Author: Administrator

Qualified, skilled drivers can be your company’s biggest asset, but the wrong drivers can be your biggest liability. By taking the time to adequately screen drivers before putting them behind the wheel in your fleet, you can make sure you build an efficient team that operates safely. Working with an outside driver qualification company is a good way to conduct a thorough assessment of potential drivers. These tips will also help.

Cover the Basics

Before you go further with any applicant, you should make sure you have vetted the basic facts you need to know. Be sure the driver has a valid license and has passed a road test for the vehicle he or she will be driving. You should also confirm that all applicants are physically able to operate the vehicle safely and that they can read and speak enough English to do the work. If they have any driver violation convictions on their record, they should be able to present you with information about those convictions, including proof that any license suspensions have been lifted.

Perform Alcohol and Drug Screenings

Alcohol and drug screenings should happen on a regular basis for all of your employed drivers, but they are essential upfront. You will need to provide this information to the Department of Transportation, but complying with their guidelines is not the only reason that screenings are necessary. Allowing drivers who use alcohol and drugs to get behind the wheels of your fleet jeopardizes your employees, community, and customers, so develop a robust screening policy for your team.

Conduct In-Person Interviews

Although phone interviews may seem appealing, especially when you’re in a rush to hire team members, always take the time to do interviews in person. Discussing your expectations and hearing drivers talk about how they view their roles will give you a clear idea of who is a good fit for your team.

HDS Safety Services can help in the hiring process by creating and administering your driver qualification files in compliance with DOT regulations and with the pre-employment qualification process. For driver qualification assistance in Tucson, please call (520) 622-0419.

There is no reason to take risks when it comes to safety. When you work with a professional company like HDS Safety Services, you’ll be positive that your business will be taken care of. We can help with training programs, drug and alcohol testing, driver qualification, and more. Keep reading and take a look at the safety services offered by HDS.

Training

Different types of people have unique preferred learning styles, but everyone who takes on a job should understand how to do it properly. HDS covers all the bases by offering an array of different training services, including both online courses and classroom lectures. Drivers must know how to inspect their vehicles and how to drive safely and efficiently on the road in order to prevent accidents. Only the proper safety training can ensure that each new hire is well-equipped to get the job done safely.

Drug and Alcohol Testing

Even the safest, most responsible people can get themselves into trouble when they become exposed to drugs and alcohol. Whether your employees are using drugs and alcohol on the job or on their own time, the continuous effects can lead to an unsafe workplace. As a business owner, you can employ pre-employment testing to make sure applicants are clean before you hire them, and random testing can make sure they stay clean throughout their tenure with your company.

Driver Qualification

If you want your team to be as effective as it can be on the road, it needs to be as safe as possible as well. Driver qualification services can ensure that you hire only the safest and most trustworthy applicants for your company.

Safety services keep everyone healthy and safe while your business thrives, so call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419 to see how we can help. You can also head over to our website to learn about our auditing services and complete DOT compliance.

Everyone deserves to be safe and comfortable, and there are a few ways you can go about ensuring that your workers have this opportunity. The team at HDS Safety and Compliance offers a few different kinds of training methods such as maintenance and inspection training, reasonable suspicion training, and other types of online courses. Read on if you are interested in taking a look at the different types of compliance and safety training.

Maintenance and Inspection

In order to ensure that you are safe on the road, your vehicle must pass certain tests; this is typically referred to as an inspection. If you would like to take the guesswork out of the inspection process, you can go through maintenance and inspection training with a company like HDS Safety and Compliance. This helps you fully prepare yourself for inspections and understand what will be looked for in your vehicle.

Reasonable Suspicion

Supervisor Reasonable Suspicion training gives supervisors the tools you need to tell when someone is abusing drugs or alcohol. If you oversee other employees, you will typically need this type of training. Being able to detect drug and alcohol abuse not only keeps your business running efficiently; it can also help direct people to treatment programs that they might not otherwise come across.

Online Courses

It can be difficult for some people to make it to physical classes, which is where online courses become so important. At HDS Safety and Compliance, we offer a range of online courses, ranging from alcohol and drug testing to defensive driving courses. These classes are convenient and informative for supervisors and their employees.

