[FONT="]The most common unsafe driving category is speeding. It is the greatest source of driver severity weight points and therefore, the largest contributor to the FedEx Custom Critical safety rating. Speeding is also a common red flag for a law enforcement officer to perform a roadside inspection where additional violations of FMCSA regulations may be evident. Up to 10 severity weight points are assigned to a speeding violation. Speeding in a work zone will subject the driver to an additional 10 points. Speeding can easily develop into the maximum of 30 points for a single inspection event.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Solo drivers often question the decision to limit their drive time based on deadhead plus run miles rather than hours. The rationale is based on FMCSA regulation § 392.6 which prohibits a carrier from scheduling a run in such a timeframe that might cause a driver to speed in some jurisdictions.[/FONT]
[FONT="]DOT INTERPRETATION[/FONT] [FONT="] of § 392.6 answers the following question: “How many miles may a driver record on his/her daily record of duty status and still be presumed to be in compliance with the speed limits?” Drivers are required to conform to the posted speed limits prescribed by the jurisdiction in or through which the vehicle is being operated. Where the total trip is on highways with a speed limit of 65 mph, trips of 550-600 miles completed in 10 hours are considered questionable and the motor carrier may be asked to document that such trips can be made. Trips of 600 miles or more will be assumed to be incapable of completing without violations of the speed limit laws and may be required to be documented. In areas where a 55 mph speed limit is in effect, trips of 450-500 miles are open to question and runs of 500 miles or more are considered incapable of being made in compliance with the speed limit and hours of service limitation.[/FONT]
Information compiled by Terry O'Connell, Field Safety Liaison
[FONT="]Solo drivers often question the decision to limit their drive time based on deadhead plus run miles rather than hours. The rationale is based on FMCSA regulation § 392.6 which prohibits a carrier from scheduling a run in such a timeframe that might cause a driver to speed in some jurisdictions.[/FONT]
[FONT="]DOT INTERPRETATION[/FONT] [FONT="] of § 392.6 answers the following question: “How many miles may a driver record on his/her daily record of duty status and still be presumed to be in compliance with the speed limits?” Drivers are required to conform to the posted speed limits prescribed by the jurisdiction in or through which the vehicle is being operated. Where the total trip is on highways with a speed limit of 65 mph, trips of 550-600 miles completed in 10 hours are considered questionable and the motor carrier may be asked to document that such trips can be made. Trips of 600 miles or more will be assumed to be incapable of completing without violations of the speed limit laws and may be required to be documented. In areas where a 55 mph speed limit is in effect, trips of 450-500 miles are open to question and runs of 500 miles or more are considered incapable of being made in compliance with the speed limit and hours of service limitation.[/FONT]
Information compiled by Terry O'Connell, Field Safety Liaison