Triple Safety Services LLC.

Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher? Don’t wait until an emergency to become familiar with it.

Occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. Each year, about 22 millionexternal icon U.S. workers are exposed to hazardous noise levels at work. Over 30 millionexternal icon U.S. workers are exposed to chemicals, some of which are harmful to the ear (ototoxic) and hazardous to hearing. In addition to damaging workers’ quality of life, occupational hearing loss carries a high economic price to society.

NIOSH Recommendations:

The NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) for occupational noise exposure is 85 decibels, A-weighted, as an 8-hour time-weighted average (85 dBA as an 8-hr TWA) using a 3-dB exchange rate. Exposures at or above this level are considered hazardous.
Use the NIOSH Hierarchy of Controls to reduce workplace noise to below the NIOSH REL whenever possible. Use hearing protection when hazardous noise levels cannot be adequately reduced.

Students are heading back to the classroom this month. That means school buses will be out on our roadways. Remember to always drive safely and keep an eye out for flashing lights and stop arms.

Just a little drug testing humor

Triple Safety Services is available for drug testing at my facility or yours! I work around your drivers hours. After hours and weekend testing available!

Need To Know: Operation Safe Driver Week Facts

Operation Safe Driver Week is happening July 10 — 16, 2022, in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The purpose of Operation Safe Driver Week is to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles on North American roadways.
Law enforcement agencies will be targeting both commercial vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers.
The area of special emphasis for Operation Safe Driver Week 2022 is speeding.
Law enforcement will also be on the lookout for other dangerous driving behaviors, including distracted driving, following too closely, improper lane change, and drunk or drugged driving.
During Operation Safe Driver Week 2021, law enforcement pulled over 28,148 commercial motor vehicles and 17,910 passenger vehicles.
During Operation Safe Driver Week 2021, law enforcement issued 10,486 warnings and 16,863 citations.

We are growing! Drug Testing is available onsite or in our office!

FYI to parents of teenagers and Truck Drivers.

There is a new TikTok Challenge where a kid basically plays ”chicken” with a Truck. It’s called the “Angel of Death Challenge” or “Malaikat Maut Challenge” and a kid jumps in front of a moving truck to see if the truck moves around the kid.

Truck Drivers, look out for this. I had a friend in DFW tell me they’ve already heard about it there.

Teenagers, don’t be that stupid. You’re talking thousands of pounds and a Driver can’t stop like a car can. If they swerve, they are risking the lives of everyone around them, especially if they are hauling anything flammable. They’re coming home to their family, so you will be killed.

Please let your Truck Driver friends know and talk to your kids!

Heat Stress Awareness for Construction and General Industry

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Need To Know: Operation Safe Driver Week Facts

Operation Safe Driver Week is happening July 10 — 16, 2022, in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The purpose of Operation Safe Driver Week is to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles on North American roadways.
Law enforcement agencies will be targeting both commercial vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers.
The area of special emphasis for Operation Safe Driver Week 2022 is speeding.
Law enforcement will also be on the lookout for other dangerous driving behaviors, including distracted driving, following too closely, improper lane change, and drunk or drugged driving.
During Operation Safe Driver Week 2021, law enforcement pulled over 28,148 commercial motor vehicles and 17,910 passenger vehicles.
During Operation Safe Driver Week 2021, law enforcement issued 10,486 warnings and 16,863 citations.

Fuel costs are on the rise…

Retail diesel costs reached a stress-inducing average of $5.62 per gallon during the week of May 9, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. As of Monday, average prices have come down slightly to $5.54 per gallon, but this is still nearly $2.28 more than the per-gallon cost at the same time last year.

While prices remain elevated, finding solutions to combat increasing fuel expenses is front of mind for owner-operators, small and midsize fleets especially, which bear the brunt of the ballooning fuel prices.

Reduce idling

Wasteful idling is not only harmful to the environment and a truck’s engine, but it also quickly depletes a fleet’s revenue.

The average long-haul truck idles 1,800 hours per year, burning through 1,500 gallons of fuel, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. To keep numbers modest, assuming a price of $3.61 per gallon — which is the lowest weekly diesel average so far in 2022 — 1,500 gallons spent idling would amount to $5,415 in unnecessary expenses in one year.

Finding ways to reduce idling and to limit air conditioning use while idling can significantly increase fuel economy. If the engine isn’t needed, turn it off.

