Insurance BlogThursday, March 25 2021
 Orlando, Fla.—The Hours of Service regulations are issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and govern the working hours that drivers can operate commercial motor vehicles. Section 316.302, Florida Statutes provides these hours for a person who operates a commercial motor vehicle solely in intrastate commerce.
On June 1, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revised four provisions of the hours of service regulations to provide greater flexibility for drivers without adversely affecting safety. Here’s what changed Short-haul Exception Expands the short-haul exception to 150 air-miles and allows a 14-hour work shift to take place as part of the exception. Adverse Driving Conditions Exception Expands the driving window during adverse driving conditions by up to an additional 2 hours. 30-Minute Break Requirement Requires break of at least 30 consecutive minutes after 8 cumulative hours of driving time (instead of on-duty time) and allows an on-duty/not driving period to qualify as the required break. Sleeper Berth Provision Modifies the sleeper berth exception to allow a driver to meet the 10-hour minimum off-duty requirement by spending at least 7 hours of that period in the berth combined with a minimum off-duty period of at least 2 hours spent inside or outside the berth, provided the two periods total at least 10 hours. When used together as specified, neither qualify period counts against the 14-hour driving window. Before the ELD mandate (electronic logging devices), drivers used to record their hours of service on paper, and editing the records was possible. Now, after the implementation of the ELD mandate, drivers have to be very mindful of their available hours of service rules. The U.S. Department of Transportation calls sleep-deprivation a leading factor in fatal commercial vehicle accidents, which results in several deaths every year. At Orlando Truck Insurance, our goal is to provide professional insurance sales and service to Florida residents and businesses. Based in Orlando, Florida— our experienced insurance agents want to make every interaction a positive experience for our customers. As an independent insurance agency, our duty is to our clients’ best interests. As your insurance agents, our responsibility is to provide you the best service and the best coverage, at the best possible price. We have the staff, the local experience and the customer service platform to help you walk through your insurance coverage options to keep your business well protected. Call one of our truck and commercial vehicles insurance specialists today at (407) 203-7085 to get you started in the right track, we’ll be happy to assist. We are in this together! Hector Perez, Producer
Email Hector Monday, March 01 2021
 Orlando, Fla.—The Department of Transportation (DOT) conducts annual inspections of commercial motor vehicles, as well as the truck drivers, to ensure highway safety. Some things they will look at include:
US DOT violation of any kind can result in the revocation of driver privileges. This will be in place until special conditions are met. US DOT violation of any kind can result in the revocation of driver privileges. Vehicle inspections and truck maintenance can also help you control costs and keep drivers safe on the road. A properly executed vehicle inspection can help your drivers:
How can a carrier meet the annual inspection requirements? Federal safety regulations require that commercial motor vehicles operating in interstate or foreign commerce must pass an inspection at least annually. The inspection requirements may be met through periodic inspection programs administered by the states, by a self–inspection, or an inspection performed by a commercial garage or similar commercial business so long as the inspection complies with federal standards or compatible state standards. Who is qualified to conduct a self-inspection for an annual inspection? A motor carrier self–inspection must be undertaken by a qualified inspector, whether the inspector works directly for the carrier or a third party, such as a truck stop, repair shop, or an inspection business. The inspector qualification requirements can be found in §396.19. Evidence of the inspector's qualifications must be documented. The annual inspection report must be retained for 14 months. Is a pre-trip inspection required? The federal safety regulations require the driver to be “satisfied” that basic parts and accessories are available and "in good working order" prior to driving the vehicle. Although not required to be in writing, this pre-driving determination must include specific parts and accessories. The driver must also ensure that all cargo and vehicle components are properly distributed and/or secured. Also, when available, the driver must review the last driver’s vehicle inspection report (DVIR) and sign it if defects or deficiencies were reported. Safety is of paramount importance, and when it comes to protecting your investment, cargo, or your business from the many liabilities that come with the job, there is Orlando Truck Insurance right by your side. At Orlando Truck Insurance, our goal is to provide professional insurance sales and service to Florida residents and businesses. Based in Orlando, Florida— our experienced insurance agents want to make every interaction a positive experience for our customers. As an independent insurance agency, our duty is to our clients’ best interests. As your insurance agents, our responsibility is to provide you the best service and the best coverage, at the best possible price. We have the staff, the local experience and the customer service platform to help you walk through your insurance coverage options to keep your business well protected. Call one of our truck and commercial vehicles insurance specialists today at (407) 203-7085 to get you started in the right track, we’ll be happy to assist. We are in this together! |
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