Glostone Newsletter June, 2014
posted in Newsletter by Brian Gray
Glostone Newsletter
An Important Law Affecting CMV Drivers Goes Into Effect
To keep America’s interstate CMV drivers healthy and our roads safer, all interstate CMV drivers are now required to have their medical examinations performed by a Certified Medical Examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners. If you’re an interstate CMV driver, you already need a valid medical certificate signed by a medical examiner. The only change is that after May 21, 2014, you’ll need to go to a certified medical examiner for your medical certificate. If you’ve already had an exam and have a current certificate, that certificate will be valid until its regular expiration date.
You can find certified medical examiners in your area—or anywhere in the country—easily by: 1. Visit the National Registry Web site and search by Zip Code, State, or examiner name. 2. Choose a certified medical examiner from the list and call to make an appointment. 3. If your preferred health care professional isn’t on the list, simply refer him or her to the Certified Medical Examiners page to learn more about getting certified.
You can find more information by going to the National Registry Web site at https://nationalregistry.fmcsa.dot.gov/getting-started/or by calling CleanFleet at 503-479-6082. CleanFleet can schedule a driver medical exam conducted by FMCSA certified Dr Julia Wilber at either their Clackamas or Marine Drive locations.
TELEMATICS SUCCESS ‘DOESN’T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT’
Investment in a telematics system, commonly referred to as electronic on board recorders, should be seen as a long-term strategy that can generate results beyond initial goals, fleet management experts said here during the NAFA Fleet Management Association’s annual Institute & Expo.
“We have seen good results so far, but it doesn’t happen overnight,” said Scott Darling, corporate fleet manager for energy company BP PLC in Houston. Speaking during a panel discussion, Darling said his company’s focus is on driver safety and aims to use the data it collects to reduce accidents and injuries across its global fleet of 12,000 vehicles. About 80% of them are pickup trucks, he said.
In the company’s pipeline operation, around 300 trucks have been outfitted with telematics devices. But before those devices were installed, Darling said, BP researched the technology’s lifecycle.
“You have hardware costs, installation costs, activation costs and monthly fees,” he said, adding that fleets also must consider whether a selected vehicle will remain in service for the life of the telematics device. “You have to keep track of that, because it affects overall cost,” he said.
Keeping track of the data collected is a separate challenge, one that can occupy significant staff resources. “There is a return on investment consideration with people, too,” Darling said. “Who is looking at the data? Do you need an analyst? And do you need someone to manage the devices?”
Glostone Trucking Solutions works with clients using telematics to help manage their data. “We work with each client on their individual telematics goals by providing management, analysis, reporting and storage of the data” says Dave Gray, President of Glostone Trucking Solutions. “As an example, we have a client using the popular Rand McNally telematics system for its distance tracking used in IFTA tax reporting. Rand McNally only stores the data for 6 months but IFTA requires the data be kept for 4 years. We manage the data for the client, provide the IFTA tax reporting plus store the proper data components so the company is covered in the event of an audit,”
Telematics is a costly, upfront expense. To make the investment cost effective, the data must be carefully managed and then aggressively integrated into the day to day operations of the company to reduce risk, lower costs, improve efficiencies and increase compliance.
Glostone Trucking Solutions Now An EROAD Dealer!
Glostone Trucking Solutions is proud to announce a strategic alliance with EROAD, a leading transport technology and services company. EROAD is the first provider to offer motor carriers an electronic service for managing and paying weight-mile taxes. In addition, the EROAD solution provides a wide-range of fleet tracking and regulatory services including IFTA and IRP reporting, fuel management, messaging and maintenance support.
The EROAD system received an independent unqualified opinion by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Audit Division that said in part “We found that the EROAD system accurately and reliably captures and calculates Oregon weight-mile tax information. We also found the company provides a secure and stable environment for transmitting, processing and storing motor carrier weight-mile tax information.”
The Glostone-EROAD alliance means that Glostone can provide state of the art mileage tracking, tax reporting, and electronic logging systems to its clients. EROAD users can manage the data system on their own or continue to partner with Glostone to expertly set up, maintain, manage and integrate the benefits of the EROAD system into their day to day operations.
The EROAD/Glostone combination provides carriers the tools and compliance expertise that will increase compliance, reduce risk, lower operating costs, improve efficiencies, and create better, safer drivers. Call us for more information at 503-607-1088 or visit the EROAD website at www.eroad.com!
