Tapping the Pulse of Compliance
In the name of transparency (one of The Yard Ramp Guy’s pillars of business), we want to share with you an interesting situation regarding the nation’s truck drivers and a planned U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration inspection that’s set for next week.
The inspection will last all of 72 hours—June 5th to June 7th—yet has potential impact on our deliveries.
Some background:
On December 18, 2017, the U.S. government mandated an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) be installed in buses and commercial trucks. The ELD mandate is designed to automate compliance with hours of service a driver can be on the road in any given period of time.
Though there are some exemptions to the rule (i.e., short-distance operations, tow truck drive-away operations, etc.), the ELD mandate applies to most vehicles The Yard Ramp Guy contracts with to deliver our inventory.
Larger freight companies have the capital to install and put the ELDs into service on their fleets. The independent contractors have tended to bristle at the added expense and training. Various amendments were introduced last year to delay the mandate’s timeline; they were largely unsuccessful.
With that, a percentage of carriers moved on to other professions. Which caused a disruption in the supply-and-demand chain. Which caused an increase in freight charges. From manufacturers and resellers to freight companies and end-use customers, the entire industry has been grappling with this. (It’s been quite a year; we’re not even folding in the issue of volatility in the steel market.)
Conventional wisdom points to the disruption calming down and steadying over the next few months.
In the short term and the long term, the goal and the effect are to increase safety on the nation’s highways.
And so, next week’s road check. From a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance press release in March:
“The vehicle inspection includes checking brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims and hubs, and windshield wipers. Additional items for buses include emergency exits, electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments, and seating.
“Drivers are asked to provide their operating credentials and hours-of-service documentation, and will be checked for seat belt usage. Inspectors will also be attentive to apparent alcohol and/or drug impairment.”
From our view, and in the name of safety, it’s hard to argue with that concerted inspection.
Still, we suspect June 5-7 might be an opportunity for some carriers to take a few days of vacation. We work with freight logistics specialists we consider part of The Yard Ramp Guy team.
With or without a planned vehicle road check, we always strive to find all of our customers the quickest, safest, and most reasonably priced delivery of our mobile yard ramps and stationary loading docks.
