In the modern age of technology and innovation, the trucking industry has seen a significant shift towards the use of data and analytics to improve safety and increase efficiency.

As truck companies face ever-increasing competitive pressures and rising safety concerns, the importance of utilizing data to gain a competitive edge cannot be overstated. In this blog post, we will explore how truck companies can use data to position themselves uniquely, gain competitive advantages, and reduce the risk of accidents on the road.

Even if your business is lucky enough to avoid on-the-job injuries, an unsafe work environment will still take its toll on your workforce. We as human beings are deeply influenced by our surroundings, and when we find ourselves in an unsafe environment we become anxious and start to look for a way out — whether we recognize it consciously or not. As such, unaddressed workplace safety issues can easily lead to employee absenteeism, poor quality of work, and increased turnover (along with the more obvious risks of injury or death).

With so much on the line, organizations across all industries are recognizing the importance of a culture of safety in the workplace. Here, we discuss 8 steps for building a safety culture. But first, let’s define what a safety culture is, and what it can mean to your business.

The trucking industry is a fast-paced and often hazardous business, which means it’s necessary to have certain security measures in place. If you transport anything in the U.S., be it people or cargo, you are required to have some kind of liability insurance, which is enforced by the Department of Transport (DOT). Not only is insurance a wise use of money, but without it, you won’t be able to receive a USDOT number, which is what allows you to legally transport goods in the U.S.

USDOT insurance is ultimately designed to keep you and your business safe while on the roads, as well as the people or cargo you transport. Insurance covers any damaged goods in transit should an accident occur. It also covers the cost of injury to employees, passengers, or another third party. Requiring liability insurance not only protects the public and your company but also reduces the number of accidents related to commercial vehicles.

As a business owner, it’s important to not only have the right equipment and services but to protect your equipment and services, too. That’s why insuring your trucking company isn’t just suggested—it’s essential to safely and profitably operate your business. Despite increasing truck insurance costs, you can find the right type of coverage for your operations that will increase your confidence and reliability while decreasing risks.

Aside from basic liability insurance, there are other commercial truck insurance requirements that businesses old and new should meet. Here’s everything you need to know about insuring your trucking company.

We’re all pretty familiar with Murphy’s Law: something that can go wrong will go wrong. Right? Well, maybe not everything will go wrong in life, but there are certainly elements of risk with most things in business. Every company will have risks that could affect business somehow. Something could go wrong, and there could be problems—sometimes really big problems—from it.

A new regulation was passed in 2017 that pertains to your OSHA recordkeeping information. This regulation requires you to visit the OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA) via their website and submit your information digitally for each establishment.  Here are few FAQs that may help you on this process.

Hopefully this isn’t new news to you but the deadline to submit your information off of your OSHA 300a to OSHA directly is coming up! This deadline is separate from posting your 300a in a conspicuous location at your facility. This regulation requires you to visit the OSHA Injury Tracking Application (ITA) via their website and submit your information digitally for each establishment.  Here are few FAQs that may help you on this process.

Who has to submit their information?

Pretty much everyone if you have greater than 20 employees! If you are in the construction or general industry business, then you’re more than likely on the list. For a complete list of industries that are required to submit, visit this link: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/NAICScodesforelectronicsubmission.pdf

On October 11, 2018 OSHA issued a Standard Interpretation to clarify its position on the new recordkeeping rule’s anti-retaliation provisions that were put into place in 2016.  Essentially, they completely reversed their position on previous limitations with safety incentive programs and post-incident drug testing. 

According to the memo, OSHA believes that safety incentive programs and post-incident drug testing are generally not put into place to penalize employees for reporting injuries.  Rather, they are implemented to promote the safety and health in the workplace.  

How does the new interpretation impact you?  

The original regulation required employers to remove all-inclusive testing rules for post-incident drug testing.  

As of April 1, 2018, violations of the ELD mandate now come with a cost. There are a lot of nuances to this regulation, so we put together this very lengthy guide as a checklist to verify that your operation is compliant. 

Approved Devices

Is the ELD listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's registered ELDs list?

The full list is accessible through the Agency's Web site, www.fmcsa.dot.gov/devices.