Posts Tagged ‘Long haul trucking’

2 Tips to Eliminate CSA Inspections and Traffic Tickets

By David Lemke

  1. Control your speed. The #1 reason for getting stopped and inspected is speeding. (Not surprisingly the #1 cause of accidents is also speeding- thus the focus.) Lane violations, tailgating, and other aggressive behaviors are also guaranteed to get the attention of law enforcement. CMV enforcement personnel don’t need a reason (probable cause) to stop and inspect a truck, but you don’t need to give them one. Simply put, drive safely and professionally and you’ll virtually eliminate your odds of being targeted for inspection. [By the way, there is no law requiring law enforcement to “give 10 MPH” or even 1 MPH over a posted speed limit. Even driving the speed limit when road, weather, or traffic conditions dictate a slower speed is a violation (speed too fast for conditions) in many jurisdictions.
  2. Inspect and maintain your equipment. A light out, tire with cord/belt exposed, or other easily-spotted equipment defect will get you pulled over (or pulled behind a scale) every time. Do your pre-trip inspection. Report defects and get them repaired before hitting the road. A truck with a headlight out pulling into a scale is almost certain to get a red light. Don’t make yourself an easy target.

 

Look us up at www.navajo.com

1-800-525-1969

Stop by and see us at

1400 W. 64th Ave.

Denver, CO 80221

EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT !!!

By Kelly Gallegos

Passing DOT Inspections earn drivers extra money. Clean Level 1 inspections are worth $100.00. Level 2 is worth $50.00 and Level 3 is worth $25.00 It can really add up quickly over time. Take the time to look through your book and make sure all of your permits are updated. Make sure your current medical card is readily available and in the same place for quick access. If you can provide a neat organized permit book and up to date medical card quickly the DOT officer is going to see that you are organized and ready to pass the inspection.  

 

***Bonus Tip***

Make sure when you get an updated medical card or any of the permits in your book to discard the old ones.  If you present the officer with an expired document you will get a ticket even if you later discover you had the current document in your possession.

 

Look us up at www.navajo.com

1-800-525-1969

Stop by and see us at

1400 W. 64th Ave.

Denver, CO 80221

Trucking And Your Back – Avoiding Injuries

By David Lemke

Back injuries happen in the trucking industry.  Back injuries account for over 37% of all musculoskeletal injuries in truck drivers. 

Tips to prevent them!

 

GOOD POSTURE – We all heard this growing up: “Sit up straight.  Don’t slouch.”  As it turns out, this is good advice.  Slouching is very stressful on your back.  It weakens your back muscles and causes a slow degeneration of the discs between your vertebrae, which can cause herniated or slipped disks. Poor posture can also impinge nerves and cause pain in other places such as the legs. To improve posture, move your hips all the way to the back of the seat. Lean slightly back to a comfortable position. If the back of the chair is rounded, place a small cushion in the space created between your lower back and the chair. This will cause a healthy sitting position and prevent you from curving your back to the shape of the chair.

 

GET OUT AND STRETCH – Muscles need to be stretched before use.  Simple stretches can prevent injury.  For example, place one foot on the step of the truck while stretching the back leg in a lunge position.  Bend the front knee and push the hip forward, hold for 20 seconds, and repeat with the opposite leg.  Touching your toes or bending backwards with your hands on your hips will also help to stretch tight back muscles. Gently rotating the head from side to side and front to back a few times can relieve tension that builds up in neck muscles.

 

Look us up at www.navajo.com

1-800-525-1969

Stop by and see us at

1400 W. 64th Ave.

Denver, CO 80221

Taking Ownership, Starting at Your DESK

By Douglas Webberley

On time is everything. It is our livelihood, it is our pay check, it is your job.  The owners can cry,  beg, and yes even yell, but it is your job to deliver on time and set appt’s that can be delivered on time.  That is what you and I were hired on for.  All the other stuff is for fun. Tthe driving part is fun. Talking to customer is fun, and so on. 

If you are late it then become your attitude and your professionalism in working through this dilemma.  If a planner has put in a wrong ETA or a CSR has put in a wrong delivery date and time, it is your job to be the point person on this and take the hit not the driver. 

