idealease Truck Rental and Leasing pages to learn more about the McCandless Idealease services we provide, as well as information on how we are supporting you during this challenging time. Thank you and stay safe!