2024 State of Trucking Research Report Available Now. Learn More.
Fatigue can result when you do not get enough sleep or quality sleep, being awake for many consecutive hours or not getting enough sleep over multiple days. Use these best practices on how to best manage driver fatigue.
Stay up to date with the NPTC x Centerline Drivers Safety Newsletter with January’s article and recent announcement of our partnership!
Congratulations to Centerline drivers Nelson Gray, Andrew Alspaugh, Mark Hodge and William Rosario on being named regional drivers of the year by Hawk Logistics.
Nelson Gray was named driver of the year for the West region. He is a limestone driver and a driving coach in Texas who has been with Hawk since 2017 and in the trucking industry for nearly 40 years. He drives more than 2000 miles per week across Texas. He has had zero preventable accidents and is consistently in the top 5 of all Hawk drivers nationally in terms of safety. His performance highlights included a 99.22% metrics scorecard, 7.2 miles per gallon, 0.5% Over Speed, 6% stopped idle, 1 hard brake per month, no service failures and perfect attendance. He served in the U.S. Army as a vehicle mechanic and logistics operator from 1981-1996. He has been married for 20 years and enjoys restoring old cars, welding and light home restoration.
Hawk Logistics said about Nelson: “Nelson was one of the first to express interest in the drivers coach program and it’s his ability to go above and beyond in his coaching that has made the onboarding for every driver that he has trained an easy one. Nelson meets all his trainees at the front of the facility with all safety equipment and the Hawk onboarding handbook along with another more in-depth handbook, which he created, explaining in more detail how to use our cellcom and ELD systems. He will get on top of the trailers while loading with each trainee to ensure they know exactly what the proper and safe procedures are to load and none of it is just for show. He’s been observed many times from Hawk staff, other coaches and drivers doing the same detailed and helpful training each and every time at all hours throughout the week.”
Andrew Alspaugh was named driver of the year for the East region. He is an asphalt driver in Pennsylvania and has assisted the entire Northeast region with jobs. He has been with Hawk Logistics for almost four years and boasts not only a clean safety record but an overall metrics scorecard of 91.52%. His performance highlights include 3.2% over speed, 8.2% stopped idle, 2 hard brakes per month, no preventable accidents and perfect attendance. Along with his wife and seven kids, he is active in his church in Brickerville, Pa., and recently volunteered to help local famers in the area plant and pick crops.
Hawk Logistics said about Andrew: “In an ever-changing world of COVID-19 and safety related concerns, Andrew has been a cornerstone in the sanitization of tractors and dissemination of safety supplies to drivers in Myerstown. The ability to measure a good driver is not just based on performance and safety, we must also take into account the reliability and positivity of the driver. Andrew’s attendance has been exemplary in 2020. As an employee assigned to the Hawk account he has been a team player, a motivator, a teacher, a lead and an inspiration.”
Mark Hodge was named over the road/regional driver of the year. He joined Hawk as its first over the road/regional driver onboarded in Indiana in 2019 and has more than 45 years of driving experience. He has trained other drivers in the region, impressing upon drivers his standards for operational performance, including thoroughness, compliance, proper load securement and safety. He contributed to the Midwest region’s 263-day safety streak in 2020. His performance highlights include a metrics scorecard of 84.84%, 7.17 miles per gallon, 3.6% over speed, 17.8% stopped idle, no service failures or preventable accidents and perfect attendance. He drives 2500 miles per week and enjoys spending time on his farm in Illinois with his wife, two daughters and seven grandchildren when he’s not driving.
Hawk Logistics said about Mark: “Mark is committed to excellence within the operation and takes pride in his work and more specifically his equipment. He keeps his truck pristine at all times inside and out. He was one of the first drivers to recommend headache racks on our trucks to help haul all equipment needed to complete the job effectively. Prior to getting them installed he developed his own way to secure all necessary equipment in order to be able to haul everything we had within our network safely.”
William Rosario of the Tampa Sand Fleet earned East Region honorable mention for his daily contributions to the operation’s success, including scheduling, overseeing maintenance and coordinating with the plant and training and supervising drivers. He has been with Hawk for two years and was an owner/operator prior to that. His hard work overseeing the Tampa team resulted in the team having the highest average metrics score in the fleet at 98.3%. His personal results include a metrics scorecard of 99.28%, 6.8 miles per gallon, 0.0% over speed, 4.9% stopped idle, one hard brake per month, no service failures or preventable accidents and perfect attendance. Along with his wife and five children, he is active in his local church in Port Richie, Fla., and works with the church’s program to feed the hungry and hand out clothing and personal items to those in need.