Follow the speed limit

While it’s tempting to increase your speed in order to drop off or pick up a load quicker, speeding is both a safety risk and burns more fuel than driving under the posted limit.

“Obeying the speed limit, accelerating and braking gently and gradually, and reading the road ahead can improve the fuel economy of your vehicle by 15%-30% at highway speeds and 10%-40% in stop-and-go traffic,” the U.S. Department of Energy suggested.

It pays to slow down.

Choose the most optimal routes

Strategizing optimal routes to reduce unnecessary miles and preplan fueling stops can help maximize fuel savings. Plenty of route-optimization tools exist to do the work for you.

The nation's biggest trucker blitz is just a couple of weeks away

The nation's biggest trucker blitz is just a couple of weeks away This year's Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck enforcement effort is approaching fast -- here's what you need to know.

DRIVE SAFE! || Too Fast You Fail
Speeding isn’t just exceeding the posted speed limit. Driving too fast for current weather and road conditions is also considered speeding. Speeding is dangerous for workers, passengers, pedestrians, and the public. Speeding causes you to use fuel faster, increases wear on your vehicle, and puts you at risk for tickets, fines, higher insurance costs or worse.
REMEMBER THESE TIPS:
• Make a decision to not speed and drive safely.
• Make a plan to get to your destination on time
and avoid rushing.
• Check traffic and news ahead of time so you can be ready for delays that will cause you to rush.
• Leave early whenever possible.
• Watch your speed! Just paying attention to your actual speed is often enough of a reminder to slow down, drive and stay alive!

Long read but worth the time…

Experts say understanding data, operationalizing safety are best practices in preventing nuclear verdicts

Trucking companies more often than not are on the losing end of a court battle, leading to exponential growth in courts awarding plaintiffs significant amounts of money following crashes involving commercial trucks.
According to a study from the American Transportation Research Institute, the average size of crash-related verdicts – also known as nuclear verdicts – has increased by nearly 1,000% since 2010, and the number of cases between 2012 and 2019 grew by 335% in comparison.

It's a trend that’s causing smaller fleets to shut down or at the very least leaving fleets underinsured as the rise in nuclear verdicts spur increases in insurance costs.
But the experts have some tips to help fleets combat nuclear verdicts, and they say it starts with data.
“What can we do to now start to fight back and start to be able to combat a lot of these rising costs and a lot of these rising claims? … I think that really first starts with an understanding of your own data because that's where the plaintiff's attorneys obviously start,” said Idelic Founder and Chief Innovation Officer Hayden Cardiff during the Truckload Carriers Association’s recent webinar Preventing Nuclear Verdicts: Going on Offense Against Your Liability.

He said while there are larger, systematic things that can be done like tort reform, the best way for fleets to fight nuclear verdicts is to understand what plaintiffs attorneys look for in any given case and to be proactive in safety and operations management to eliminate risk.
Brandon Guiliani, transportation practice leader and principal at Seubert & Associates Inc. said attorneys are looking beyond the facts of a crash to fleet practices to establish negligence.

Historically, we've always thought if I can make sure my driver is compliant and my driver has done the things that he or she needs to do that I'm covered,” Guiliani said. “But … there's been a shift, and that shift is … moving the conversation away from the driver and moving towards the fleet.”
He said plaintiffs attorneys are digging into what fleets are doing corporate wide, and being compliant isn’t enough anymore to defend your company in court.
Much of a company’s operations will come under the microscope. Cardiff said that includes driver hiring, onboarding and retention standards, training, compliance and safety measures, driver turnover and engagement, communications among departments, data from electronic logging devices and video evidence from cameras, numbers of accidents and worker’s comp claims, driver performance management, background of each individual driver, handbook adherence and escalation process continuity, number of safety and compliance staff and company culture, among many other things.
“We've got data coming out of our ears at this point,” Cardiff said. “… All of that is discoverable, so if you're not looking at it beforehand, you will definitely be defending it after the fact when you're in court.”