Bottom line, we all like our pay check and we all need a career and it doesn’t get any better than what we have. So make it the best you can and deliver and schedule for on time on time on time….. And yes it is sales job to sell power alleys that can give you on time and better CSA scores.

Reefer and O,S,& D Refresher

By Tina Madrid

Due to the warmer temperatures at this time of the year we need to be extra careful when hauling refrigerated loads. When you are dispatched on one of these loads make sure your reefer unit is working correctly. Check the unit for any codes it may be displaying and check all fluid levels. This is required during your DOT pre trip inspection. Check the bill of lading for the required temperature and make sure the reefer unit is set correctly and the temperature is in Fahrenheit.
 
If there is a temperature requirement shown in our dispatch and it is different from the bill of lading, GO BY THE BILL OF LADING. If you are having issues with the reefer unit put in a breakdown macro  immediately as well as a Macro 5. If you have any doubt what so ever please contact the Navajo OS&D department by sending in a macro 5 or give us a call. If we all work together as a team we will be successful.
 
OS&D Contacts:          Tina @ Ext. 0770         Kelly @ Ext. 0701

By Brett Nails

A Team is defined as  individuals organized to function cooperatively as a group for one common goal.  At Navajo we are all individuals with different responsibilities whether a Driver or President of the Company and every position in between, we must work together as a team if we are to succeed. 

Abraham Lincoln once said,  A house divided against itself cannot stand,” which is taken from Mark 3:25.  We are all human and make mistakes, but we must learn from our mistakes and strive not to make them again.  The Digby Family has given us all an opportunity to be a part of something Great, but if we come together as a team we can be a part of something even Greater. The choice is ours to make of our own free will and I hope you will join me and make the decision to be a productive member of Team Navajo and together we will make Navajo all it can be.  Take Pride In The Tribe and Go Team Navajo.

 

Look us up at www.navajo.com

1-800-525-1969

Stop by and see us at

1400 W. 64th Ave.

Denver, CO 80221

NHTSA Proposes Mandatory Stability Control

By David Lemke

Ordering your Class 7 or 8 truck tractor without stability control may not be an option a few years from now. Although electronic stability control systems (ESCs) are currently available as an option, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to make them mandatory. The agency is issuing a proposed rulemaking on ESCs this month, estimating that a standard requiring them on large trucks and buses would prevent up to 2,329 crashes, eliminate an estimated 649 to 858 injuries, and prevent between49 and 60 fatalities a year.

 

The draft of the rulemaking estimates that the cost-per-vehicle will be $1,160. It’s not clear from a first reading of the proposal whether that is the additional cost to the person buying the vehicle or the cost to the manufacturer. But this proposal will certainly increase the price tag on future power units

Nationwide DOT Roadside Inspection Sweep June 4 – 10

Navajo DOT

Roadside BlitzNavajo DOT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), a group of federal, state and local transportation enforcement agencies, is preparing to put 10,000 inspectors at 1,500 sites nationwide to conduct approximately 75,000 roadside inspections on June 4- 10, 2012. The CVSA “Road Check” inspection sweep is an annual event designed to highlight common violations of state and federal motor carrier and HAZMAT transportation regulations. The goal of the Road Check program is to take unsafe drivers and vehicles off the road, increase awareness of inspections and their function, educate drivers about vehicle maintenance and gather general motor carrier compliance data.

This year, inspectors will focus special attention on compliance with driver hours of service requirements and distracted driving violations (texting while driving). Drivers who are stopped during the RoadCheck enforcement sweep should be prepared to undergo a full Level 1 roadside inspection.

Level 1 inspections include the following: examination of driver’s license; medical examiner’s certificate; alcohol and drug use; driver’s record of duty status; hours of service; seat belt use; vehicle inspection report; brake systems; coupling devices; exhaust systems; frame; fuel systems; lighting devices (turn signals, brake lamps, tail lamps, head lamps and lamps/flags on projecting loads); safe loading; steering mechanism; suspension; tires; wheels and rims; windshield wipers; and compliance with applicable HAZMAT requirements such as placards and markings. Due to Navajos current CSA scores we will be targeted for inspections. We need your individual commitment and support to eliminate any inspection citations! Let’s show them our best professional effort!

