CVSA Updates Out-of-Service Hours-of-Service Rules
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is revising its rules regarding hours-of-service (HoS) violations that lead to out-of-service (OoS) declarations. In doing this, the CVSA hopes to allow more truckers on the road without compromising safety.
Cooking the Books
Driving beyond the standard HoS does not normally lead to an OoS violation, it is the proven act of falsifying logs that caused the CVSA to consider a driver to be an “immediate hazard”, due to not knowing just how much rest the driver has obtained recently.
The CVSA is now updating their criteria for when falsifying a log leads to labeling the driver and immediate hazard. With the old system, a driver could drive 11 hours on Monday, falsify the logs, perform normally until Saturday, and still be liable for an OoS violation, even if the driver sleeps long, well, and consistently for every single day up to that weekend.
The new rules, which you can read at the CVSA’s letter webpage, says that falsified logs will be in the clear depending on how much time has passed and what range was falsified (11, 14, or 60/70 hours). Falsification will still be a violation that leads to fines, but the driver will not be deemed unfit for service.
The CVSA document also states that the Alliance is taking a different approach to monitoring tired drivers, focusing on the safety of all drivers rather than maximizing revenge on violators. It reads:
“[The Out-of-Service Criteria] Policy Statement directs inspectors to remove ‘imminent hazards’ from roadways and is not intended to be a punitive measure. The ‘imminent hazard’ exists when a driver is concealing a current hours-of-service limitation at the time of the inspection and should be placed out of service. Falsifications that occurred on previous dates, prior to a valid/confirmed qualifying rest period, do not pose an imminent hazard to the public and should not be placed out of service,” the CVSA document reads.
Conclusion
With this change that becomes effective April 1st, truckers can take better solace in knowing that the CVSA is not an organization with malice towards commercial drivers, but is instead trying to implement a system that keeps everyone on the road safe.
The letter also includes other changes and clarifications, such as the requirement for additional tiedowns every ten feet being a minimum, rather than a specific number of tiedowns placed in specific spots.
ABOUT TOPMARK FUNDING
TopMark Funding is a top-rated semi-truck financing and trailer financing company located in Roseville, CA. We specialize in commercial trucking and heavy equipment. Our mission is to become your long-term financial partner by helping you grow your trucking business and fleet.
We’re not here for the short-term, we’re on the long-haul with you!
We have financing options for trailers, semi-trucks, commercial trucks, and small businesses. We have great rates, low down payments, and flexible monthly payments regardless of credit history.
Learn more about Trailer Financing.
Fill out the contact form or give us a call at (866) 627-6644. One of our truck financing specialists will contact you as soon as possible to go over your truck lease needs and learn more about you and your business financing goals.