Would you like to take an even closer look at the different types of compliance and safety training? Please feel free to call HDS Safety and Compliance at (520) 622-0419. Our team is willing and ready to make your business safer through training, testing, and consultation. You can learn all about our services by visiting our website.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation (DOT). The main goal of this agency is to improve the safety of the motor carrier industry in order to prevent commercial motor vehicle (CMV) related fatalities and injuries. 

More information about the FMCSA’s history:

Before the FMCSA

The Bureau of Motor Carriers released the first federal truck safety rules in 1936. This agency was a subdivision of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). This organization was a precursor to the FMCSA and was responsible for trucking industry safety regulations for three decades. 

In October of 1966, Congress established the DOT. This following a State of the Union speech by President Lyndon B. Johnson in January of that year when he indicated his intentions to create the agency. His decision was influenced in large part by the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and its head Najeeb Halaby. This is because Halaby recommended in a letter to the president that the government establish an agency to oversee the various groups that regulated transportation in the United States. 

The establishment of the DOT in 1966 also transferred the ICC’s regulatory authority over truck and bus safety to this new department. Congress delegated these responsibilities to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This organization originally had three bureaus. These were the Bureau of Motor Carriers, the Bureau of Public Roads, and the National Highway Safety Bureau. This last bureau later became the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA).

Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999

Congress established the FMCSA as a separate agency within the DOT beginning on January 1, 2000. This was part of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999. Prior to the passing of the bill, the duties of the FMCSA were performed by the Office of Motor Carrier Safety (OMCS), which was a division of the FHWA. Under this law, the President appoints the Administrator of the FMCSA with the approval of the Senate.

The FMCSA Today

The FMCSA continues to promote safety and works to prevent commercial motor vehicle accidents. One of the newest initiatives from the agency was the FMCSA Clearinghouse, a system that tracks commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders’ drug and alcohol testing program violations.

DOT and FMCSA Compliance

There are a large number of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that motor carriers must follow. These relate to hours of service (HOS), drug and alcohol testing, CDL driver qualifications, and other areas of operation. Failure to comply with these rules can result in large fines and can compromise the safety of not only CMV drivers, but also others on the roads. 

Your Partner in Compliance

With so many regulations to keep track of, it can be invaluable to have someone on your side to help you stay compliant. At HDS Safety Services we train drivers and administrators, provide drug and alcohol testing services, audit electronic logging device (ELD) records, and much more. 

Contact us today to learn more about our DOT and FMCSA compliance services.

Following all required industry safety compliance regulations is necessary for both workplace safety and business integrity. While your company certainly works hard to ensure continued compliance, third-party audits are a valuable tool that can point out weaknesses or issues you may not have noticed or simply aren’t sure how to address. HDS Safety and Compliance are pleased to offer several compliance auditing services in the Tucson area to help your driver and workplace safety programs stay on track.

On-Site Auditing

Workplace safety and regulatory compliance are paramount for any transportation company. With numerous state and federal regulations to follow, ensuring compliance is a big job. Even if you have strict regulations in place, it may be difficult to spare the time or manpower to ensure these regulations are followed consistently and properly. On-site third-party auditing will examine every aspect of your workplace safety and drug and alcohol compliance programs to look for inconsistencies, weaknesses, or violations. Once the audit has been completed, we can make informed recommendations to improve or ensure compliance quickly.

Driver Log Auditing

Keeping accurate driver logs and records is vital to ensure compliance with all DOT standards, including hours of service regulations. Even if your drivers and staff are obeying all mandated rules each day, failure to properly enter driver actions into your logs can lead to compliance violations. Driver log and time record auditing can be performed on a monthly or quarterly basis to ensure entries are recorded properly. These services can be performed via mailing, faxing, or scanning your logs to make this process more convenient for you.

If you’d like more information about on-site and log auditing in Tucson, please call HDS Safety and Compliance today at (520) 622-0419. Our experienced staff is here to help you with honest, thorough workplace evaluations and up-to-date knowledge of DOT standards and regulations to ensure you remain compliant to avoid accidents and fines. You can also find out more about our safety and compliance solutions when you visit us on the web.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) conducts millions of roadside inspections each year. This is to make sure that commercial motor vehicles and their drivers are following safety regulations. There are six different DOT inspection levels and each one covers different parts of the vehicle and/or aspects of the driver’s credentials. Knowing the differences between these levels can help you prepare your fleet for what to expect.