Guiliani said fleets need to tackle their level of liability and improve risk by addressing those issues before a crash occurs.
And it starts with the drivers, he said.
He said companies should talk to their drivers to learn what issues they’re experiencing and pinpoint the drivers that need additional training and award those who are meeting productivity and safety standards.
Cardiff said operationalizing safety – aligning operations teams and safety teams to push in the same direction and own the same metrics – is a hot-button issue but something that is necessary to improve safety and win in a litigious environment. To do that, he said companies can evaluate their operations team members’ performance based on the drivers under their purview.
“It really comes down to driver performance management, making sure … you're operationalizing safety, you're going in and making sure that all of the professional development plans and coaching across the board can be dialed in, documented and understood, integrating and consolidating the data to give you that visualization of the drivers’ performance,” Cardiff said. “Once you do that, you can start to identify those areas – both from a process as a fleet and down at the end of the driver level – where you can step in and start to make a good impact and rooting out that liability.”

Guiliani said going beyond compliance and taking these extra steps can help a trucking company keep its doors open.
Though the nuclear verdict trend goes beyond the trucking industry, he said the dollar amounts of such awards are much higher in trucking and only getting larger. One, he said, was a $1 billion verdict in Florida last year.
Cardiff said the increase in nuclear verdict cases has drawn the attention of insurance carriers, and it is changing industry standards.
“The industry standard has been raised. If you have an ELD, you should have a camera. That technology is available,” Cardiff said. “I don't know if there's going to be any(thing) legal like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requiring ELDs … but, effectively, I think it will get mandated by the insurance carriers and saying that if you don't have this technology, you're uninsurable.”
Guiliani said that’s because insurers haven’t turned a profit in nearly 12 years because of litigation – and it’s causing insurance rates to rise. He said insurance companies will also dig into a company’s data like plaintiffs attorneys to determine the risk of insuring a fleet and a fleet’s tier of pricing, furthering the need to be more proactive in nuclear verdict prevention by operationalizing safety and working with drivers.

As of February 7, 2022, drivers applying for an initial CDL, upgrading a current CDL, or obtaining a hazardous materials, passenger, or school bus endorsement need to complete both theory and behind-the-wheel instruction from an approved training provider.

3,500 Peterbilt tractors recalled for potential issue with side step
Paccar is recalling approximately 3,511 model year 2022 Peterbilt 579 tractors equipped with chassis fairings.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, the bolts that hold the chassis fairing step assembly in the closed position may loosen and fracture the latch attachment, causing the fairing assembly to flex. A partially unsecured cab step can unexpectedly move while entering or exiting the cab, increasing the risk for injury, the recall states.

Dealers will add new fasteners and a bracket, for free, to fix the issue. Owners can contact Peterbilt customer service at 1-940-591-4220 with recall number 22PBA. NHTSA’s recall number is 22V-016.

February isn’t just for valentines also for high vis

Construction safety and Visibility
If vehicle safety practices are not observed at your site, you risk being pinned between construction vehicles and walls, struck by swinging backhoes, crushed beneath overturned vehicles, you risk being struck by trucks or cars.

Workers need to be seen during poor lighting or weather conditions, or when working in environments where there is a lot of moving vehicles or equipment.

• All workers should wear high visibility apparel. Garments must be reflective.

• Workers must be highly visible in all levels of light.

• Worker visibility during dawn or dusk conditions may be enhanced by the use of fluorescent colored highvisibility apparel.

• The use of colors such as yellowgreen for the worker apparel may help to differentiate the worker from the orange colored work vehicles, signs, drums, etc.

• Spotters should always wear high visibility vests.

• Workers exposed to vehicle hazards should be trained on working near traffic.

• Workers responsible for temporary traffic control should be adequately trained.

• High-visibility safety clothing should be replaced when it becomes faded, torn, dirty, soiled, worn, or defaced, or if it is not visible at 1,000 feet day or night.

Rebranding and more services being offered...

For those heading south to Tennessee, I-65 is at a crawl at mile marker 117 in Tennessee. Traffic is backed up almost to Exit 2 in Kentucky. Photo is from the new interchange at TN 109 at the state line at 11:30 am.

Weigh Station sensors now monitor the condition of your tires on I-81

Weigh Station sensors now monitor the condition of your tires on I-81 The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is looking to expand current road sensor technology aimed at detecting unsafe tires.

Georgia preps for winter weather with CMV 'pull-ins' - TheTrucker.com

Georgia preps for winter weather with CMV 'pull-ins' - TheTrucker.com ATLANTA — The Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) is asking commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), including motor coaches and

Triple Safety Services LLC.

