If you’ve been reading our blog lately, you may have recognized a theme we’ve been following: recordkeeping. We recently posted these articles on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs) and their recordkeeping requirements:
As we’ve mentioned, these categories are used to rank your company’s safety performance and compliance in comparison to other motor carriers. The online Safety Measurement System (SMS) will show you where your company currently stands.
Keeping in line with our recordkeeping theme, let’s cover the Hours-of-Service (HOS) Compliance BASIC and the recordkeeping requirements that go along with it.
What is the Hours-of-Service (HOS) Compliance BASIC?
The HOS Compliance BASIC is based on the regulations that require CMV drivers to follow the HOS requirements in the FMCSRs at 49 CFR Part 392 and Part 395. This BASIC covers regulations related to records of duty status (RODS) corresponding with HOS requirements and the management of CMV driver fatigue.
If drivers operate their CMVs over their allotted hours of service and/or falsify their RODS to hide or alter their actual hours driven, they are not complying with the BASIC and their behaviors can justify FMCSA violations.
How can carrier performance be improved under the HOS Compliance BASIC?
Remind drivers that staying alert and awake means staying alive. While employers can do their best to instill HOS rules and provide helpful reminders, it is up to the drivers to ensure they are getting enough rest during their allotted breaks and off-duty time.
Drivers should also understand the importance of completing their RODS and keeping them as accurate as possible in order to avoid violations due to carelessness or dishonesty.
Finally, carriers must show due diligence in enforcing the 60/70 hour driving rules and the rule requiring 10 hours of off-duty time prior to the driver’s first dispatch.
What are the file maintenance and recordkeeping requirements for this BASIC?
A motor carrier must retain their drivers’ records of duty status (RODS) and supporting documents (in the form of dispatch records, receipts, statements, bills of lading, weight station tickets, or phone bill statements) for six months after they are received.
A backup copy of ELD records must be maintained on a separate device from where the original data is stored for six months as well.
For short-haul HOS, employers must document the driver’s clock-in and clock-out times, total time worked during the current period, and the total time worked during the previous seven days.
Follow Hours of Service Rules with Foley
Handling your FMCSA hours of service records doesn't have to be a hassle. Foley's DOT compliance software makes it easy to store, manage, and update your DOT files.
While you’re working with your dedicated account manager to set up your hours of service recordkeeping system, make sure you bring up any other DOT compliance questions or concerns you may have.
Foley can help you with our full suite of compliance programs, which can be customized to fit your company’s specific needs. Call us today to get started!
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