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March 13th Idealease Safety Bulletin - CDC Issues Guidance for Business Owners Concerning Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Mar. 13 2020 Miscellaneous By Carrie LeBlanc

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The March 13th edition of the weekly Idealease Safety Bulletin has arrived! Find useful safety tips for all transportation professionals and stay up-to-date on recent updates and changes to industry regulations.  Be sure to sign up to receive our timely tips straight to your inbox each week! 

Click here to download this week's edition, or click the thumbnail below for the PDF version to share with your team! 

In this important issue, find information on the following items: 

1. Interim Guidance for Business Owners from the CDC on COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)

  • Current knowledge largely based on what is known about similar coronaviruses
  • There is much more to learn about transmission, severity, and other aspects of the virus as data is made available
  • Read more here

2.  Cleaning the inside of a truck for Coronavirus

  • Soap is considered the most effective due to its ability to break down the virus (for seats and dashboards - and it doesn't need to be antibacterial)
  • Ensure you wear disposable gloves while cleaning 
  • Pay special attention to door handles, seat belts, steering wheels, shift knobs, and other surfaces that are most commonly touched
  • Here is a list from the EPA on effective cleaners

3.  May 18-24 is National Tire Safety Week

  • "Know your Roll" - it's a good time to review the importance of pre and post trip inspections
  • Tire inspections are not only important for safe driving, but proper inflation also leads to better fuel economy
  • Tire pressures should be checked daily with a calibrated gauge
  • Watch for tire tread to see if it is wearing smoothly
  • Drivers have an enormous impact on maximizing tire mileage if inspections are performed thoroughly and regularly

4. Tire Age - is there a way to know the age of a tire?

  • Every tire begins with a US DOT ID number to indicate that the tire meets all federal standards
  • Next 2 numbers or letters are the plant code where the tire was manufactured
  • Last 4 numbers represent the week and the year the tire was built. For example, in the referenced image above 2613 would signify that the tire was made the 26th week of 2013. 
  • Other numbers are marketing codes used by the tire manufacturer - often used to contact consumers should there be a recall or tire defect of some sort. 

5. When is a tire placed out of service?

  • Appendix G of FMCSA regulations addresses tire out of service conditions for the following tire types.
  • Any Tire on any steering axle of a power unit:
  1.  Less than 4/32-inch tread
  2.  Has body ply or belt material exposed through sidewall or tread
  3.  Has tread or sidewall separation 
  4.  Has a cut where the belt material or ply is exposed
  5.  Displays a marking that would exclude use on steering axle or Labeled "Not for Highway Use"
  6. A tube-type radial tire without radial tube stems markings. These markings include a red band around the tube stem, the word “radial” embossed in metal stems, or the word “radial” molded in rubber stems. 
  7.  Mixing bias and radial tires on the same axle
  8. Tire flap protrudes through valve slot in rim and touches stem
  9. Regrooved tire except motor vehicles used solely in urban or suburban service (see exception in §393.75(e)).
  10.  Blowout patch, boot or other ply repair
  11. Weight carried exceeds tire load limit
  12. Noticeable leak or flat tire
  13. Any bus equipped with recapped or retreaded tire(s)
  14. Over inflated or improperly mounted to where it comes in contact with any other part of the vehicle
  • All tires other than those found on a steering axle of a power unit:
  1.  Weight carried exceeds tire load limit
  2. Tire is flat or has a noticeable leak
  3. Body ply or belt material is exposed through the tread or sidewall
  4.  Has any tread or sidewall separation
  5.  Has a cut where the ply or belt material is exposed
  6. Inflated or mounted to where it comes in contact with any other part of the vehicle
  7. Marked 'not for highway use' or similar
  8. Has less than 2/32-inch tread when measured at any point on a major tread groove. 

Visit https://www.idealease.com/safety-bulletins for a collection of all past bulletins and more!