Educating the youth..

On June 9th, R & R had students from the Lake Park/Audubon High School Drivers Education Class over for Trucker Awareness Classes.  Three of our family of drivers were kind enough to help with the training, Phillip D., Kim R., and Charles G. were the volunteer instructors.  Each of the kids were able to go into one of the trucks and basically see what our drivers see everyday out their traveling home on wheels.  The instructors tried to get the kids to see the other side of the story concerning Semis, how it is not always easy to see the 4 wheelers, stopping time for trucks with all the weight behind them, etc.  Hopefully the kids learned something from this experience and again we would like to thank Kim, Phillip and Charles for their help..

August 10th, we hosted another class for the Drivers Education Class for Lake Park/Audubon, the instructors for this session were Adella C. & Robert P, thanks for all your help.

Texting

Drivers of commercial trucks and busses are now banned from sending text messages or emails via mobile phones while driving, according to federal guidelines issued by the US Secretary of Transportation.  Effective immediately, truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles are subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2750, according to the Department of Transportation.

The action was a result of the Department's interpretation of standing rules.  "Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity with the cab," said Anne Ferr, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). "We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."

FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting.  At 55 mph, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones without looking at the road.  Drivers who text while driving are more then 20 times more likely to get in an accident then non-distracted drivers.  Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving.  FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.

Today the FMCSA is sending a strong message:  We don't EXPECT you to share the road responsibly with other travelers - we REQUIRE you to do so.

Taken from the USDOT Web site.

Cell phone Usage and/or text messaging while driving is banned or restricted in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia.

Taken from the Minnesota Trucking Association Magazine

New Jersey Idling Law

Beginning in New Jersey on May 1, no diesel-powered  vehicles will be allowed to idle unless they have a model year 2007 or newer engine, or have to be retrofitted with a Diesel Particulate filter that is connected and properly functioning and are complying with hours-of-service regulations.  Currently, all diesel - powered vehicles are permitted to idle while stationary for up to three consecutive minutes.  Idleling citations in New Jersey include penalties ranging from $100 for the first violation up to $1500 for a fourth or subsequent violation.  A Compliance Alert will be issued by the state within the next few weeks and the American Transportation Research Institute have released and updated version of its idling regulations compendium with information about the new rules in New Jersey and elsewhere.  The New Jersey Motor Truck Association is continuing it efforts to extend the anti-idling exemption as provided. under the law. 

Comprehensive Safety Analysis

During our D.O.T. audit we were introduced briefly to the CSA 2010, which is a new approach to assessing a motor carrier's safety performance.  The biggest changes with this new assessment, each carrier is measured under seven Behavior Analysis & Safety Improvement Categories-Unsafe Driving, Fatigued Driving, Driver Fitness, Crash History, Vehicle Maintenance, Improper Loading/Cargo Securement and Controlled Substances and Alcohol.  As drivers, the biggest change that this new system will bring about is that both carriers and drivers will be assessed.  In fact with the new system a driver's performance will be tagged to the driver and will then follow the driver as they are employed by different carriers.

Ruth, R & R's Safety Director recently spent several days in the Romeoville office giving some classes for the CSA 2010, trying to enlighten the drivers on the new procedure.  She had help from Sentry employee, Mike Younka, and Aflac employee, Erin B.  Mike was extremely helpful in the education process of the CSA 2010 and some of the drivers were very appreciative.(As you can see by the picture). R & R would like to say a big thank you to Sentry Insurance, Mike and Erin for all they did and do for us.  We educated quite a few drivers over the 2 week period, making them aware and hopefully much better and careful drivers. 

Illinois State Police Using the Photo Radar in Work Zones

Illinois has begun using photo radar in free way work zones.  ONE MILE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT and the machine will get you a nice $375.00 ticket in the mail.  The state of Illinois is using the speed cameras in areas designated as "Work Zones" on major freeways.  Anyone caught by one of these devices will be mailed a $375.00 ticket for the FIRST Offense, the SECOND offense will cost $1000.00 and COMES WITH A 90 DAY LICENSE SUSPENSION.  This is the harshest penalty structure ever set for a governmental unit involving PHOTO speed enforcement.  The state already has two camera vans on line issuing tickets 24/7 in work zones with speed limits lowered to 45 MPH.  Photos of the both the driver's face and the license plate are taken Illinois State Police were given the authority to use cameras to enforce work zone speed limit ONLY IN CASES WHERE WORKERS ARE PRESENT.  It also requires that  signs are to be posted when work zone speed limits are being enforced by camera. 

