March 2024: What’s New in Safety & DOT Compliance
Spring is on its way, and with spring comes warmer weather and the start of inspection season.
Now is the time to start getting your fleets ready for roadside inspections. And speaking of time, don't forget that Sunday, March 12 is the start of Daylight Savings Time. Set your clocks one hour ahead!
March is also National Workplace Eye Wellness Month, so now is a great time to remind your employees to schedule their annual eye exams or DOT physicals if their medical certificates are expiring soon. You can also host educational sessions around eye safety or provide eye safety tips to your staff.
St. Patrick’s Day is coming up on March 17, and while it's a celebratory day, it also coincides with a day of awareness called Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving a reminder to stay off the roads if you’ve consumed even a little bit of alcohol. Impaired driving is dangerous for you and other drivers on the road, and having a clean record in the DOT Clearinghouse is an added bonus.
Register for Upcoming Safety Events
March is a busy month! Here are the series of events offered, touching on everything from new technologies to safety:
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Recalls Week
- National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Week
- Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Truckload 2024
- Mid-American Trucking Show (MATS)
Find out what you can look forward to at these events below.
NHTSA Vehicle Safety Recalls Week
No matter what type of vehicle you drive, for personal or professional use, this March 4-10 awareness initiative is one of the most important events occurring this month. During it, the NHTSA encourages drivers to check their vehicles for safety recalls and immediately take them to any local dealership for free repairs.
To learn how to check your vehicle for current recalls, click here.
NTEA Work Truck Week
If your business relies on any type of commercial vehicle (or you simply have a passion for them), you need to be at Work Truck Week 2024 from March 5-8 in Indianapolis, IN.
Join leaders in the innovation, design, engineering, maintenance, and parts sectors of the work truck and equipment industries to get an inside look at the latest products and technology from 500 exhibitors. It's an excellent occasion to evaluate vendors' latest offerings, seek new business opportunities within the industry, and even collaborate with current and prospective customers.
You can register for this year's Work Truck Week here.
TCA Truckload 2024
Hosted in Nashville, TN from March 23-26, Truckload 2024 is the premier event for C-Suite executives, managers, and trucking professionals representing for-hire carrier companies and vendors.
Attendees will enjoy networking and collaborating opportunities with other industry professionals, and two prominent speakers. Kevin O'Leary, otherwise known as “Mr. Wonderful” on ABC’s multi-award-winning Shark Tank, and nationally recognized author Kenneth W. Gronbach will both share their unique perspectives.
Additional activities will include inspirational sessions, a special spouse event, and an open forum on today's industry hot topics.
Click here to register for Truckload 2024.
MATS
More than 58,000 people are expected to attend the Mid-American Trucking Show from March 21-23 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville.
The show's "Pro Talks" educational sessions will include updates from the FMCSA and topics such as "Don’t Gamble with Fleet Safety: Secure Your Bottom Line with Data-Driven Excellence," and "Owner-Operator Survival Strategies, and Tactics to Thrive, in a Down Market."
Other events include the PKY Truck Championship competition, a chance to ride and drive commercial vehicles with the latest technologies, and a Veterans in Trucking event to honor the military. Don't forget about the MATs concert!
You're invited to register for this year's MATS by clicking here.
Upcoming Compliance Event: International Roadcheck 2024
Although International Roadcheck is not until May 16-18, now is the time to start preparing. Since 1988, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), along with the FMCSA and several other North American transportation organizations, have sponsored this safety event.
International Roadcheck is a high-volume commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspection and enforcement initiative that is annually conducted by certified inspectors across North America. Trucks that pass inspection will receive a CVSA decal and will be excused from another inspection for three months.
Each International Roadcheck focuses on different components of CMVs. This year’s specific focus will be tractor protection systems and alcohol and controlled substance possession.
Click here to learn more about the 2024 International Roadcheck, and keep an eye out for additional Foley articles on how to prepare your fleet for the inevitable event!
Rely on Foley for the Latest Industry Updates
Foley's experts not only keep you informed on the upcoming industry and safety events throughout the country, but we also stay up to date on the latest DOT compliance regulations. Make sure you check our blog for daily updates!
If you think your company is missing any of its DOT compliance requirements, we can help with them too. Schedule a FREE software demo now and talk to a Foley specialist about Dash, our automated compliance software that can make meeting FMCSA regulations (and passing DOT audits) a breeze.