DOT CONFERENCES

Roadside Inspection Survival

What is your first line of defense in DOT safety? Passing roadside inspections without violation is the first step toward keeping your safety scores low, and minimizing fines and interactions with the DOT.?This course covers the most-violated BASICs and regulations that are encountered during a roadside inspection. We always tell you that there are 16 ‘unpardonable sins’, but some of those sins can go unnoticed so long as you pass your roadside inspections without violations. The violations you can get from an inspection versus an ‘intervention’ or audit can be very different. Beef up your first line of defense by putting measures in place to correct violations that could be noticed during a roadside inspection, and you can help avoid an intervention down the road.

Driver Fitness BASIC/ Driver Qualification

The number 1 rule in Driver Fitness is to actually make sure the driver is QUALIFIED tooperate a CMV. Then, do the paperwork (a DOT-compliant Driver Qualification file) to PROVE that they are qualified. The real purpose is to develop a DQ process to avoid hiring bad drivers who don’t follow the rules.?We cover the two main requirements that define a driver qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle and how to ensure they are both managed. We also define and describe the steps you are required to take to ensure all drivers are fit and qualified, with industry standard practices, and the new rules governing this process.?Instruction covers the driver application, all required information and documentation, all information that must be verified, optional and recommended steps, and what to do when something goes wrong.

Fatigued Driving/ Hours of Service BASIC

The number 1 rule for Hours of Service is to ensure your drivers are not fatigued. Be sure you oversee your scheduling function; you must not give a driver more work to do than can be legally done in a day. Sometimes the persons making scheduling/dispatching decisions are not sufficiently familiar with the 4 cardinal rules of HOS compliance, which are as follows: The 11-hour rule; the 14-hour rule; the 60/70 – hour rule, and the document retention rule.

These are explained fully, along with examples, discussion, exemptions, sample forms, and much more.

1.?We will share with you a tried and proven way to manage driver logs and decrease violations in what can be the most frustrating BASIC.

2. We will teach you how to organize, audit, and perform QC checks on logs, as well as counsel and educate your drivers.

3. We will define a compliant driver log, show examples of log violations, and explain some tips and tricks for identifying violations when auditing.

4. We will discuss individual concerns and issues with attendees.

Also included is up-to-date ELD and AOBR information. The electronic logging device and automatic on board recorder rules and regulations are sending shockwaves through the transportation community. This training makes it clear who is required to have ELDs and who can take advantage of the exemption to not use them; our recommendations and the bare minimum usage required.

Unsafe Driving Management

Using the tools available to you to monitor this BASIC is a must. Learn what these tools are and how to use them to properly react to instances of Unsafe Driving which are warning signs of an accident waiting to happen. Learn to utilize your data into an action plan so that you can hire, train, re-train or let go of drivers properly. This key BASIC is also used by insurance companies to gauge a level of safety within a company. This course is designed to help you recognize bad behaviors and change them before it turns into something worse.

Maintenance Management Workshop

Roadside inspections dictate your score in SMS for this particular BASIC, but you also have to have other documents to prove you have a compliant maintenance program. We discuss the necessary documentation to ensure a SATISFACTORY safety rating in this area, what some common mistakes are and some of the best, proven strategies to have a pro-active maintenance program. We clarify the regulations for you and teach you a maintenance documentation process that is efficient, effective and compliant. Vehicle Maintenance is always going to be time-consuming, but we show you step-by-step descriptions of exactly what is required. Most importantly, we set aside time to discuss your specific concerns, questions and
unique situations (we keep class sizes small to facilitate this). When this session is done, you will be better able to prioritize time spent in this important area of DOT Compliance.

Accident Prevention/ Crash Indicator BASIC

We will discuss the FMCSR requirements as well as industry best-practices regarding what to do after a DOT-recordable crash or near-miss. We will discuss the accident investigation process and the accident countermeasures program. For each crash that shows up or that you believe might show up in SMS, you need to first determine whether it is a DOT-recordable. If so, you need to determine if it is preventable. If it IS recordable, and it IS preventable (most crashes are) you must conduct some level of root cause analysis. After you have done this you can begin to determine what to do to keep it from happening again

Policies and Plans

One of your best defenses AND offenses is to have great plans and policies. The DOT requires certain policies, and encourages the use of some others as well. This course covers which are required, which are encouraged, how to write your own policy and why that is a best practice, and more importantly, how to train using your policies and how to enforce them when issues arise. Some key points covered are: Hiring & Retention Criteria, Policy and Procedure Writing, Distracted Driving\ Cell Phone Policies, Safety Management Plans & Procedures, Security Plans

Critical & Acute Violations

Clients call all the time, wondering what the worst violations are. The answer is this entire discussion. Find out what the worst violations are and how to avoid them – what they mean, and how to build an action-plan around keeping your company out of the danger zone. Includes: Discussion of the Critical and Acute Violations, Last Minute Audit Prep, What You Can Still Fix, Who knows what, Set up a quiet place, What to say and what NOT to say

Train the Trainer

This discussion is arguably one of the most important – how do you get your information across to your supervisors? Your drivers? Your management? Should these methods differ? How can you make in-house training both compliant AND relevant? Topics include: Mandatory Entry Level Driver Training (Hours of Service, Driver Qualification, Whistleblower Protection, Load Securement, Wellness, Roadside Inspection Survival, CSA for Drivers, Driver Drug & Alcohol Training, North American Fatigue Management Program

Enhancing Public Safety

In addition to being a business, all DOT-regulated companies have an expectation to be on the forefront of enhancing public safety. This discussion covers Anti-Terrorism, AntiHijacking, The New Global Harmonization System, Training Drivers to be aware of their surroundings

Q&A

Nothing is off limits- ask any lingering questions and tie up loose ends at the end of this in-depth, comprehensive training seminar. Questions are encouraged throughout the seminar, but sometimes you will have so many in a row, they pile up. This session lasts as long as you need it to last.