National Fire Prevention Week is coming, and it is a good time to review with your drivers how to prevent fires and how to react to a fire that occurs in their commercial motor vehicle. 

This week a video of an accident on I80 in Iowa went viral as a truck driver was rescued by another driver from a burning tractor trailer engulfed in fire.

Fire extinguisher inspection is a vital part of a driver’s daily vehicle inspection process.  It amazes me how many times I will be looking at a truck and find the fire extinguisher has lost it pressure due to a leak or was used and returned to the truck without being recharged.  The actions of a driver at the time of a fire are crucial in saving lives and controlling the amount of loss.
 

When a fire occurs in a commercial motor vehicle the driver must know two things:

1. Knowledge about fires
2. How to operate a fire extinguisher

Fire safety and fire extinguisher operation should be part of every new driver’s orientation program.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations require that all commercial motor vehicles have a fire extinguisher on board that is of the correct size, type and properly secured and labeled.  Did you know that a CMV with hazardous materials is required to have a different size extinguisher than those not carrying hazardous material?
 

Here are the requirements:

§393.95 Emergency equipment on all power units.

Each truck, truck tractor, and bus (except those towed in driveaway-towaway operations) must be equipped as follows:

(a) Fire Extinguishers
(a)(1) Minimum ratings:  

  • A power unit that is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding must be equipped with a fire extinguisher having an Underwriters’ Laboratories rating of 10 B:C or more. 
  • A power unit that is not used to transport hazardous materials must be equipped with either:
  • A fire extinguisher having an Underwriters’ Laboratories rating of 5 B:C or more.
  • Labeling and marking. Each fire extinguisher required by this section must be labeled or marked by the manufacturer with its Underwriters’ Laboratories rating.
  • Visual Indicators. The fire extinguisher must be designed, constructed, and maintained to permit visual determination of whether it is fully charged.
  • Condition, location, and mounting. The fire extinguisher(s) must be filled and located so that it is readily accessible for use. The extinguisher(s) must be securely mounted to prevent sliding, rolling, or vertical movement relative to the motor vehicle.


When a fire occurs in a Commercial Motor Vehicle the driver should take the following actions:

  1. Get the truck off the roadway and into an open area if possible.  Park away from buildings, trees, vehicles, or anything else that may catch fire.
  2. Call 911 on your cell phone to report the fire and location.
  3. If the fire is already to a size that cannot be extinguished get away from the truck.  Your life and the life of the public is your first responsibility.
  4. If you are operating a tractor trailer and can safely disconnect the trailer from the tractor do so as not to damage both units and cargo in the fire.
  5. If the engine is on fire turn off the engine as soon as possible.
  6. Do not open the hood if possible and try to extinguish the fire from the louvers, radiator, or underside of the truck.  Opening the hood will provide additional oxygen to fire and it will increase at a more rapid rate.
  7. If the fire is in your trailer or cargo box of the truck keep the doors shut.  Here again additional oxygen will increase the intensity of the fire.
  8. A tire fire will not likely be extinguished with a fire extinguisher.  Try throwing dirt or sand on the tire to smother the fire.

What you can do to prevent the likelihood of a fire starting in your Commercial Motor Vehicle:

  1. Complete a thorough pre and post trip inspection daily of the fuel, electrical, exhausts systems, tires, and cargo of your truck.
  2. Keep the unit clean from excess grease, fuel, and oil.
  3. Monitor your dash gauges while in operation for signs of overheating.
  4. Utilize your mirrors for signs of smoke or flames.
  5. With new Post Emission 2007 and newer units be aware of regeneration of the after treatment program and where the regeneration occurs as exhaust temperatures reach high levels of heat.
  6. Know the cargo that you have on board and its fire potential.

FMCSA Alert - 09/21/20 FMCSA Extends Waivers for CDLs, CLPs, Medical Certificates Through December 31, 2020

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has granted a further extension of its waiver of the validity of CDLs, Commercial Learner’s Permits and Driver Medical Certificates that expired on or after March 1, 2020.  The current waiver is now set to expire on December 31, 2020.

State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLAs), CDL holders, CLP holders, and interstate non-CDL CMV drivers are covered under this waiver without further action unless the driver’s privileges have been suspended or withdrawn for traffic offenses.
 
The waiver issued by FMCSA:
 
• Extends until December 31, 2020, the maximum period of CDL validity by waiving 49 CFR 383.73(b)(9) and 383.73(d)(6) for CDLs due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020.
• Extends until December 31, 2020, the maximum period of CLP validity by waiving 49 CFR 383.73(a)(2)(iii) and 383.25(c) for CLPs that are due for renewal on or after March 1, 2020, without requiring the CLP holders to retake the general and endorsement knowledge tests.
• Waives until December 31, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.25(e) that CLP holders wait 14 days to take the CDL skills test.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 that CDL holders, CLP holders, and non- CDL drivers have a medical examination and certification, provided that they have proof of a valid medical certification and any required medical variance (as defined in 49 CFR 390.5T such as an exemption letter or a skill performance evaluation certificate) that were issued for a period of 90 days or longer:
• For CDL holders, CLP holders, and non- CDL drivers whose medical certification was valid on February 29, 2020 and expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL holders, CLP holders, and non-CDL drivers whose medical certification expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 391.45 is waived until December 31, 2020.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.71(h)(3) that, in order to maintain the medical certification status of “certified,” CDL or CLP holders provide the SDLA with an original or copy of a subsequently issued medical examiner’s certificate and any required medical variance:
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.71(h)(3) is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.71(h)(3) is waived until December 31, 2020.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirement under 49 CFR 383.73(o)(2) that the SDLA change the CDL or CLP holder’s medical certification status to “not certified” upon the expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance:
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(2) is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(2) is waived until December 31, 2020.
• Waives, in accordance with the following periods of eligibility, the requirements under 49 CFR 383.73(o)(4) that the State Driver Licensing Agency initiate a CDL or CLP downgrade upon the expiration of the medical examiner’s certificate or medical variance:
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after March 1, 2020 but before June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(4) is waived until October 31, 2020.
• For CDL or CLP holders who have proof of a valid medical certification or medical variance that expired on or after June 1, 2020, the requirement under 49 CFR 383. 73(o)(4) is waived until December 31, 2020.