CSA 2010 Could Threaten Your Livelihood As A Driver

                  

   Is your trucking company ready for CSA 2010? Have your employees been trained on the changes that CSA 2010 will bring in terms of enforcement and the effect this new system will have on their livelihood?

Want To Drive A Big Rig ? Read This First !

   Have you ever seen a big rig rolling down the road and thought it would be cool to learn how to drive one? The simple answer is yes it’s a real kick being behind the wheel of a class "A" vehicle. In most cases you will need to enroll in one of many commercial driving schools. In my case being a delivery driver I find that it’s the driving commercial vehicles brings me the most pleasure. First off I am in awe of the design and capabilities of the modern commercial vehicle. I also like sitting up higher than the rest of traffic and garnering some respect from what we call “4 wheelers“.


    Another aspect I enjoy is the challenge of the job, driving safely through all sorts of traffic and weather conditions. We as drivers also have to be able to put that trailer nearly anywhere you might imagine and even some places you wouldn’t. Like most jobs, driving has its ugly side as well. Drivers are responsible for being  knowledgeable and compliant with the latest DOT regulations. There are times when driving really becomes a chore and fatigue sets in on many occasions. For those over the road drivers they have to basically sleep in their trucks and eat and shower in endless truck stops, making it very hard to get away from the job.

   If you have weighed all the options and being a commercial driver is something you may want to pursue then you will need to get a CDL- (Commercial Drivers License). Depending on what type of driving you will be doing endorsements on that license may apply as well. Whether you may be purchasing or leasing a truck or become a company driver, the CDL is a requirement. Once you pass all the truck driving schools requirements and get the CDL then it’s yours for life unless you do something to lose it. *NOTE see my article on CSA 2010.

   In my case I learned how to drive from a relative and then used a third party tester to administer the test off site from the DMV. At some point in this process you will need to choose which commercial driving school to enroll in. some determining factors will
include:cost, geographic proximity, safety record and job placement percentages. Here in Oregon I can recommend a couple of commercial driving schools; IITR Truck School was founded in 1985 and has 5 locations here in this state; tuition and registration come to $4,700. Another training option I recommend is Western Pacific Truck School Of Oregon. This truck driving school has financing and a 96% post graduation placement rate.


   I live in Oregon and I can speak only to what is required to start a trucking business in this state. The state of Oregon  MCTD (Motor carrier transportation division )assesses more fees and road taxes than any other state. Suffice it to say that starting a trucking business in oregon will be a costly venture. If you have your mind made up then you first should look at all the state requirements that must be met to operate in Oregon.

Unified Carrier Fees

   If you own one truck or have a fleet of them it's time to pay up. The Unified Carrier fees are now due. O.D.O.T. will begin it's roadside enforcement starting February 1st. Fees vary depending on the fleet size so check with the motor carrier enforcement for what you owe. This is a one time annual assessment that can easily be paid online at www.ucr.in.gov . Failure to pay the your Unified Carrier Assessment could result in a hefty fine of up to $472.00.
   Even though Oregon is not participating in the program they still must enforce UCR requirements  which is provisioned in the FMCSR handbook.

Dennis L Edwards Tunnel Closure

                                                -Notice- Oregon Tunnel Closure

Courtesy of Wikipedia

The Dennis L Edward's tunnel formerly known as the Sunset tunnel on Oregon's Highway 26 is long overdue for repairs. O.D.O.T. has secured the funds and work will commence in mid January. For the most part the closures will be at night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Work is expected to take about 12 weeks. While the closures will have little effect on civilian traffic those of us who use this route for commercial purposes may be more inconvenienced. For example I work for food Services of America and we run doubles through that tunnel 6 days a week prior to the 6 a.m. daily re-opening. Alternate plans will have to be made.