The six DOT inspection levels are:

Level I: North American Standard Inspection

A Level I North American Standard Inspection is the most comprehensive and most common type. The inspector will examine the commercial motor vehicle inside and out and will check a variety of different parts for any potential issues. These include the steering mechanism, seatbelt, coupling devices, exhaust system, wheels, turn signals, and more. The driver will also need to present their commercial driver’s license (CDL), shipping papers, medical examiner’s certificate, and other types of certification and paperwork if applicable. During a Level I DOT inspection, the vehicle may also be searched for drugs/alcohol and the inspector will check for signs of impairment.

For a more thorough overview of what a North American Standard Inspection includes, please read our previous article, “The Steps of a Truck Inspection.”

Level II: Walk-Around DOT Inspection

A Level II inspection, also called a walk-around inspection, is relatively similar to a Level I DOT inspection. The difference is that the inspector will only examine external parts of the truck. They will still ask for all necessary documents from the driver and will make sure the vehicle is in good working order.

Level III: Driver-Only Inspection

During a Level III DOT inspection, the vehicle is not checked. This level is focused on the driver of the truck only. The inspector will check all necessary documentation and will ensure there are no hours of service (HOS) violations or signs of drug/alcohol impairment.

Level IV: Special Inspection

The DOT typically conducts Level IV inspections for research purposes. These inspections usually cover only one specific part of the vehicle. In many cases, this is to track compliance over time for a specific trend the DOT is interested in studying.

Level V: Vehicle-Only Inspection

During a vehicle-only inspection, the driver is not checked and the focus is on the vehicle. In many cases, this will occur when the driver is not present due to an accident. It covers all of the same vehicle parts as a Level I Inspection.

Level VI: Radioactive Shipments

A Level VI inspection is an enhanced inspection for radioactive shipments. This applies to any motor carrier hauling Highway Route Controlled Quantities (HRCQ) of radioactive materials. All of the same requirements as the Level I inspection apply, plus additional factors specific to radioactivity.

DOT Compliance Training

Any of these inspection levels could occur at any time, so it’s important that your drivers are prepared. HDS Safety Services offers hands-on maintenance and inspection training. We also assist motor carriers with other aspects of compliance including driver qualification file management, electronic logging device auditing, and more.

To learn more about our DOT compliance services, contact us today.

Safe trucking starts before a driver even gets behind the wheel. If a semi-truck is not working properly, it puts the driver, their cargo, and anyone else on the road in danger. Because of this, the Department of Transportation (DOT) conducts periodic roadside checks of commercial motor vehicles. A truck inspection can happen at any time and there are six different levels. Of these, the most common is the Level I North American Standard Inspection. This is the variety we will discuss in this article. You can view a full list of inspection types on the official Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website.

Driver Inspection

Before the DOT inspector examines the vehicle itself, they will conduct a thorough review of the driver. They will check that the driver is using a seatbelt, look for signs of drug or alcohol use, and verify that there are no hours of service (HOS) violations. The inspector will then ask for various types of documentation from the driver. It is important that your drivers are aware of what documents are required and that they keep these in a safe and easily-accessible location within their trucks.

The inspector will request the following documents during a Level I truck inspection:

  • Commercial driver’s license (CDL)
  • Medical examiner’s certificate
  • Shipping papers
  • Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate, if applicable
  • Record of duty status, as required
  • Vehicle inspection report(s), if applicable

Truck Inspection

After reviewing the driver’s documentation, the inspector will thoroughly examine the truck to ensure that it is in good condition. They will begin by walking around the truck to check for any overall issues and then will individually check each part.

The truck inspection process includes, but is not limited to, the following parts:

  • Brake system
  • Steering mechanisms
  • Coupling devices
  • Trailer and cargo
  • Tires
  • Hubcaps, rims, and wheels
  • Fuel system
  • Exhaust system
  • Turn signals and lights
  • Windshield

As they examine the vehicle, the inspector will note the condition of every part. If there are any concerns, they will indicate these on their inspection form and will let the driver know. In the case of critical violations, the truck will be marked as out-of-service and may not be operated until the issue is corrected.

Preparing for a Truck Inspection

A DOT inspection can happen at any time, so it is important that your drivers are prepared during every trip. This includes completing a pre-trip inspection, which should cover the same parts as a Level I truck inspection.

Maintenance and Inspection Training

HDS Safety Services offers on-site, hands-on inspection training. We will show your drivers how to conduct a thorough inspection of their own vehicles and will give them helpful information about what the DOT expects. This gives your motor carrier peace of mind knowing that your drivers are prepared in case of a roadside inspection.

Contact us today for more information about truck inspection training and our other DOT compliance services.

Random drug tests are one of the best ways to make sure drugs are not an issue in your workplace. When drug tests are randomized, every employee understands his or her responsibility to be sober and knows the consequences of violating that expectation. Randomized testing is also fair to your entire team and gives employees an easy way of avoiding social pressure to take drugs since they can blame workplace testing. If you’re interested in setting up a randomized drug testing program in your workplace, the Department of Transportation, or DOT, recommends these strategies.

Know Your Randomized Rate Requirements

The DOT requires randomized testing for safety-sensitive employees, but the rate at which you are required to test varies between transportation industries. The rates change annually, and they can always be found on the DOT website. There are different randomized test rates for drug and alcohol testing. Keep in mind that these rates are minimum requirements. You can decide the rates that are appropriate for your company, as long as you meet these minimum standards.

Test According to Job Function

To meet DOT requirements for random drug testing, you should decide who to include in the random pool according to their job function. Anyone with a safety-sensitive position, regardless of their job title, should be subject to random drug tests, according to DOT guidelines. You can have a separate randomized test policy at your business that includes other people in the test pool, but if your purpose is to set up a DOT-compliant randomized test program, then you should only include safety-sensitive roles.

Make Test Selection and Timing Unpredictable

Everyone in your test pool should have the same chance of getting selected for a test, and tests should take place on different days for each round. Generally, tests should be performed quarterly, but within each quarter, the date should be unpredictable.

If you need help setting up or executing a random drug testing program, call HDS Safety Services. Our safety and compliance experts in Tucson can help you build the right testing program for your company’s needs. For more information, call (520) 622-0419.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains stringent safety standards for commercial drivers and their employers. Regardless of whether you are a new or experienced transportation service, staying up to date on the latest DOT compliance requirements can be challenging. DOT compliance consulting is an efficient and cost-effective solution that will ensure you and your employees understand not only the latest DOT regulations but how to comply with them on an everyday basis to avoid fines and other serious consequences.

Prevent Unwanted Financial Consequences

Failure to comply with DOT regulations can result in far-reaching consequences for your company. When employees cannot work due to safety violations, they will lose productivity and may struggle or even fall short as they strive to meet customer expectations and deadlines. The weighty fines associated with violation of many types of DOT regulations can also affect your expenses, unbalancing your budget and causing your profit margin to shrink or even disappear.

Protect Your Company’s Reputation

Your company’s reputation is comprised of a combination of several factors, including your dedication to the employee, client, and public safety. Failure to follow DOT compliance regulations will not only result in fines or other types of reconciliatory action, but it will also become a matter of public record. This information can seriously damage your reputation by making it appear as though your business is not concerned with the well-being of its employees or its clients. Even if your noncompliance resulted from a mistake or misunderstanding, it can still have serious long-term effects on the perception of your brand and your business’s ability for growth.

At HDS Safety and Compliance, our goal is to make it easy for you to comply with DOT safety requirements in Tucson. We are pleased to offer services that include DOT compliance auditing and consulting to provide you with a better understanding of how you can ensure employee and supervisor compliance at all times. If you’d like to learn more, please visit us online or call (520) 622-0419.

If your business is in the transportation industry, then you know there are several types of training that your employees need to remain compliant with DOT/DPS regulations. In the modern age, training is easier to keep up with, because many courses can take place online, freeing up more of your employees’ and supervisors’ time for daily operations. Below you can get a look at some of the online courses available through HDS Safety Services to keep your employees up-to-date in their certifications.

