A brief and factual recap of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, passing percentag... more A brief and factual recap of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, passing percentages in the states of California, Virginia, Washington and Maryland and recommendations for preparing drivers to overcome handicaps which might exist regarding taking the test are given. It is suggested that a company develop and implement plans to expose drivers to certain aspects of the test by obtaining CDL manuals, videotapes, booklets and other help aids of this kind, scheduling training sessions allaying drivers' fear of test taking by being enthusiastic about their performance on the test and using actual test questions in training, and addressing reading problems, once identified. A listing showing how those states which have or are implementing a CDL is also provided.
Parking: the magazine of the parking industry, Mar 1, 2002
This article profiles a bus system's changes in safety rules and practices after a mechanic w... more This article profiles a bus system's changes in safety rules and practices after a mechanic was crushed to death by a bus following the failure of its air suspension system. Subsequent review found the shop supervisor was encouraged to regard completing repairs and other tasks as the most important part of his job. By including achievement of safety goals as part of supervisors' job performance, compliance and enforcement of existing rules rose. Employees didn't see the reason for many safety procedures, largely because the rules were imposed on them. Instead, they were brought into the process and given a chance to see the personal side of accidents. Responding to safety problems became more easily documented and involved more than one supervisor with a guaranteed response to reports of problems within a certain amount of time.
This article examines the obligations of motor coach operators to take steps to avoid violent inc... more This article examines the obligations of motor coach operators to take steps to avoid violent incidents on board their buses. While laws vary from state to state, there are common precautions that can help reduce the incidence of criminal or terrorist attacks on board. Charters operate under generally less onerous requirements, but as common carriers, the operators are obligated to do their best to identify potentially threatening passengers and prevent them from riding the vehicle. In addition to traditional criminal activity and crimes against persons such as theft or assault, there is the relatively new concern about terrorism. One study shows that, on average, unfit passengers are expelled from buses (or denied entry) almost daily. A less formal survey showed that a serious bus passenger incident occurred once every three weeks. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a program of driver and customer support personnel training offered through an industry training ac...
As fuel prices rose in 2008, more people rediscovered the bus, and in this article, the author de... more As fuel prices rose in 2008, more people rediscovered the bus, and in this article, the author describes ways in which motorcoach safety has been improved. Hand in hand with increased ridership is the need to improve safety to maintain growth. Legislation and technology have played and will continue to play key roles in building a safer passenger transportation network. The author describes how legislation influenced driver substance abuse testing and the establishment of the Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Other forces, however, have slowed the progress of safety, primarily litigation regarding applicants for CDL licenses and completion of qualified training courses.
This article presents an analysis of safety factors on motorcoaches in the wake of the fire that ... more This article presents an analysis of safety factors on motorcoaches in the wake of the fire that killed 23 people during the evacuation from Hurricane Katrina. The author outlines general areas of concern regarding the fire, which happened near Dallas, Texas, on September 23, 2005. He reports on findings from claims personnel noting that 90 percent of fires begin at the rear of the coach, and that additional safety steps should be considered. The first is evacuation procedures, which have been altered little to reflect changes in coach design over the past half century. The victims in Texas were not able-bodied, suggesting changes in how exit windows are operated might be helpful. In addition, automated fire suppression systems could be considered, along with rules restricting the amount of oxygen on-board. In this particular incident, oxygen was a likely factor, given that the bus was carrying nursing home residents. Finally, tire inspections and maintenance are important, with ext...
This article gives an overview of the Comprehensive Safety Analysis program (CSA2010), which was ... more This article gives an overview of the Comprehensive Safety Analysis program (CSA2010), which was established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). After a five year long planning process, the program, which will be implemented in 2010, will use data and other tools to encourage greater safety and compliance among motor carriers. Focus will be on a series of evaluation measurements known as BASICS which will address areas such as unsafe driving, driver fatigue and fitness, drugs and alcohol, crash experience, and vehicle maintenance. Data from the evaluation measurements will be assessed and added to a carrier's record, and interventions will be initiated if an increase in data is detected. The article relates, however, that despite the anticipated effectiveness of CSA2010 in improving safety and compliance for motor carriers, the passenger carrier industry would not see the same benefits, since bus enforcement information is very invisible. The article also...
This article describes crash investigation needs for fleet supervisors of bus companies whose veh... more This article describes crash investigation needs for fleet supervisors of bus companies whose vehicles have been involved in a crash. Steps needing to be taken include gathering physical evidence and a diagram of the event. Fleets should have a pre-arranged protocol in the event a crash occurs, with an emphasis on making a bus company supervisor available to police and other investigators. While photographs are helpful, they may be difficult to obtain for late-arriving supervisors. Drivers could be equipped with cameras, along with training on what to photograph and what to ignore. Measuring and diagramming also require training, especially in the case of marks made by a tire that is scuffing and yawing, as is the case of a skidding vehicle in the process of rolling over.
This article looks at some ways in which motorcoach operators can improve passenger transport saf... more This article looks at some ways in which motorcoach operators can improve passenger transport safety. The first suggestion presented is that of driver testing. The author relates that there are new test programs which are designed to deliver an objective evaluation of an applicant's ability to understand the driving job, the tasks involved in safe operations, and managing risk. Performance monitoring, achieved through camera monitors and GPS monitoring, can help ensure safe driving practies. Finally, technological innovations, such as stability systems, anti-collision systems, and lane departure systems, are described as devices which can help drivers meet safety challenges.