Be prepared for this event and ensure you;

ü  Have completed your required pre-post trip inspections and you equipment has no violations

ü  Have your valid driver license & medical card with you.

ü  That you are not over your allowed hours of service

ü  That if you have HazMat it is properly placarded, you have your HazMat/ERG books and your shipping papers are correct

ü  That you comply with the requirements of cell phone use and are not texting or typing while driving

ü  That you have a authorized passenger pass for a rider

ü  That your unit is not over weight

 

Remember to report your inspections and send in the form. Clean inspections get you extra $’s

 

Look us up at www.navajo.com

1-800-525-1969

Stop by and see us at

1400 W. 64th Ave.

Denver, CO 80221

 

2012 – Colorado Truck Driving Championship (TDC) Competition June 2th, 2012

Written by David Lemke

 

Navajo Truck

Navajo in the Rockies

 

 

Last year Bob Edwards won 1st place for 5 axle SB in the state championships. There was only a few of Navajo employees there to support our company drivers who were competing.For any Denver based management or employees or those who may be in town, please mark your calendar and attend this year’s event and support our competing drivers! We will have a tent, tables and chairs and drinks/food available.

Call or stop by and see Navajo Safety Department to get signed up!!! Bring everyone!!!

This year’s Colorado TDC will be held on June 2th at the

Adams County Fairgrounds.
9755 Henderson Road
Brighton, CO

 

Colorado Truck Driving Championships Rules and Procedures

 

The Truck Driving Championship Tests

Written Examination: Lasting one hour, this exam is valued at 80 points and consists of 40 questions. The questions are based on material contained in the “2012 Facts for Drivers” handbook, provided to the driver.

Pre-Trip Inspection: Drivers are required to find planted defects on a test vehicle within a specified time. The Pre-Trip Inspection is worth 100 points. No points are awarded for unplanted defects.

Driving Skills Course: The contestant’s ability to handle a vehicle and judge distance and clearance is tested on a course consisting of any six problems designed to simulate conditions that a driver encounters in everyday operations. The Driving Skills Test is worth 300 points.

 

Truck Driving Championship Classes

* 3 axle tractor semitrailer * 5 axle tractor semitrailer, flatbed * twin trailers

* 4 axle tractor semitrailer * 5 axle tractor semitrailer, tanker * straight truck

* 5 axle tractor semitrailer * 5 axle tractor semitrailer, sleeper * step van (non-CDL)

 

Driver Eligibility:

The contestant must:

(1) Work for a company that is a member of the Colorado Motor Carriers Association

(2) Regularly perform the duties of a professional truck driver (i.e. hostlers, mechanics are not  

     eligible)

(3) Must have a commercial driver’s license and all necessary endorsements required for the

     class of competition (i.e. tanker or doubles – exception: Step vans)

(4) Must have been continuously employed by one employer for the 12 months prior to the state

     TDC

(5) Must have an accident-free record of at least 12 months prior to entry in the state

     championships

(6) Must meet DOT physical requirements

(7) Must represent the state in which they reside or are occupationally-domiciled

(8) Must not have won the state championship in both the preceding 2 years in the category of competition 

 

For any Denver domiciled drivers that have an interest in representing Navajo Express at the upcoming Truck Driving Championships, Please contact Marlene Settlemire in the safety department. She will verify your eligibility and help you complete the required entrance forms!

THE ENTRY DEADLINE IS Friday, May 18, 2012.

No entry forms will be accepted and no refunds will be made after that date, unless prior

arrangements have been made.

 

Look us up at www.navajo.com

1-800-525-1969

Stop by and see us at

1400 W. 64th Ave.

Denver, CO 80221

 

Invitation to Attend Orientation Just to Refresh

Written by David Lemke

Navajo Express has an open drivers orientation. We conduct these orientations every week Monday Through Friday. All company drivers and owner operators are welcome to sit in any of the sessions. We cover topics like: QUALCOMM, EOBR’s, payroll, accident handling etc.

So if you would like to get some help or an update on any of the driver orientation sessions you’re welcome to attend. Just get approval from your driver manager and let the safety department or terminal manager know.

 

Look us up at www.navajo.com

1-800-525-1969

Stop by and see us at

1400 W. 64th Ave.

Denver, CO 80221