Hawk Logistics said about William: “We regularly hear accolades from the plant on his hard work. In his two years with Hawk he has been accident- and incident-free. He is our boots on the ground that allows us to oversee the operation from 1100 miles away! We believe Will is an individual that can grow and develop in other opportunities outside of driving due to his success within our organization.”
Congratulations to these four drivers and thank you for your hard work and dedication to Centerline, Hawk Logistics and the transportation industry.
Sometimes you just need the soothing sounds of classical music while you drive. Take the edge off with this instrumental driving mix.
Music is one of the best ways to keep yourself entertained, but the radio doesn’t always cut it. We’ve made Spotify playlists of some of our favorite happy driving songs for your listening pleasure.
If you’re not already a subscriber to Spotify, you can download the app for free on both iPhone and Android.
Enjoy this classical driving playlist.
Recently, times haven’t been the best. As an essential worker, you are most likely stressed and working overtime. We wanted to offer a small amount of joy to you in these hard times.
Music is one of the best ways to keep yourself entertained, but the radio doesn’t always cut it. We’ve made Spotify playlists of some of our favorite happy driving songs for your listening pleasure.
If you’re not already a subscriber to Spotify, you can download the app for free on both iPhone and Android.
Enjoy this happier days ahead driving playlist.
On September 9-11, 2020, federal and state motor carrier inspectors conducted more than 50,000 North American Standard Level I, II, III and V inspections during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) three-day International Roadcheck commercial motor vehicle and driver inspection and enforcement initiative. Overall, one out of five vehicles were placed out-of-service in North America. The rate for Level I, II and V Inspections combined was 20.9% — slightly higher than we’ve seen in the past few years.
International Roadcheck is an annual 72-hour inspection and enforcement event to identify and remove unsafe commercial motor vehicles and drivers from roadways.
Digging deeper into the results allows us to better understand the critical vehicle inspection item out-of-service and driverrelated violations.
Whether you’re just starting out in your career or need a change from the daily 9-to-5 routine, a career in truck driving could really, ahem, take you places.
Not only are job prospects for truck drivers projected to be very good in the next few years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), but the hours are flexible, the pay is good (the median salary for truck drivers was $45,260 in 2019), and it offers a unique opportunity to see and experience different areas of the country.
But getting a job as a truck driver isn’t as simple as having a good driving record and the desire to live a life on the open road.
Below is an overview of truck driver requirements and common considerations before becoming a commercial driver.
Anyone hoping to become a commercial truck driver must obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL); however, specific qualifications to obtain a CDL vary by state. In most cases, one will have to pass both a skills test and a driving test. While some states may not require formal training to receive a CDL, it is highly recommended that one attends an accredited truck driving school or community college, where programs typically last between a month to six weeks.
Not only do many employers require it, but you will acquire the skills needed to obtain a CDL – including behind-the-wheel training – and learn the various state and federal guidelines for professional truckers. (The BLS recommends two resources for finding a truck driving school, the Commercial Vehicle Training Association and the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools.)
Keep in mind that some truck driving schools may require you to have a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) in advance of taking the program.
It should come as no surprise that truck drivers must have a clean driving record and good work history, so prospective truck drivers should be prepared to undergo a background check prior to being considered for a job.
Due to the physical demands of truck driving – from sitting for long periods of time to loading and unloading cargo – commercial truck drivers must be in good physical health. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires commercial truck drivers to pass a physical, vision test, and drug test in order to prove they are fit enough to operate a heavy vehicle safely and for the protection of everyone on the road.
(The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers more specifics on health and physical requirements for truck drivers.)
One can obtain a CDL at the age of 18 or 21, depending on the state administering it. In order to drive across straight lines, however, the DOT requires professional truck drivers to be at least 21, and most trucking companies require licensed truck drivers to be at least 21 as well.
Experience needed may vary by the company you want to work for, and job prospects will open up as you log more hours on the road. Attending a truck driving program where you can train behind the wheel will give new truck drivers a leg up in their job search.
While not a requirement, having a certain level of mechanical knowledge will come in handy for making small repairs and maintaining the vehicle. In terms of soft skills, truck drivers should be reliable, safety-oriented, and excellent communicators for when interacting with clients, colleagues and customers.
It’s also worth taking into consideration that trucking often means hours, days or even weeks on the road and away from family, so the ability to manage occasional loneliness is key.
At Centerline, we are always looking for safe, qualified drivers. Think you have what it takes? Apply to be a driver with Centerline Drivers today.
Centerline Drivers announced today that it will serve as the presenting sponsor for the National Private Truck Council (NPTC)’s Driver Safety Letter beginning in January 2021.
