Critical Thinking Problem Solving

With all of the regulations and rules regarding the trucking industry, one might assume that the government is causing companies more problems than are necessary. However, there are very good reasons to have these regulations in place. First of all, regulation ensures the safety of all motorists on the nation's roadways, including truck drivers. Secondly, it is an important aspect of the country's national security efforts. Finally, it standardizes the shipping industry, making it easier for shippers across industry lines. Therefore, DOT compliance is vitally important for trucking companies, and everyone else as well.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s released its Commercial Motor Vehicle Facts report in March 2013; that in 2012, there were 5,700,000 Commercial drivers operating in the United States and a total of 504,093 interstate freight carriers operating. There was also a total of 15,465 intrastate hazardous material carriers on the highway. In 2012 alone, there were 75,542 carriers permitted to drive on the highway and roughly an equal amount in 2011, with 75,519. The importance of all of these statistics is that with the ever-growing number of commercial vehicles on the road, the amount of accidents increase as well. In 2011, 3,757 traffic crash victims were killed in a crash with a large truck and nearly 88,000 were injured. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is .136 for large trucks and busses and the injury rate is 3.8. The estimated costs of commercial motor vehicle crashes totaled $87 billion; with $39 billion from fatal crashes, $32 billion from injury crashes and $16 billion from property damage only crashes. Not all of these accidents and fatalities are commercial carriers fault, because there are other drivers on the road that are distracted or under the influence for instance, but there can be extra precautions taken to decrease the amount of crashes and damage. Decreasing the wait time, also known as detention time, at shipping and receiving facilities, allows the drivers to be driving

Fleet owners, carriers and individual truckers are all governed by federal restrictions when it comes to the weight of vehicles that operate on the Interstate Highway System, which covers roughly 50,000 miles of limited access, divided highways that traverse the country. States also set their own commercial vehicle weight standards and limits. Currently, federal standards allow for 20,000 pounds on a single axle, 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle and 80,000 gross vehicle weight. Failure to comply with these limits results in fines and unnecessary delays. Heavy-duty and semi-truck technology helps keep drivers and carriers out of trouble and in compliance with the restrictions.

It has been reported that Truckers with Electronic Logging Device(ELDs) have been overly fatigued. Electronic Logging Devices do not let Truckers drive the last few miles to home it makes them stop the truck and rest, but the dispatcher says otherwise. Electronic Logging Devices are going to be put into place so Truckers do not have to deal with loose papers. There should be more than one way to log driving hours. Today drivers can use paper logs. The government wants to go to just the electronic logs to make it easier for larger fleets.

The regulation of the trucking industry has harmed a lot of truck drivers. While it is important to ensure the truckers who are on the highways are being safe, the government regulations are causing them to take a significant decrease in their income. Truckers in the past were able to drive as many hours in a day as they wanted to. There were some problems with truckers getting sleepy and having accidents, and in some cases they, killed both themselves and other drivers. By regulating the number of hours’ drivers can be behind the wheel, it has decreased the number of fatigued truckers on the roadways. Some of the rules they have put in place have made it impossible for drivers to make a comfortable living.

When you are driving on the freeway alongside commercial trucks or other kinds of large vehicles, you might sometimes think how scary it would be if you were to get into an accident with a vehicle that big. Collisions with commercial trucks are very frightening.

Summary for “THE NJCU-UMDNJ SOCIAL PROBLEM SOLVING LABS PROGRAM: Teaching Critical Thinking in the Jersey City Public Schools”

The Hours-of-Service regulation was created to ultimately save lives. The hours-of-service published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is about more than just the fatigued drivers behind the wheel of a vehicle, although the title of the regulation suggests otherwise. This regulation is about reducing the fatalities that involved truckers to zero or as close as possible to zero, explaining what is meant by being on and off duty, explaining the limits of employees and laying out what accommodations are acceptable for resting in a cab. The regulation was put in place to prevent fatigued heavy truck drivers from being behind the wheel. Not unlike the majority of regulations that created this regulation is in response of events that have taken place and were reported. “800 of the 5,203 truck-related fatalities in 1999 resulted from the driver fatigue” (Dilger, 2003, p.?). In response

Because of its enormous size and weight, a semi truck can cause a devastating truck accident that may injure and kill motorists. Truck drivers too, don't always come out of these accidents unscathed. Semi truck accidents have caused serious injuries and fatalities to truck drivers. This is why the truck driver's pre-trip inspection of her rig is so important, and is why it's required by law.

Safety becomes a major concern when considering changes to truck weight and size. The majority of the general public included in focus groups pertaining to weight regulations expressed negative concerns with allowing heavier trucks on roadways (USDOT TS&W Vol-I2000). However, crash rates from LCV’s closely resemble those of five-axle semi-trailers with GVW under 80-kip but data is not always available since truck length and weight are not usually included in accident reports. For vehicles with additional axles above that of the standard five-axle semi-trailer, braking capacity will be enhanced due to advanced technology in the motor vehicle industry. Each additional axle can be equipped with braking mechanisms to help combat against the increased

In order to understand how the coercion rule will benefit drivers, first it is needed to understand what it is. Formally known as the “Prohibiting Coercion of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers”, the coercion rule adopted by the FMCSA prohibits trucking companies from coercing employees to operate in violation of safety regulations. Under this rule drivers will be allowed to apply to the FMCSA providing evidence that the company in some way coerced drivers to violate laws and if the complaint is found legitimate, then companies will face civil penalties of up to $16,000 per incident.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the commercial vehicles that traverse the nation's roadways. DOT compliance is a major concern for transportation companies of all sizes. Three areas of compliance that many trucking companies struggle with are driver requirements, DOT permits, and documentation practices. That's why many turn to outside companies to help guide them and assure they are fully compliant.

If you were every on the highway driving from one city to another late at night, and a tractor-trailer swerves into your lane you’re not alone. Sometimes companies try to maximize profit by having drivers work long hours, but that can be dangerous. Having drivers work long hour means that they are not getting the rest they need, and therefor they are driving while fatigue. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has enforced strict policies that prevent drivers from driving more than they’re suppose to. Some is these laws include taking a break 30 min break after driving for eight hours, and not being on duty (either driving or doing other work) no more than 70 hours in a seven-day period. Under the prior rule, the limit was 82 hours”(Douglas,

In order to ensure their safety, as well as that of you and the other drivers with whom they share the road, there are regulations that specify when and how long truckers are allowed to drive. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, these limitations are meant to ensure that truckers stay alert and awake while they are behind the wheel. This may help to reduce the number of commercial vehicle-related collisions.

Imagine this, in a quiz bowl, there are half times in between the first and second half of the match. This is for the teams to regroup and relax for a moment to be ready for the next half. This being unlike school passing periods, in which the students have enough time to get from class to class, but not enough time to cool down. Dr. Weatherly should change a rule in which the amount of time for passing periods is longer so the students’ brains can have more of a cool down.