With winter officially behind us and (hopefully) less snow on the roads, there are plenty of other potential distractions to be wary of while behind the wheel.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and National Alcohol Awareness Month. By practicing safe driving habits, such as avoiding cell phone use, being mindful of drowsiness, and never drinking and driving, everyone can make the roads we share safer. Truck drivers should be especially aware of risking their perfect record on the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse!
April is also Workplace Violence Awareness Month. In just 2020 alone, there were 37,060 nonfatal injuries in the workplace resulting from an intentional injury by another person, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These unfortunate events can happen at any workplace in any industry, and we can all play our part to ensure going to work is not a threatening experience for our colleagues and ourselves.
Sign Up for or Observe Upcoming Safety Events
Numerous exciting events that relate to drivers, HR professionals, safety managers, and other transportation experts are taking place throughout the US this month, including the following:
- Transportation Intermediaries Association Annual Conference
- FHA National Work Zone Awareness Week
- American Trucking Associations Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition
- Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Workshop
Transportation Intermediaries Association Annual Conference
Coming up is the TIA 2025 Capital Ideas Conference & Exhibition, which kicks off at the JW Marriott San Antonio from April 9-12. Attendees can expect a full itinerary of 5+ general sessions, 10+ networking events, 24+ education sessions, 50+ learning lab breakouts, and an exhibit hall with 70+ of the industry’s leading vendors and providers. Networking is clearly the TIA’s “thing,” with a golf outing, small company networking, and women in logistics lunch all wrapped into their agenda. Click here to register for this action-packed conference.
FHA National Work Zone Awareness Week
The Federal Highway Administration’s National Work Zone Awareness Week is April 21-25, and it’s the perfect kick-off to the upcoming construction season.
Drivers should always remain vigilant and use good judgment when their routes take them through work zones this spring and summer. Precious lives are on the line!
American Trucking Associations Safety, Security & Human Resources National Conference & Exhibition
Taking place April 23-25 in Louisville, KY, this is the only trucking and transportation event in the country that features three main educational tracks focused on the latest in safety, security, and human resources. Over 25 guest speakers will enhance the scheduled sessions, as well as dynamic topics centered on recruiting, drug testing, cybersecurity, and many more. You can register for the event here.
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Workshop
Don't miss this annual CVSA event from April 27 to May 1 at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana. A full schedule of events encourages attendees to collaborate with colleagues to enhance the safety of the transportation industry, roadways, and commercial motor vehicles. Many interesting information sessions fill the busy daily schedule, with topics including International Roadcheck, Operation Safe Driver, and Human Trafficking Prevention. You can find out more about the workshop here.
Helpful DOT Compliance Reminders
Have you kept up with your pre-employment Clearinghouse queries? These queries show the full details of a driver’s record, including any drug and alcohol violations and whether they have completed the return-to-duty process. Keep in mind — since all of the driver’s information is revealed in the FMCSA Clearinghouse from the pre-employment query, they must give electronic consent prior to running it. The limited consent form used to run the annual query will not suffice.
Remember, enforcement officers can check your drivers' Clearinghouse records during International Roadcheck in May. They will be able to see if they are in prohibited status, which is an out-of-service violation. If that's the case, your driver will be pulled from the road immediately and you will need to arrange for another driver to pick up and finish delivering the freight left behind.
Feeling unsure about your FMCSA Clearinghouse queries or even your DOT compliance as a whole? Foley is here to help. Our advanced DOT compliance software offers Clearinghouse query management in addition to numerous other programs required by the DOT.
Get your free software demo now and set your company up for success before the 2025 CVSA Roadcheck.
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