Slow down for your own sake!

Update:  We received our first ticket in the mail for one of our drivers for an incident that happened on Christmas day.  It was an illegal right turn in Chicago, it included a picture of the vehicle in the process of doing the illegal act, license plate and it came with a $100 fine.  So please be aware they are using the cameras to enforce different traffic violations. 

Passenger & Pet Policies

Taking a passenger with in the truck is really a privilege..being employed as a company driver with R & R does not give you the right to carry anyone with you in the truck , you need to be granted approval to have a passenger with you from the safety department in Audubon.  For several reasons R & R has chosen to implement a fee for traveling with a passenger in the truck.  The extra costs of having a passenger in the truck include-fuel usage, extra wear and tear on the interior of the truck, more weight in transported belongings.. The fee for having a passenger with you is now $75 a week.  Following the passenger's permitted travel time a review of the driver/trucks performance will be done, if this shows no late appointments, failure to communicate or willingness to travel where needed, the driver may be granted a refund of all or a portion of the $75/week passenger fee.  Remember to call safety if you are considering taking a passenger.

Pets may only be transported in the truck with prior approval from management at R & R Transportation.  Upon approval the driver will be charged a $300 non-refundable monthly fee.  If at any time the estimated clean-up costs or damages are believed to be in excess of the amount that has been collected, the driver will be charged for the clean-up, replacement and repair costs immediately.  The driver will not have any control on truck assignment, the driver will have to stay in the truck assigned at the time the pet policy was signed, unless R & R opts to re-assign a truck. 

Calling all Drivers!

Unfortunately, R & R Transportation is exceeding the DOT regulations for driver violations-the DOT has labeled "R & R" with a rating factor of "INSPECT". This means that when you are on the road and pull in to an inspection station the officers can input your license plate number and the safety recommendation received back from the federal online systems is "INSPECT".  As a driver you need to be aware that you have a high chance of being inspected, the DOT accumulates data from previous inspections and then responds by issuing our company a road check rating.  Inspections prior to this have not been acceptable, that is why we are at the point of DOT recommending that the officers inspect all our trucks.  Your job as a driver is to make certain that you are legal, logs complete and accurate, equipment is inspected and in safe operating condition, physicals and CDL's are valid, etc.

We need every driver to make it a priority to not receive any violations, every clean inspection will improve your safety rating.  We will be looking carefully at every violation that is found from this point on.  All inspections/tickets must be turned into safety, if the driver does not turn in a copy we will be forced to reprimand not only for the violation but for failure to send safety a copy.  We receive the information anyways when we do the company profile so why not turn it in right away and save yourself a lot of grief.

Keep the clean inspections coming in!! 

July - 7/4-Ken R., 7/5-Derrik D., 7/18-Tim B., 7/20-Richard N., 7/28-Deb L., Joy D., 7/29-Robert D.

August - 8/1-Tom H., 8/3-Deb N., Alvin B., 8/5-Eric M., 8/7-Dion L., 8/8-Dean B., 8/11-Nel B., Derion J., 8/16-Jose M., 8/17-Lenny B., 8/25-Matt W., 8-28-Glen C., 8/29-Melanie H.

Say hello to Jacob, our newest dispatcher in the Audubon Office.  Jacob is Todd and Wendy's son.  He does need to work on his vocabulary a tish, the drivers are having a hard time with his instructions..lol..

 Remember, we are always watching you!

You can bring your log lady candy, flowers, whatever to try and get on their good graces, but let me let you in on a little secret.  The most wonderful thing you, as drivers can do to make our day in safety, is turn in a clean inspection.  Clean inspections help bring our numbers down on our rating, which is good.  So, in a way of saying thank you, for every clean inspection you get, you will receive a special gift.  You have to turn in a clean inspection to find out what it is!

  We in Safety, sometimes have this effect on people during orientation!!

One of R & R's family, Bob (Red) Snouffer passed away on Friday, April 9th, at the age of 54.  You may have seen Bob and  his little side kick, Max, the pug, at the terminals from time to time.  Max was always at Bob's side, no matter where he went.  He will be greatly missed by all of us, we each have our own little memories of Bob and Max.  We had a short memorial for Bob at the Audubon Office, with his truck behind the memorial table, Max, Char & Devanna were our special guests. Thank you Pastor Randy & Ruth for a wonderful service.  Red...rest in peace...

Any questions or comments you can contact Safety at 1-800-326-7442 or send an email to dnelson@rrtransinc.com