Great West Casualty Company Blog

After the planning and training are done, you will want to move into the actual execution or implementation phase of managing the change. To ease the actual implementation, you will roll out the use of the electronic logging devices (ELDs) in phases. The main reason for this is to beta test the devices, the data usage, and policies and procedures using a control group. Include your driver champions in the beta-testing phase. They can then serve as mentors during the full roll-out. During the beta testing phase, you will want to spend time reviewing your processes for sorting and using data. This is meant to be a summary of information contained in the rule. Be sure to review the rule and seek any legal advice from counsel. This material contains suggestions, and companies should find an approach that fits their unique operations best.

Walking-working surfaces pertains to floors, ladders, stairways, runways, dock boards, roofs, scaffolds, and elevated work surfaces and walkways. According to OSHA, "To protect workers from hazards associated with those surfaces, particularly hazards related to falls from elevations, the final rule updates and revises the general industry Walking-Working Surfaces standards (29 CFR part 1910, sub-part D)." The final rule provides employers with greater flexibility in choosing a fall protection system, including guardrails and safety net systems, and addresses other areas such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the requirements for training employees on fall hazards and fall protection systems. 

Switching from a paper logging system to an electronic logging system is not as simple as “plug in the device and let the data flow.” While electronic logging devices (ELDs) are nothing more than “very accurate logs,” the switch to an electronic logging system will impact all departments and all phases of your operation. It must be handled as a significant change, using a change management process approach. Using a change management process will allow you to maintain stability and continuity while reaching your end-state goal. In this case, the goal is the company operating effectively using an electronic logging system. With the Final Rule requiring that most drivers switch to electronic logs by December 18, 2017, carriers need to determine their end-state goal and start moving toward it sooner rather than later. There are many different change management models to work from. We are going to use one of the basic models - Prepare, Manage, Reinforce - and discuss the thoughts and actions that need to go into each step of the process. This is meant to be a summary of information contained in the rule. Be sure to review the rule and seek any legal advice from counsel. This material contains suggestions, and companies should find an approach that fits their unique operations best.

Managing the risks associated with trucking operations can be a daunting task. From choosing the right insurer to navigating contract pitfalls, there are countless ways a motor carrier can experience losses. To keep the wheels turning in today’s environment, leaders who are willing to look at operational exposures from every angle and select the most effective risk management technique are better positioned to avoid, or at least mitigate, future losses.

Since the system will involve hardware and software, you will need to consider when and how the devices and back office system can be implemented. How long will it realistically take you to install all the equipment once the decision is made to move forward? What level of technical knowledge will your mechanics need to install and set up the onboard system? Are you going to use outside shops to install some or all of the devices? Do you need your own IT personnel to install and operate the system? Does the vendor store the data and provide an access portal, rather than placing the hardware and software burden on you? If so, how extensive is the training for back office personnel going to be? These are all considerations that need to be reviewed in advance. This is meant to be a summary of information contained in the rule. Be sure to review the rule and seek any legal advice from counsel. This material contains suggestions, and companies should find an approach that fits their unique operations best.

Slips and falls are the leading cause of workplace injuries. These incidents often result in traumatic head, neck, back, and other serious injuries which affect you, your family, coworkers, and employer. In addition to pain and the possibility of temporary or permanent disability, a slip and fall injury could cost you in lost wages, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and your ability to enjoy the people and activities you love. The key to preventing slips and falls is to be able to recognize hazards and take defensive measures to protect you from injury.

The mandate for installing and using electronic logging devices (ELDs) in commercial vehicles became a reality on December 16, 2015. Unless your company is currently using automated on-board recording devices (AOBRD), it is important to begin or finalize the process soon. This is meant to be a summary of information contained in the rule. Be sure to review the rule and seek any legal advice from counsel. This material contains suggestions, and companies should find an approach that fits their unique operations best. Read below to learn more about the Final Rule. 

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is drumming up awareness for its Brake Safety Day on Thursday, September 7, 2017. During this enforcement and compliance campaign, law enforcement agencies across Mexico, the United States, and Canada will conduct inspections on buses and large trucks to identify out-of-adjustment brakes, brake-system, and antilock braking system (ABS) failures and violations as part of the CVSA Operation Airbrake Program.

For many over-the-road drivers, finding an available place to stop or rest for the night after an 11 to 14-hour shift can be cumbersome. In their study, titled "Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry,” the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that the lack of “available, safe parking for truck drivers,” ranked as the fourth overall issue impacting the industry in 2016.

On June 12, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it will not hear the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association’s (OOIDA) appeal to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) ELD mandate.