Tips for commercial motor vehicle drivers in Ohio

Did you know Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for most highly traveled states? More private and commercial trucks are registered in Ohio than 44 other states in the country, and one out of every eight Ohio drivers is licensed to drive a commercial motor vehicle.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the Ohio State Highway Patrol regularly perform thorough inspections of commercial vehicles and drivers to make sure they meet state and federal safety regulations.

Vehicles and drivers that fail safety inspections are immediately placed out-of-service and not allowed to operate until the identified safety problems are addressed. The PUCO believes driver awareness and education can cut down the volume of violations and offers these tips in avoiding some of the most common out-of-service violations issued to drivers, motor carriers and hazardous material haulers in Ohio.

1) Record of duty status violations are the most frequently cited violations for commercial motor vehicle drivers in Ohio. Federal law requires drivers to record their duty status for each 24-hour period. Often times drivers neglect to fully record their duty status until they reach their destination.

·Tip for drivers: Keep log books inside the truck cab at all times. Remember to keep log books current as of the last time you came on duty and not when you first began your haul.

2) Out-of-service violations for lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps and turn signals) and tires on trucks routinely top the citation list each year and can lead to substantial fines for motor carriers. Too many violations can impact a motor carrier’s safety rating. Most lighting and tire violations are easily avoidable and can be caught during a pre-trip driver inspection.

· Tip for motor carriers: Practice periodic checks on your drivers to make sure they are practicing pre- and post-trip inspections. Self-audits and organized company reviews will save money and ensure company-wide safe practices. The PUCO provides many of these required forms on its website.

3) Shipping paper violations and improper placarding violations are other common out-of-service violations for motor carriers hauling hazardous materials. There are different rules and regulations that apply for motor carriers hauling hazardous materials. Since motor carriers typically haul items other than hazmat more frequently, drivers tend to forget which rules apply and tend to make simple mistakes.

· Tip for drivers and motor carriers when hauling hazardous material: Participate in quarterly refresher safety courses for drivers about current rules and regulations. The rules and regulations for shipping papers and placarding rarely change and violations are easily preventable. Remember that shipping papers must be kept within arm's length at all times. In case of an emergency, first responders must know exactly what the driver is hauling.

Motor carriers found in violation of a safety regulation are issued a civil forfeiture or fine. The PUCO facilitates the civil forfeiture program to deter violations and encourage compliance with federal and state rules.

For more information on motor carrier safety, the PUCO’s inspection process and civil forfeiture program, contact the PUCO at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) or visit the motor carrier industry section of www.PUCO.ohio.gov.