A brief and factual recap of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, passing percentag... more A brief and factual recap of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, passing percentages in the states of California, Virginia, Washington and Maryland and recommendations for preparing drivers to overcome handicaps which might exist regarding taking the test are given. It is suggested that a company develop and implement plans to expose drivers to certain aspects of the test by obtaining CDL manuals, videotapes, booklets and other help aids of this kind, scheduling training sessions allaying drivers' fear of test taking by being enthusiastic about their performance on the test and using actual test questions in training, and addressing reading problems, once identified. A listing showing how those states which have or are implementing a CDL is also provided.
Parking: the magazine of the parking industry, Mar 1, 2002
This article profiles a bus system's changes in safety rules and practices after a mechanic w... more This article profiles a bus system's changes in safety rules and practices after a mechanic was crushed to death by a bus following the failure of its air suspension system. Subsequent review found the shop supervisor was encouraged to regard completing repairs and other tasks as the most important part of his job. By including achievement of safety goals as part of supervisors' job performance, compliance and enforcement of existing rules rose. Employees didn't see the reason for many safety procedures, largely because the rules were imposed on them. Instead, they were brought into the process and given a chance to see the personal side of accidents. Responding to safety problems became more easily documented and involved more than one supervisor with a guaranteed response to reports of problems within a certain amount of time.
This article examines the obligations of motor coach operators to take steps to avoid violent inc... more This article examines the obligations of motor coach operators to take steps to avoid violent incidents on board their buses. While laws vary from state to state, there are common precautions that can help reduce the incidence of criminal or terrorist attacks on board. Charters operate under generally less onerous requirements, but as common carriers, the operators are obligated to do their best to identify potentially threatening passengers and prevent them from riding the vehicle. In addition to traditional criminal activity and crimes against persons such as theft or assault, there is the relatively new concern about terrorism. One study shows that, on average, unfit passengers are expelled from buses (or denied entry) almost daily. A less formal survey showed that a serious bus passenger incident occurred once every three weeks. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has a program of driver and customer support personnel training offered through an industry training ac...
As fuel prices rose in 2008, more people rediscovered the bus, and in this article, the author de... more As fuel prices rose in 2008, more people rediscovered the bus, and in this article, the author describes ways in which motorcoach safety has been improved. Hand in hand with increased ridership is the need to improve safety to maintain growth. Legislation and technology have played and will continue to play key roles in building a safer passenger transportation network. The author describes how legislation influenced driver substance abuse testing and the establishment of the Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Other forces, however, have slowed the progress of safety, primarily litigation regarding applicants for CDL licenses and completion of qualified training courses.
This article presents an analysis of safety factors on motorcoaches in the wake of the fire that ... more This article presents an analysis of safety factors on motorcoaches in the wake of the fire that killed 23 people during the evacuation from Hurricane Katrina. The author outlines general areas of concern regarding the fire, which happened near Dallas, Texas, on September 23, 2005. He reports on findings from claims personnel noting that 90 percent of fires begin at the rear of the coach, and that additional safety steps should be considered. The first is evacuation procedures, which have been altered little to reflect changes in coach design over the past half century. The victims in Texas were not able-bodied, suggesting changes in how exit windows are operated might be helpful. In addition, automated fire suppression systems could be considered, along with rules restricting the amount of oxygen on-board. In this particular incident, oxygen was a likely factor, given that the bus was carrying nursing home residents. Finally, tire inspections and maintenance are important, with ext...
This article gives an overview of the Comprehensive Safety Analysis program (CSA2010), which was ... more This article gives an overview of the Comprehensive Safety Analysis program (CSA2010), which was established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). After a five year long planning process, the program, which will be implemented in 2010, will use data and other tools to encourage greater safety and compliance among motor carriers. Focus will be on a series of evaluation measurements known as BASICS which will address areas such as unsafe driving, driver fatigue and fitness, drugs and alcohol, crash experience, and vehicle maintenance. Data from the evaluation measurements will be assessed and added to a carrier's record, and interventions will be initiated if an increase in data is detected. The article relates, however, that despite the anticipated effectiveness of CSA2010 in improving safety and compliance for motor carriers, the passenger carrier industry would not see the same benefits, since bus enforcement information is very invisible. The article also...
This article describes crash investigation needs for fleet supervisors of bus companies whose veh... more This article describes crash investigation needs for fleet supervisors of bus companies whose vehicles have been involved in a crash. Steps needing to be taken include gathering physical evidence and a diagram of the event. Fleets should have a pre-arranged protocol in the event a crash occurs, with an emphasis on making a bus company supervisor available to police and other investigators. While photographs are helpful, they may be difficult to obtain for late-arriving supervisors. Drivers could be equipped with cameras, along with training on what to photograph and what to ignore. Measuring and diagramming also require training, especially in the case of marks made by a tire that is scuffing and yawing, as is the case of a skidding vehicle in the process of rolling over.
This article looks at some ways in which motorcoach operators can improve passenger transport saf... more This article looks at some ways in which motorcoach operators can improve passenger transport safety. The first suggestion presented is that of driver testing. The author relates that there are new test programs which are designed to deliver an objective evaluation of an applicant's ability to understand the driving job, the tasks involved in safe operations, and managing risk. Performance monitoring, achieved through camera monitors and GPS monitoring, can help ensure safe driving practies. Finally, technological innovations, such as stability systems, anti-collision systems, and lane departure systems, are described as devices which can help drivers meet safety challenges.
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