The Driver Safety Letter appears on the third Monday of each month in NPTC’s Weekly Update. It provides news and guidance for NPTC members to educate and inform drivers and employees about key safety issues in the trucking industry.
“Sponsoring the Driver Safety Letter aligns with our goals of maintaining the highest levels of safety and compliance,” said Centerline President Jill Quinn. “By sponsoring the letter, we will continue our track record of making sure drivers are safe on the road so that they can keep the supply chain moving and continue to deliver products to those who need them.”
The first letter in the sponsorship will be available Jan. 18. The letter is distributed to member organizations to share by itself or as part of existing publications.
“We are pleased and honored to welcome NPTC Five-Star member Centerline Drivers as the exclusive sponsor of the NPTC Driver Safety Letter,” said Gary Petty, president and CEO of the National Private Truck Council. “This partnership will help us continue to provide critical information to drivers as part of our ongoing efforts to improve safety.”
About Centerline Drivers
Centerline Drivers connects over 4,500 drivers annually with Fortune 1000 and mid-sized companies. Centerline has been delivering superior staffing service to fleet operators and good jobs to qualified drivers since its founding in 1975. It offers nationwide coverage from a network of branches in 40 U.S. markets and a centralized service operation. Centerline was named to WIT’s Top Places for Women to Work in Transportation list in both 2019 and 2020. Centerline is part of TrueBlue (NYSE: TBI), a global leader in specialized workforce solutions that help clients achieve business growth and improve productivity. In 2019, TrueBlue connected approximately 724,000 people with work.
About NPTC
Founded in 1939, the National Private Truck Council is the only national trade association exclusively representing the interests of the private truck industry and corporate/business private truck fleet management. With an actively engaged leadership team of Board representatives, member volunteers and staff, NPTC in the past decade has grown significantly to serve a rising professional class of private fleet practitioners meeting the challenges of modern corporate transportation. NPTC is the leading learning resource center, government affairs advocate, and business networking culture for America’s top private fleet and supplier member companies. The Council produces benchmarking, best practices, and economic data reports on the private fleet market; administers the highly regarded Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) training program, and conducts some of the most successful events in the trucking industry including the Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition, the Private Fleet Management Institute, and the National Safety Conference. For more information about the Council’s activities and programs, visit our website at www.nptc.org
How will you #thankatrucker? If you’re part of the Centerline Drivers team, it may involve delicious burritos.
Each quarter for the past ten years, various Centerline client locations celebrate our drivers by bringing in Chipotle meals to thank them for being safe, compliant and reliable members of the over-the-road community. Whether it’s small groups or 75 drivers, the celebration goes on. Last month, it was a team in Texas.
“Our team in Texas had zero risk-related issues in the third quarter, which is an impressive milestone so we decided to share a meal with them,” said Centerline Director of Business Operations John Trahan. “Showing gratitude and appreciation for our drivers is the least we can do.”
Centerline has a long history of providing drivers with rewards like this because without drivers, products can’t get where they’re going and the supply chain would stop.
Centerline also honored its team in Indiana for 65 accident-free days and are working with clients to honor other teams as well. So the next time you’re on the road be sure to thank a trucker.
Compliance, Safety and Accountability Points (CSA Points) were created to ensure that drivers and their employers comply with safety standards set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Anytime a violation occurs, points are assessed and added to a fleets’ overall score. Points range from 1 to 10 with 1 being the lowest.
CSA points remain on a drivers’ individual record for up to 36 months. While it is unlikely the FMSCA will take action against a driver, a high score could impact your job search.
Driver points are added to a fleets’ overall CSA score—fleets strive to have the lowest CSA score to ensure they receive a high ranking from the FMCSA. Fleets will be unlikely to hire a driver who they deem a safety risk.
Because CSA Points could impact a driver’s job search, it is important that drivers understand CSA violations and the points associated with them.
There are 5 major categories of CSA Point violations that truck drivers need to be aware of:
There are also points categories of vehicle maintenance, drug/alcohol and hazardous materials violations .
For a more detailed outline of the violations can be found online. Review this outline, and never hesitate to reach out to Centerline for help understanding these violations.
The most common injuries for truck drivers are sprains and strains, according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). These types of injuries can sideline you from driving for days and even weeks. You can reduce or prevent these injuries by following a simple 3-point rule when getting in or out of your truck.
Learn more safety tips by visiting our safety content library here.
2020 has been busy to say the least. But we’ve got you covered—in one easy list. Here are the top five pieces of content that our readers loved most this year.
