Since switching to Samsara, we have been working on a new Safety Scorecard to calculate and award MK Elites!
The Pro-Formance Scorecard is designed to evaluate your driving skills based on 12 different risk factors. Breaking down your performance into specific categories helps you identify the areas you need to improve. These factors are divided into these sub-categories: Safety, Compliance, and Performance, each rated out of 100. The goal is to score green in all three categories to achieve MK Elite Status!
Congratulations to the following drivers who earned MK Elite Q1 2024:
Jessica Branham
Terry Branham
Dave Bruchman
Jeremiah Brubaker
Daniel Nunez
A driver can earn 1,000 Pro-Points for each green score in Safety, Compliance, Performance, and MK Elite (green in all three categories). This means you can get up to 4,000 Pro-Points!
You can find the Safety Scorecard in the Resource Library.
Keep up the great work and strive to improve your driving performance! We’re here to help in any way we can!
Texting while driving is one of the leading causes of distracted driving accidents. Even though people are conscious of the risks and the fact that using phones while driving may be illegal, many still choose to engage in this dangerous activity, putting themselves and others at risk.
The “Put the Phone Away or Pay” campaign by NHTSA serves as a reminder of the grave dangers and legal consequences, including fines, associated with texting and other forms of messaging while driving. Texting while driving is illegal in 49 states, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands. Police enforcement of texting and distracted-driving laws typically increases from April 4-8 to bring awareness of the issue.
A recent FMCSA regulation prohibits commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers from using handheld mobile devices. The rule prohibits drivers from holding a mobile device to make calls or dialing by pressing more than one button. CMV operators are allowed to use only hands-free devices placed nearby while driving. Studies funded by FMCSA reveal that CMV drivers who dial a mobile phone while driving are six times more likely to be involved in safety-critical incidents like crashes or near-crashes compared to those who do not. Dialing drivers typically divert their attention from the road for an average of 3.8 seconds, covering a distance of 306 feet at 55 mph (equivalent to the length of a football field) without looking at the road.
What is the definition of using a mobile telephone while driving?
Using at least one hand to hold a mobile phone to make a call
Dialing a mobile phone by pressing more than a single button; or
Reaching for a mobile phone in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver so that he or she is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt.
Drive Safe Every Trip
Consider these tips for safe driving:
Secure a mount for your phone.
Utilize a headset, earpiece, or voice-activated dialing to ensure hands-free operation.
Distracted driving encompasses more than just texting; it includes eating and adjusting the radio. Stay focused and use defensive driving techniques.
When you get behind the wheel, be an example to your family and friends by putting your phone away. Just because other people do it doesn’t mean texting and driving is “normal” behavior.
Cell phone use while driving is dangerous and illegal. Break the cycle. Remember: Put the Phone Away or Pay
From the CNBC website, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said the company acknowledges “our mistake,” after a door plug on a 737 Max 9 blew out in the middle of an Alaska Airlines flight, creating a gaping hole in the fuselage and prompting a grounding of that aircraft type by federal regulations. [fortunately, no one was ejected from the aircraft]
“When I got that picture [of the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9], all I could think about — I didn’t know what happened to whoever was supposed to be in the seat next to that hole in the airplane,” Calhoun told Boeing staff during an all-hands meeting Tuesday, according to remarks shared by Boeing. “I’ve got kids, I’ve got grandkids and so do you. This stuff matters. Every detail matters.” [the panel was not properly secured and the pilots failed to diagnose the problem despite several cabin pressure warnings on previous flights]. This is an example of the consequences of poor safety and inspection habits.
A cynical person might conclude that a Boeing 737 is not a valid comparison to the dangers of a loaded semi-truck traveling at highway speeds in a congested area. I disagree. The potential for loss of life involving a semi is much higher and is proven by highway fatalities. In 2022 nearly 47,000 people died in the United States, and about 10% of these crashes involve Trucks. For Truck Drivers, it is critical to understand the potential for loss of life, injury, and property damage, take the necessary precautions, and develop the right safety attitude. This begins with genuine and routine inspections.
Importance of Routines in Trucking
Safe driving is essential for arriving at your destination without incident. Unfortunately, many factors can make your daily driving experience stressful and unpredictable. The good news is that by implementing a consistent daily routine, you can maintain a sense of confidence, calm, and control.
One of the most important elements of your routine should be trip inspections. This involves performing a complete and genuine (1) pre-trip inspection at the start of the day, a (2) walk-around inspection every time the vehicle is parked, and a (3) post-trip inspection at the end of the day. By following this regimen, you can maintain your equipment and prevent roadside breakdowns and crashes.
Another crucial aspect of your routine should be trip planning. This involves checking your route, paperwork, weather, and any potential hazards. By planning ahead of time, you can avoid unexpected delays and detours, which can help you stay on schedule and avoid unnecessary stress.
Having routines is crucial, but it’s equally important to avoid rushing through them. Cutting corners during your pre-trips and trip planning can lead to many issues such as late deliveries, breakdowns, and severe accidents. Stop taking shortcuts, follow your same routine.
As part of their Hours of Service reporting, drivers may spend some of their rest period in a sleeper berth. Drivers record rest time in sleeper berths using the Samsara Driver App. You can review sleeper berth time in the daily log for the driver.
Sleep Sleeper Berth Rules
Drivers may split their 10-hour required shift reset period into two periods, provided that one is at least a 7-hour split sleeper berth (SB) period and the other is at least a 2-hour off-duty SB period.
These two periods must add up to 10 hours. Neither time will count against the shift time when the second period is completed. By default, Samsara calculates shift points and removes potential violations after both periods are met. To proactively pause shift clocks between shifts, drivers can enable Split Sleeper Toggle.
