Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Placed specific attention on enforcing compliance with Hours-of-Service regulations, educating drivers about preventing driver fatigue, and checking brake system operations and brake adjustment.

The bus companies transported over 1,800 passengers a day along Interstate-95, from New York to Florida. The action is the largest single safety crackdown in the agency’s history.

During the week of Sept. 11 to 17, CVSA-certified inspectors, brake suppliers and industry partners will conduct enforcement and education activities with drivers and mechanics at truck stops, weigh stations and other locations. According to Roadcheck 2011 data, more education and awareness is needed to reduce the number of highway crashes caused annually by poorly maintained braking systems.

At lowest levels since the CVSA's commercial vehicle safety enforcement campaign, Roadcheck began in 1988. Inspections of passenger vehicles found a compliance rate of 91.3 percent in 2011 versus 91.0 percent in 2010. The motorcoach driver compliance rate was 97.4 percent; in 2010 it was 96.4 percent.

VP David Palmer testified that this SAFETEA-LU enacted restriction removed a critical tool designed to immediately identify driver and mechanical safety issues.

Stephen A. Keppler has 18 years of experience in the transportation industry. He has been employed with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance since 2000 in the position of Director of Policy and Programs and most recently as its Interim Executive Director.

Last year, 9,683 CVSA and FMCSA certified inspectors at 2,145 locations across North America performed a record 72,255 truck and bus inspections. Of that total, there were 56,486 NAS Level I inspections.

Goes into effect April 1. Used by enforcement personnel in identifying Critical Vehicle Inspection Item violations following a roadside inspection that can prohibit a motor carrier or operator from driving or operating a commercial motor vehicle for a specified period of time or until the defective condition is corrected.

Anne Ferro is currently president of the Maryland Motor Truck Association and serves on several regional advisory committees relating to freight planning, highway safety and transportation funding.

Operation Safe Driver is a national awareness and enforcement campaign that targets improving both commercial and non-commercial driver behavior and performance through effective enforcement, education and awareness strategies.