Important Changes and Information from the FMCSA

Get Ready for RoadCheck 2020  – September 9 -11 Focus on Driver Qualifications

In 2019, three of the most common driver violations during Roadcheck were due to CDL licensing issues – with drivers operating with the wrong license class and either suspended or expired licenses. Over 25 percent of these drivers were placed out of service.

As we prepare for Roadcheck 2020, with its focus on driver compliance, making sure your drivers are operating with a valid CDL is extremely important. This, along with checking drivers’ medical cards status, records of duty status and evidence of impairment (among other things) will play an even larger role in the CVSA inspection process.

Drivers who are found to be operating non-compliantly, or who are operating a truck with safety issues, may be placed out-of-service immediately following the inspection. Last year, 17.9% of vehicles and 4.2% of drivers were placed out of service because of critical violations.

Clearinghouse Checks during Roadside Inspections

A driver found to be operating in a prohibited status should be cited for a violation of 49 CFR Part 390.3 – Prohibited from performing safety-sensitive functions per 382.501(a) in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Prior to April 1, 2020, if a driver is found to be operating in a prohibited status, the inspector should cite a violation under 49 CFR Part 390.3 and forward a copy of the inspection report to their local FMCSA office for follow-up action. On and after April 1, 2020, this violation will be an out-of-service condition in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria and the driver will be placed out of service if found in a prohibited status. For further information, go to FMCSA Clearinghouse

New Hours of Service starting September 28, 2020

The four key changes to HOS regulations are outlined below.

• The Agency will increase safety and flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by requiring a break after 8 hours of consecutive driving and allowing the break to be satisfied by a driver using on-duty, not driving status, rather than off-duty status.
• The Agency will modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10 hours off duty into two periods: an 8/2 split, or a 7/3 split—with neither period counting against the driver’s 14‑hour driving window.
• The Agency will modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by two hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted.
• The Agency will change the short-haul exception available to certain (Mainly CDL holders) commercial drivers by lengthening the drivers’ maximum on‑duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles to 150 air miles.
• They are doing away with the CDL Short haul and all drivers will be able to drive in a 150 radius and have a 14 hour day, 11 of which may be used for driving.  So, basically the 11 and 14 hour rules will apply to all short haul drivers.

UCR 2021 Opens 10/1/2020

Go to ucr.gov for the Schedule and to file UCR.  Due by 12/31 2020.

Revised Federal Drug Testing Custody and Control Form (CCF)

The new CCF form has several changes, but the most important changes are listed below.

Copies 1-5, Step 1:  Added “CDL State and No.” to donor identification (FMCSA only);   Do not use Social Security number for ID number any more for CDL drivers, you will now use the CDL number and State as the identifier,  This is due to the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which uses the CDL Number and State to identify drivers.

Copy 5:  Removed instructions for completing the CCF from the back of the form. Instructions for completing the CCF are posted on the SAMHSA https://www.samhsa.gov/workplace/drug-testing and ODAPC https://www.transportation.gov/odapc/documents websites.

DOT-regulated employers and their service agents (collectors, laboratories, Medical Review Officers (MRO)) are authorized to use the revised CCF beginning September 1, 2020.

Craig Safety Technologies hopes this is helpful.  If you would like to contact us, our contact information is below.

Craig Safety Technologies Inc – 1301 Burlington, Suite 150, Kansas City, Mo 64116

913-469-1700 or email Info@craigsafety.com

www.craigsafety.com