Suspicion Testing

It is important for supervisors to maintain a sober and safe workforce, so they need to know the signs of drug and alcohol abuse to recommend testing when necessary. Supervisor Reasonable Suspicion Training can be completed online, and the program is available to access 24/7, so it can be completed on any schedule.

Driver Awareness Training

Supervisors are not the only ones who should have drug and alcohol training. Drivers may take an awareness course to recognize the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace, and they will also learn when and how drug and alcohol testing may take place within their organization.

CDL Knowledge

Your drivers will need to have current Commercial Driver’s Licenses, but their training might go a step further with the CDL Knowledge Test Review. This course provides a comprehensive overview of subjects covered on the written CDL exam, and it may be beneficial for supervisors as well, since they will need to know the rules and regulations their drivers must follow.

Defensive Driving: Light Vehicles

If your fleet includes passenger vehicles or lighter-duty trucks and vans, your drivers may benefit from this defensive driving course. It focuses on defensive driving for light vehicles, which will help keep your assets and drivers protected on the road.

To be sure that you’re in compliance with all DOT safety regulations, connect with HDS Safety Services in Southern Arizona. You can reach us online or by calling (520) 622-0419.

The transportation industry is a unique one, and since it’s such a specialized field, it’s especially important that everyone involved in the operation is at their best. Refreshers and training courses help people return to work after long absences, give newcomers the confidence they need to succeed, and ensure that everyone is caught up with all the newest industry developments. Read on for more on the importance of refresher courses and training.

Getting Back In the Game
The phrase “like riding a bicycle” suggests that old skills that you practiced in the past will come back to you quickly. Professional driving isn’t quite like riding a bicycle, because once you’ve stopped working for a while, you may need a little time to get acclimated again. If you were recently injured, had a family emergency, or needed to take a leave of absence for any reason, then it’s a good idea to take a refresher course when you’re ready to return to work. This will help your skills come back and improve your reaction time.

Starting Off Strong
If you’re just getting started at your job, you’ll need to work from the ground up. In this case, training becomes extremely important. Employees who aren’t properly trained for their jobs are much less likely to excel, which means the business itself slows down. Training prepares employees for all types of experiences and gives them the confidence and know-how to get the job done right.

Keeping Up with the Times
Refresher courses are helpful even if you haven’t taken any time off. Our society is quick-paced, and there are a lot of changes to keep up with. Taking a refresher course will remind you of the basics while you adjust to the changes.

We understand the importance of staying sharp at HDS Safety Services, and it’s our job to help your company stay on track. Give us a call at (520) 622-0419 or explore our website if you require DOT compliance consulting or alcohol and drug testing.

No matter what industry you work in, there are countless moving factors to worry about. Safety audits help you avoid common hazards, which should make workplace accidents much less common. It’ll also help protect your customers, partners, and in the case of the transportation industry, other drivers. Reducing the chance of an accident lets you focus on your job, so keep reading about the necessity of safety audits.

Reduce Workplace Accidents
It’s one thing to put safety rules in place, and it’s another to follow them. Safety audits make sure that these rules are being enforced and that risks are being kept to a minimum. Workplace accidents can result in damaged inventory and personal injury, and they may sideline one or more of your employees for an unspecified amount of time. Safety audits help you avoid workplace accidents so the team stays safe, healthy, and happy.

Protect Others
When your workplace is on the road, you need to bring your safety rules with you. Professional drivers are constantly surrounded by other commercial and passenger vehicles, and slow reaction time or miscues on the road could lead to an accident. Thanks to safety audits, you can keep unsafe drivers off the road and protect the other drivers on it. This helps companies understand where their liabilities are.

Stick to Business
A safety audit will give you an idea of how safe your business and workplace are and what kinds of improvements you can make. This means it can either be a learning experience or reassurance that you’re doing everything right. Both make for a safe workplace, so you can focus on business.

If you need a second opinion to make sure your operation is running safely, call HDS Safety Services at (520) 622-0419. Look around our website to learn a little bit about the auditing, training, and testing services that we can provide your company with.