Idealease and the National Private Truck Council (NPTC) will once again host safety seminars in the spring and fall of 2025. This year’s one-day seminar will focus on basic safety and compliance, regulatory changes, and CSA. The seminars will be offered at no charge to all Idealease customers, potential customers, and NPTC members. These seminars provide valuable information applicable to both novice and experienced transportation professionals.

Spring seminars:

4/16/2025                       Dallas, TX

4/21/2025                       Hudsonville, MI

4/23/2025                       Brookfield, WI               

4/29/2025                       San Leandro, CA

5/1/2025                         Portland, OR

TBD                                Harrisburg, PA

TBD                                Columbia, SC

5/15/2025                       Tampa, FL

To register for an upcoming spring seminar in 2025 click on the following link:

http://www.idealease.com/safety-seminar-registration

Fall seminars will be posted in a later bulletin.

Protecting Your Driver and Truck During These Days of Extreme Weather

Over the past two weeks, storms have brought more than 10 inches of snow to the southern United States. Below are recommendations to help protect your drivers and trucks during these extreme weather conditions this fall.

Protecting the Driver

Cold weather precautions to prevent hypothermia and frostbite:

cold

Hypothermia occurs when the body’s temperature drops below normal. Early and mild symptoms include shivering, slurred speech, mental slowness or lethargy, muscular stiffness, and clumsiness. Severe hypothermia symptoms include mental confusion, disorientation, stupor or coma, absence of shivering, stiff or rigid muscles, shallow and very slow breathing, a weak pulse, and a drop in blood pressure. If symptoms are detected, especially in the elderly, seek immediate medical attention.

Precautions to Prevent Hypothermia:

  • Wear several layers of warm, loose-fitting clothing. Items that wick moisture away from the skin are ideal.
  • Use gloves and knit caps to retain body heat.
  • Change clothing if it becomes wet.
  • Keep an emergency kit that includes a change of clothes, a blanket, hand warmers, and snacks in case you become stranded.
  • Consume hot, nutritious meals and drink water regularly; hydration is just as important in winter.
  • Avoid alcohol consumption, as it can increase the risk of hypothermia.
  • Ensure drivers have reliable communication methods in case of a vehicle breakdown in rural areas.

Note: Certain prescription drugs can make individuals more sensitive to the cold. Consult your physician or pharmacist to check if your medication falls into this category.

Frostbite is another significant risk, especially when the wind chill factor is very low. Symptoms of frostbite include:

  • Changes in skin appearance, such as swelling, or reddish, bluish, or whitish coloring
  • Numbness
  • Stiffness or rigidity

If untreated, frostbite can lead to the loss of fingers, toes, or other affected skin areas.

Precautions to Prevent Frostbite:

  • Protect skin from direct exposure to cold air.
  • Avoid prolonged exposure to intense cold temperatures.

By following these precautions, you can reduce the risk of cold-related illnesses and ensure the safety of drivers and trucks in extreme weather conditions.

Protecting the Truck

  1. Diesel supplement should be added to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel when temperatures drop below 32°F to prevent gelling.

    winter

  2. If your truck is equipped with an engine block heater, it should be plugged in when the temperature is below 32°F. Trucks not in regular use should be started daily and allowed to run until they reach normal operating temperature.

  3. For initial startup, complete a pre-trip inspection, unplug the block heater, turn the ignition switch to the "on" position, wait for the dash lights to stop cycling, and then start the engine. Let the engine run until it reaches its normal operating temperature.

  4. For trucks with air brakes, drivers should purge the air tanks daily. If the unit is equipped with an air dryer, bringing the PSI to 120 will automatically purge the system.

  5. After driving in snow, ice, slush, or rain, lightly apply the brakes while the vehicle is moving before parking it for the day. This will dry the brake shoes, drums, rotors, and pads to prevent them from freezing while parked.

  6. Make sure the windshield washer solvent is full, and clean all windows to ensure clear visibility.

  7. Remove any ice or snow buildup from steps and grab handles to prevent slips or falls.

  8. When parking during heavy snow, avoid outdoor docks or areas near building overhangs. Snow drifting off buildings can accumulate excessively on the truck or trailer roof, potentially causing a roof collapse.

Preventing Driver Injuries in Fall and Winter

Slip, trip, and fall injuries are the most common type of injury for drivers, with most occurring during the winter months. Every year, thousands of professional drivers are seriously injured due to not paying attention in winter conditions. Working in ice and snow requires your full attention and awareness.

  1. Remember, it is our primary goal that you go home to your family and friends the way you came to work today: safe and healthy.

  2. Always wear proper footwear. A full-support leather shoe with a rugged, non-slip sole is recommended. Use non-slip covers on shoes (e.g., Yak Trax).

  3. SLOW DOWN; never be in a hurry.

  4. Always watch where you walk. Snow can accumulate on top of ice in and around truck parking areas.

  5. Take small steps and check your footing with each step.

  6. Look for ice on all handrails and hand grabs before using them.

  7. Always use gloves for a better grip.

  8. Always use three points of contact when exiting or entering your tractor or trailer or getting on the catwalk behind the cab. Always.

  9. Always wear your seat belt.

  10. SLOW DOWN!

Important Steps to Handling Diesel Exhaust Fluid in the Cold Winter Months

Winter can pose special challenges for machines using Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). Made from a mixture of technically pure urea and purified water, DEF freezes at 11°F (-11°C) and needs to be properly maintained and dispensed to preserve its quality, according to the American Petroleum Institute. Like water, DEF expands up to 7% when frozen, and this expansion can damage the storage tank if it is full or nearly full when freezing occurs. Keeping your DEF tank less than full in cold temperatures is a good preventive measure.

Got Chains?
If you are operating in a state that requires chains to be on board, make sure the chains are the correct size, properly secured, clean, and not broken, so they can be easily applied when necessary.

Not sure about your state’s chain laws? Visit:

http://www.tirechainsrequired.com/laws.html

NPTC Encourages FMCSA to Adopt Beyond Compliance Program

The National Private Truck Council (NPTC) has sent a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) urging the agency to adopt a Beyond Compliance program, as required by Congress in the 2015 infrastructure legislation known as the FAST Act. The FAST Act directed the FMCSA Administrator to "allow recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile, for a motor carrier that—

  1. Installs advanced safety equipment;
  2. Uses enhanced driver fitness measures;
  3. Adopts fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs; or
  4. Satisfies other standards determined appropriate by the Administrator..."

This requirement was intended to be satisfied no later than 18 months after the December 4, 2015 enactment date of the FAST Act, meaning by June 4, 2017.

The letter pointed out that NPTC member companies are generally early adopters of motor carrier safety technology, management practices, and training programs that make their operations among the safest in the trucking industry. As such, they would be the prime beneficiaries of SMS recognition through a Beyond Compliance program. NPTC emphasized that it is long overdue for the FMCSA to meet the Congressional directive and reward motor carriers investing in equipment, technology, and management practices aimed at improving highway safety.

FMCSA Random Drug and Alcohol Testing Rates Remain Unchanged for 2025

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has confirmed that the minimum random drug and alcohol testing rates will remain unchanged in 2025. Motor carriers are still required to test 50% of their CDL drivers in a random drug testing program and 10% for alcohol. The testing rates were last updated in 2020.