Refer to the provided link to view additional regulations regarding Split Sleeper Berth in Samsara.
To proactively pause shift clocks during split sleeper berth conditions, you can enable the Split Sleeper Toggle in the Samsara Driver App.
To enable the Split Sleeper Toggle, perform the following workflow:
Log in to the Samsara Driver App.
Tap HOS > HOS settings and enable Split Sleeper Toggle.An option displays under the HOS dials after you have completed one eligible split sleeper period in your shift:
A major part of being professional as a driver is practicing good safety habits. As a driver, your job is to move product safely from point A to point B. It sounds easy enough, but there are a lot of pieces involved in that. To start, you need to plan ahead. Trip planning is essential to the safe, on-time delivery of your load. Planning ahead for weather, traffic, road closures, or construction gives you an advantage as you know what to expect and can be proactive about any potential issues on your trip. Planning ahead also includes thorough inspections. Checking to make sure the truck and trailer are in good working order can prevent dangerous and costly accidents that put you and other drivers at risk.
When you’re on the road, follow your Smith System training. Eliminate distractions, always look ahead for hazards, and give yourself plenty of space and multiple ways out.
Developing safety routines and following them every single day can ensure that you are in control of most of what happens on the road. Avoid taking shortcuts and do the right thing even when no one is watching.
The costs of complacency when it comes to safety procedures can be dire. Avoid being lazy, reactive, or inattentive. These behaviors can lead to damage of products, equipment, or even loss of life. We want our drivers to make it home safely every week, and putting safety procedures first is how that happens.
Earn a $200 bonus on your settlement when you complete the What’s Your Why? Safety Campaign activities! Be sure to complete the campaign materials by November 30, 2023! Click the link to see more information about our campaign:
We all have something that inspires us to do what we do. What drives you? What is important to you? Is it your family, friends, pet, hobby, or favorite pastime? Because of your WHY, It’s essential to prioritize safety for yourself and the motoring public by operating safe equipment in a safe manner.
We’ve all had those days – drooping eyelids, endless yawns, and a wandering mind. We can often push through with caffeine, music, or podcasts, but this puts us at risk and endangers others on the road. This is called driver fatigue, and it can be difficult to recognize when we’re too tired to drive safely.
Driver fatigue causes slower reaction times, decreased awareness of surroundings, and impaired judgment. Studies show it can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Catastrophic accidents, such as a driver veering into oncoming traffic or forgetting to check their blind spots before changing lanes, can result from driver fatigue.
As a driver of a large vehicle, it is your responsibility to ensure that you are driving safely. Listening to your body and not pushing beyond your limits is crucial. Taking breaks and resting when necessary can help prevent fatigue. Remember, sleep is the best medicine for combating fatigue. If you feel tired or drowsy while driving, always pull over to a safe location and take a nap. Your safety and the safety of others on the road is our top priority!
Other tips to help manage Fatigue:
Know your body’s sleep needs and limitations
Plan your trips to include regular times of rest
Get the amount of sleep you require in one stretch if at all possible
Take a short nap between 10 – 45 minutes when feeling the onset of fatigue
Understand the effects of caffeine and stay away from stimulants stronger than a cup of coffee
Do not accept loads that will require you to exceed hours-of-service limitations
Eat healthy meals
Exercise regularly
Drink plenty of water
Watch out for the warning signs of fatigue, and if you experience a combination of any of the symptoms, DO NOT DRIVE. Always pull over to a safe location and take a nap.
We all have something that inspires us to do what we do. What drives you? What is important to you? Is it your family, friends, pet, hobby, or favorite pastime? Because of your WHY, It’s essential to prioritize safety for yourself and the motoring public by operating safe equipment in a safe manner.
Earn a $200 bonus on your settlement when you complete the What’s Your Why? Safety Campaign activities! Be sure to complete the campaign materials by November 30, 2023! Click the link to see more information about our campaign:
Did you know that large trucks were involved in nearly 500,000 crashes, according to the most recent year’s FMCSA data?
So, how can you avoid becoming another statistic on the road? By practicing safe, defensive driving.
Here’s what you need to know about defensive driving:
It’s based on two core principles: Anticipating and Increasing Driver Awareness
This means encourages drivers to stay alert for possible hazards and changes in driving or road conditions, enabling them to make good driving decisions and avoid dangerous situations
It’s important to be aware of your surroundings, maintain a safe following distance, avoid distractions, and remain calm to avoid trouble while behind the wheel
Defensive driving should be practiced by all drivers, regardless of experience level
By implementing these techniques, drivers are less likely to be involved in accidents, keeping you and the motoring public safe. We care about your safety more than anything else, so take control of your safety and practice defensive driving today and every day!
Please make sure you scan in all your paper logs! We need this information not only for compliance, but also in order to figure out our IFTA taxes.
From ORBCOMM, attached is a Malfunction Extension given by the FMCSA.
This extension allows drivers using ORBCOMM’s BT 504 platform to continue utilizing a Paper Record of Duty Status beyond the normal 8-day malfunction period specified in 49 CFR 395.8. This extension allows drivers to legally maintain a Paper Record of Duty Status through September 29, 2023, which is when we are aiming to have drivers switched back on to their ELD.
To utilize the extension and remain compliant, please ensure your drivers adhere to the following conditions:
Keep a copy of the Extension Letter in each vehicle.
If a driver is stopped for a roadside inspection, they must present the Extension Letter to the Enforcement Officer.
An option displays under the HOS dials after you have completed one eligible split sleeper period in your shift:
