| Follow DOT Research with Web site |
| DOT announced Tuesday that a Web site, http://spp.fmcsa.dot.gov, will allow the public access to view and comment on research in progress, review draft safety action plans, and submit suggestions and alternative safety strategies to the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration about improving highway safety in the next decade. |
Clyde Hart Appointed Acting Deputy Administrator of the FMCA |
| Secretary Slater has appointed Clyde Hart, who has been Administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration, as Acting Deputy Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, effective May 22. Julie Cirillo was appointed Acting Chief Safety Officer. Hart previously served as the Senior Democratic Counsel of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. CVSA supported the appointment of Hart in an April 3 letter to Secretary Slater. |
CVSA Seeks Member Input in Hours-of-Service Policy |
CVSA continues to seek member input in formulating a policy on the recent hours-of-service proposed regulation. All members are urged to complete the survey that was e-mailed May 19 and return it to CVSA as soon as possible. Don Bridge (Connecticut Enforcement and Chairman of CVSA's Driver Committee) will represent CVSA at DOT's first hours-of-service listening session on the proposal, May 30-June 1 in Washington, D.C. He will tell DOT officials that enforcement and training issues are the ones that CVSA is focusing on and that more study and analysis will be done on those particular issues before CVSA develops a final policy recommendation to submit to the docket. To further assist in this process, CVSA's Driver and Passenger Carrier Committees will meet in conjunction with DOT's Hartford, Connecticut listening session June 26-27.
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| International Roadcheck 2000 |
| Preparations for launching International Roadcheck 2000 on June 6 at 10 a.m. are nearly complete. CVSA will open this international event with a press conference at Maryland's Hyattstown Inspection station on Interstate 270 in upper Montgomery County Maryland. Top Maryland and U.S. DOT enforcement officials will attend as well as representatives from surrounding states. |
Operation Air Brake |
Operation Air Brake is now underway. The first "unannounced" brake check day was May 3. Participating jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada conducted the special Level 4 Inspection during a 16-hour period. Data is being compiled and compared to a similar event one year ago. September 6 is the next brake check day which will be publicized by all participating jurisdictions. It will be followed by one more "unannounced" brake check day later in the fall.
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| North American Brake Safety Conference |
| Speakers are now being lined up for the North American Brake Safety Conference to be held in Toronto, Canada September 15-16. Registration packets will be mailed in early June. |
North American Inspectors Competition |
Plans are being finalized for this year's North American Inspectors Competition (NAIC) to be held in New Orleans August 8-12.
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CVSA Professional Safety Certification Program |
| CVSA continues to move ahead in the development of a professional safety certification program with the first credential to be a Motor Carrier Safety Auditor. The four major areas to be encompassed by this credential are safety regulations, commercial passenger carrier safety, compliance reviews, and hazmat/cargo tanks. |
