Memorial Day Holiday Safety

As we celebrate the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday let us not lose sight of the freedom we all enjoy.  On May 3, 2000, President William J. Clinton, designated 3:00 pm on Memorial Day as a time for US citizens to observe one minute of silence in respect and reverence to those individuals who have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect their freedom of the United States of America.  Also, keep in your thoughts and prayers for the well-being of the lives of the men and women who currently serve in our armed forces.  Have a safe and enjoyable holiday.

This is the first three-day holiday weekend of the year and it is not uncommon for thieves to target truck terminals and truck dealerships over the holidays. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an escalation in vehicles being broken into.  Another theft item that has escalated is the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).  The DPF is constructed with precious metals.  Thieves use a battery-powered saws-all to cut off the DPF.  Thieves recently stole a complete after-treatment system from one of our customer's units.  The theft resulted in the cost of replacing the parts and resulted in the unit being down for six weeks due to parts on backorder. Thieves know this holiday is a good opportunity for a successful theft as the possibility exists for no one to be at the facility.

Here are some security tips:

• Make sure that you take extra precautions to secure the trucks and items of value at your facility.
• If your units do not have anti-siphon fuel devices or locking fuel caps, instruct the drivers not to fill the units at the end of the day.
• Make sure that all security alarms and cameras are in working order.
• Walk the yard perimeter to make sure that security fencing is in good condition.
• Move units and all other materials such as pallets, tires, etc. far enough away from the fence so they cannot be used to climb on to get over the fence.
• Review your security lighting to make sure it is operational and adequate. Lighting can be obstructed by vehicles or trees allowing a thief a place to be unseen.
• Make sure the security alarm system is operational and cameras are adjusted.
• Consider blocking the entrance and exits to the lot so units cannot be stolen. Throughout the three-day weekend assign management personnel to check the terminal randomly.
• Notify local law enforcement officials of your hours of operation over the holidays so they know when to expect activity at your location.
• Using a little prevention and common sense can deter a thief from striking your facility and disrupting your business!

Be on the lookout for cargo theft activity over the holiday weekend

Cargo theft expected to increase over the Memorial Day Holiday Weekend

Positive drug tests account for 81% of the total violations reported in the Clearinghouse since January 6, 2020. As of May 1, 2021, marijuana has been detected in over half of all drug tests that have been filed in the Clearinghouse.

It is important for all employees who perform safety-sensitive functions, including CDL drivers, to know:

• The USDOT requires testing for marijuana and not CBD.
• The labeling of many CBD products may be misleading because the products could contain higher levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) than what’s stated on the product label.
• The USDOT’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Regulation, 49 CFR Part 40, does not authorize the use of Schedule I drugs, including marijuana, for any reason.
• CBD use is not a legitimate medical explanation for a laboratory-confirmed marijuana positive result. Therefore, Medical Review Officers will verify a drug test confirmed at the appropriate cutoffs as positive, even if an employee claims they only used a CBD product.
• Since the use of CBD products could lead to a positive drug test result, USDOT-regulated CDL drivers should exercise caution when considering whether to use CBD products.

Read the USDOT’s “CBD Notice” in full on the USDOT website.