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Don’t freeze your safety standards in the cold, icy weather

Staying safe on the road during the cold, wet and harsh winter months means much more than keeping hands at 10 and 2 and checking mirrors periodically.

With over 70% of the nation’s roadways located in snowy regions, staying safe on the road during the cold, wet and harsh winter months means much more than keeping hands at 10 and 2 and checking mirrors periodically. As driving conditions deteriorate to anything but ideal this time of year, fleets and drivers rely on safety technology paired with a comprehensive safety program as defining factors to navigate the winter months unscathed. Many fleets turn to a video-safety program as an essential tool that allows managers to proactively address risky driving behavior early and intervene with targeted driver coaching to ensure roadway safety. 

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FMCSA: Random drug test rate for truckers doubling in 2020

Positive drug test rate hit 1% in 2018, forcing the change.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register on Dec. 27  that it is increasing the minimum annual percentage rate for random controlled substances testing for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) requiring a commercial driver’s license (CDL) from the current rate of 25% of the average number of driver positions to 50%, effective in calendar year 2020.

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What potential truckers worry about

Thinking of getting behind the wheel professionally? Here’s what current drivers say are the job issues that concerned them when they were in your shoes.

Proactive beats reactive every time. If you as a potential driver (or fleet executive) knew in advance the concerns about the job from current truckers before deciding to climb into the driver’s seat, wouldn’t you pay attention? Of course you would.

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Roadmaster CEO: Fleet shutdowns ‘cleanse’ the trucking industry

John Wilbur also says driver retention, not shortage, is where focus should be.


John Wilbur wants to make one thing perfectly clear. The CEO of Roadmaster Group, headquartered in Glendale, AZ, hates to see companies shut down and people lose their jobs. Having expressed that, however, he is as straight a shooter, figuratively, as most of the American soldiers who train with the ammunition his fleet supplies to military bases all over the country.

In a wide-ranging interview with Fleet Owner, Wilbur was asked about the spate of truck fleet closures the last year, and did not hold his fire.

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Team drivers lean on pets for exercise and stress release

Exercise is a big reason.

“It’s a lot of things,” said Cynthia Caldwell, who drives with her husband Tyson and their 10-pound Miniature Pinscher, who she affectionately calls “Min Pig” instead of a “Min Pin” because of the dog’s voracious appetite. For starters, the dog forces them to get out of the truck more often.

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ELD compliance: How and why it can pump up your profits

Ways trucking fleets and owner-operators can leverage the Internet of Things for gain.

Today’s transportation industry faces increasingly stringent regulatory standards. The highest-profile example is the looming electronic logging device (ELD) deadline; by December 16, 2019, all carriers subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s ELD mandate must be equipped with self-certified devices registered with the FMCSA. In addition to the sweeping ELD mandate, many fleets are or soon will be subject to a wide range of more specific regulations.

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AFS can help you with your growing costs – call us for unique factoring programs designed just for you!

Operational Cost of Trucking Up 7.7%, ATRI Report Says

The costs associated with trucking have increased, according to the American Transportation Research Institute.

Its report, “An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking,” shows fuel and driver compensation accounted for carriers’ biggest expenses while permits and licenses accounted for the smallest.

The report was published Nov. 4 and is based on data from 2018.

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FMCSA offers help for young military drivers to find jobs

The pilot program will allow a limited number of individuals between the ages of 18 and 20 to operate large trucks in interstate commerce.


The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published a new job opportunities website to help 18-20-year-olds who possess the U.S. military equivalent of a commercial driver’s license (CDL) find and apply for jobs with interstate trucking companies.   

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Trucker Deaths Continue to Rise

Trucker deaths continue to rise and are at their highest level in more than 30 years, according to data released Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The federal agency said 885 large truck occupants died in 2018. That’s an increase of almost 1 percent compared to the prior year. It is the highest since 1988 when 911 occupants of large trucks died.

Looking beyond truckers, overall deaths involving crashes with large trucks also continue to rise. The agency said 4,678 people died in collisions with large trucks last year. That’s up by almost 1 percent from the 4,369 that died in 2017.

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