Warm Weather is Here!

The first day of spring is next Thursday, March 20th!

In the past week, I have personally observed two vehicles running traffic control devices. Take time now to meet with your drivers and discuss the upcoming days, as temperatures will rise and we will see more sunshine. For some of us, it has been a long winter. Remind your drivers to stay vigilant against complacency and inattention.

As a safety director, I found that my worst accidents often occurred during March and April. My drivers had spent the entire winter staying alert to changing road conditions, traffic, and weather. However, when road conditions improved and the weather became more enjoyable, they let their guard down, and accidents occurred.

Take the time now to caution drivers and reinforce good defensive driving habits.

National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) is an annual spring campaign held at the start of construction season to promote safe driving through highway work zones and construction sites. The key message is for drivers to exercise extra caution in work zones.

For more information, check out the link below:

• National Work Zone Awareness Week 2025

10 Tips for Driving Safely in Work Zones:

• EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! (Normal speed limits may be reduced, traffic lanes may change, and workers may be present on or near the road.)

• SLOW DOWN! (Speeding is one of the leading causes of work zone crashes.)

• DON'T TAILGATE! KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE AHEAD. (The most common crash in a highway work zone is a rear-end collision. Avoid tailgating.)

• KEEP A SAFE DISTANCE FROM CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AND EQUIPMENT.

• PAY ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS! (Warning signs help drivers navigate safely through the work zone. Follow posted signs until you see the one indicating you have exited the work zone.)

• OBEY ROAD CREW FLAGGERS! (Flaggers have the same authority as regulatory signs, and failure to obey their instructions can result in a citation.)

• STAY ALERT AND MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS! (Dedicate your full attention to the roadway and avoid using cell phones or adjusting the radio while driving in a work zone.)

• KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC FLOW. (Merge as soon as possible and avoid last-minute lane changes near closures.)

• SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIME TO DRIVE SAFELY AND CHECK TRAFFIC INFORMATION. (Expect delays and leave early to arrive on time. Check the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse for nationwide work zone updates.)

• BE PATIENT AND STAY CALM. (Work zones are there to improve roads, making future travel safer and more efficient.)

Question of the Week

Q: While doing my pre-trip inspection, I noticed a cut in the sidewall of one of my tires. Is this an out-of-service violation?

A: Yes, it is an out-of-service violation if the sidewall is cut, worn, or damaged to the extent that the ply cord is exposed. (FMCSA Regulation 393.75(a))

Tire safety is an important part of the driver's daily pre and post inspection. 

Accidents are often caused by improperly inflated tires. Since fuel and tires are two of the largest expenses in truck operations, it is essential to ensure tires are properly inflated.

Improper inflation shortens a tire’s service life, and underinflated tires can significantly reduce fuel efficiency.

The only accurate way to determine a tire’s air pressure is by using a tire pressure gauge. At your next driver safety meeting, consider an interactive demonstration: Inflate three tires on

rims with pressures varying by 10 PSI each—one at the correct pressure, one 10 PSI under, and one 20 PSI under. See if drivers can identify which tire has the correct pressure.

A unique workers' compensation case I reviewed involved a driver who was checking his tires by thumping them with a hammer. The hammer bounced back and broke his jaw! This highlights the importance of using proper tools and methods when inspecting tires.

When inspecting tires, also pay close attention to wear patterns and tread depth. FMCSA regulations (CFR 393.75) require:

• Steer axle tires to have a minimum tread depth of 4/32”

• All other tires, including trailer tires, to have a minimum tread depth of 2/32”

Proper tire maintenance will extend service life and improve overall safety. Pay attention to your tires, and they will provide many miles of reliable performance.

Saint Patrick's Day Drunk Driving Prevention - March 17

St Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays on our nation’s roads. During the 2022 St Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 pm March 16 to 5:59 am March 18), 74 lives were lost due to drunk-driving crashes.

Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving

Spring weather often creates driving challenges. Specifically, the change in ground

temperature can damage roads and vehicles and result in "roller coaster" rides from "wavy roads."

Consequently, motor carriers need to monitor the many state and provincial spring weight restrictions or risk damage to the road and/or the rig.

Be ready for an alternate route.

To preserve the integrity of the roadways, many states impose seasonal weight restrictions as early as late February, with some lasting into May.

As drivers travel through regions experiencing spring thaws, they need to watch for posted signs indicating allowable weights. Signs may also indicate a reduced speed limit.

Trip planning may involve visiting state websites to determine if a specific highway is accessible to your vehicles. In addition, if a driver encounters a weight restriction, he or she will need to find an alternative route, possibly contacting dispatch for assistance.

Ignoring posted restrictions may result in more than just fines. It could lead to damage to the roads, your vehicle, and/or cargo and could result in an accident if the roadway is difficult to maneuver.

To view the laws in states and provinces, go to:

https://oversize.io/regulations/frost-laws-by-state

International Roadcheck is an annual three-day event during which CVSA-certified inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement, and educational initiatives targeted at various elements of motor carrier, vehicle, and driver safety.

International Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 15 trucks and motorcoaches inspected, on average, every minute across North America during a 72-hour period.

Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during International Roadcheck have totaled more than 1.8 million. International Roadcheck also provides an opportunity to educate the industry and the public about the importance of safe commercial motor vehicle operations and the roadside inspection program.

CVSA sponsors International Roadcheck with participation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and Mexico’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transportation.