In the wake of COVID-19, keeping our drivers and customers safe and healthy is the top priority. Maintaining a clean truck and practicing sanitation guidelines is the first step in preventing the spread of infection. Our free cleaning checklist can help ensure you are taking the proper steps to reduce the chance of infection
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has approved changes to the hours of service (HOS) regulations. These changes are intended to improve driver flexibility while still promoting and ensuring safety. These changes went into effect on September 29, 2020. Not sure what all changed? Catch up with the ruling
If ever there’s a time to focus on maintaining the morale of your drivers, it’s now. In addition to dealing with larger workloads and longer hours due to high demand, drivers are also facing more restrictions and regulations due to the pandemic, on top of trying to stay safe and healthy themselves. Read how to boost the morale of your drivers
The Department of Transportation (DOT) regularly conducts audits to make sure companies are following the rules and maintain compliance. By keeping up-to-date documentation and reports, you can ensure that an audit will go smoothly and are more likely to pass. These audits often happen without much warning so it’s crucial to keep your records updated at all times. Double check to make sure your records are up-to-date with these checklist.
Regulations on the state, local and federal level are no strangers to constant change. However, the pandemic and consequent recession have added a new layer to this ever-changing world. This guide is designed to help you understand the biggest employment compliance trends and what they mean for you in 2021. Download this free guide instantly
Want more of the latest trucking content? Click to peruse our content library.
Tis the season to be wary. From weathering snow, sleet, ice and wind to fighting holiday traffic and working longer hours, truck driving during the holiday season is anything but merry and bright. In fact, it can be downright dangerous.
To help ensure the well-being of yourself and others on the road this holiday season, make a list of the following safety tips and check it twice.
With more deliveries and tighter deadlines, you may be eager to speed things up, but the weather has other plans for you. Between rain, sleet, snow and fog, the roads are slicker and your visibility is compromised. And while coronavirus concerns may have more people staying inside this winter, their reliance on online shopping means more delivery vehicles on the road.
Combined, holiday traffic and winter weather can be a deadly mix – quite literally – so be smart, stick to the speed limit and slow down when necessary. If you tend to feel rushed and anxious during the holiday season, make a concerted effort to plan ahead: Check the weather and traffic conditions before you head out, look for alternative routes and give yourself extra time by leaving earlier than you think you need to.
Now is the time to make sure your truck is in top form and ready to handle the obstacles that holiday weather can throw your way.
Make sure your tires are in good condition, maintain a full tank of gas, keep an eye on your windshield wiper fluids and don’t leave home without antifreeze.
Before you get behind the wheel, remove any snow or ice that may have gathered on the windshield, windows or roof, under the hood, around the lights and in other crevices.
Not only can these elements create blind spots for you, they can be a hazard for the drivers behind you and wreak havoc on your engine if left untreated.
When the weather outside is frightful, distractions can be so delightful – but also dangerous. Keeping your eyes on the road is essential to ensuring your safety and the safety of those around you.
If you’re prone to texting or checking social media on the road, put your phone away and let the temptation go – let it go, let it go, let it go.
The holiday delivery season often means larger hauls, more shifts – and more pressure to keep up with the demand. Skimping on much-needed rest, however, is not the way to do it.
Driver fatigue is a hazard to yourself and others on the road, accounts for nearly 800 deaths a year, and is largely why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established regulations that limit the number of hours truck drivers can work at one time.
Know the safety rules for the road before you get behind the wheel and make time to get under the covers.
Even if you aren’t feeling especially charitable this holiday season, being courteous to others on the road isn’t just polite – it’s a safety issue.
Make room for other drivers, especially when they’re trying to change lanes or merge, and give others sufficient warning when doing the same. These and other defensive driving tactics will help you stay off the naughty list and out of harm’s way.
Staying safe also means staying healthy, which is a tall order this time of year. In addition to the threat of coronavirus and the seasonal flu, you’re also likely to be dealing with longer hours and holiday-related stress and anxiety.
These elements can take a toll on your physical health, leaving you distracted or lethargic and compromising your ability to focus when you need to most. Do everything you can to reduce your exposure to coronavirus, but get your flu shot as well. Take your vitamins, eat right and, as mentioned above, get plenty of rest – it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
![Classical Drive [Playlist]](https://www.centerlinedrivers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Copy-of-IMAGE_Duotone_BLUE-26.jpg)
![Fresh Start [Playlist]](https://www.centerlinedrivers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Copy-of-IMAGE_Duotone_BLUE-28.jpg)
![Three Points of Contact Rule [Infographic]](https://www.centerlinedrivers.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Three-Points-of-Contact-Rule-Infographic.jpg)