Looking at the forecast we could be getting more snow. Regardless if you are a local driver or over the road be prepared…

Truck Supplies:

Windshield Scraper – every driver knows that ice accumulates easily on a cold windshield, make sure to have a sturdy scraper on hand to ensure maximum visibility once you hit the road.
Snow Chains – Many drivers believe that if the weather is bad enough for chains, it’s time to pull over. Use your best judgement, and make sure you know how to properly use the chains before you set out on your next snowy run. Find some tips on how to properly install and use snow chains here.
Jumper Cables – Useful for every season, but especially during freezing months where a working truck could mean the difference between life of death.
Heavy Duty Bungee Cords – Some bungee cords are superior to others. Make sure to keep some good quality bungees that are capable of withstanding freezing weather on hand just in case.
Kitty Litter/Salt – Both of these items can be useful for traction, and might be just what you need to get out of a slippery situation.
Half-full tank – This one can be tricky, but keeping the fuel tank at least half full at all times during the winter months is a good idea. You never know when a blizzard might hit, and if it does, you’ll be thankful to have fuel.

Human Supplies:

Heavy Duty Winter Clothes – A no-brainer. Make sure you always have extra warm jackets, gloves, hats, socks, and even waterproof boots when you hit the road during the winter. That way, you’ll always have protective, dry clothes ready to go if needed.
Heavy Duty Knee Pads – Useful for semi truck maintenance such as changing tires, refilling fluids, and checking truck equipment. Don’t skimp on these – if your kneepads can’t withstand the weather or are too thin, you just might feel the consequences later.
Extra Blankets – Just like with extra warm clothes, extra blankets may just save you from frostbite if you ever find yourself in an unfortunate situation. Don’t forget one for your furry co-pilot if you have one!
Flashlights – Not just any flashlight, a good one. A flashlight that can perform well in any weather might just help you fix something on your truck, find something in a dark cab, or even aid in flagging down some help.
Extra Food and Water – Have some emergency food and water stored in the truck in case you ever need to hunker down. Don’t forget extra food and water for your furry co-pilot if you have one!

Triple Safety Services LLC. Send a message to learn more.

Truckers help feed stranded drivers on snowy I-95 - TheTrucker.com

Great job truckers! Always be prepared!

Truckers help feed stranded drivers on snowy I-95 - TheTrucker.com ALONG INTERSTATE 95 — A truck driver, stranded along a snow-covered, 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 on Monday and Tuesday, became a lifeline for some

Thousands of Western Star and Freightliner trucks recalled for fire risk

Thousands of Western Star and Freightliner trucks recalled for fire risk Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has issued a recall for nearly 3000 trucks due to the risk of a fuel leak sparking a fire.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) may have finished the last major truck inspection efforts of 2021, but the group is already looking ahead to 2022.

Here are the dates you need to know.

International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 17 — 19, 2022. The 72 hour event is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 15 trucks or buses inspected, on average, every minute across North America.
Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 10 — 16, 2022. During this enforcement effort, officers throughout North America are on the lookout for commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers engaging in risky driving behaviors.
Brake Safety Week is scheduled for August 21 — 27, 2022. During this campaign, commercial motor vehicle inspectors conduct brake system inspections on large trucks and buses throughout North America to identify brake-system violations.
Unannounced one-day brake safety enforcement initiative — This can be held at any time during the year and also involves inspectors checking brakes to identify brake violations. The previous surprise brake safety day took place on May 26, 2021.

UPS driver kidnapped, packages stolen in brazen Atlanta heist

So glad the driver was ok. Packages can be replaced but not the driver.

UPS driver kidnapped, packages stolen in brazen Atlanta heist Hijackers seized a UPS big rig, kidnapping its driver and stealing an untold number of packages, during a brazen heist Tuesday in Atlanta, authorities said.

Truckers involved in relief efforts exempt from HOS, weight restrictions in Kentucky

Truckers involved in relief efforts exempt from HOS, weight restrictions in Kentucky Hours of Service and weight restrictions have been temporarily suspended in Kentucky for drivers involved in delivering fuel, clearing debris, or restoring power.

Items to keep in your car / truck kit during the winter
Your winter emergency kit should include basic survival supplies, safety items, car / truck maintenance tools, and winter clothing. These items will help you stay comfortable and hydrated if you ever get stuck on the side of the road or have to wait out a storm. Gather up your supplies, pack them into a storage bin or large backpack, and place your roadside emergency kit inside your car before venturing out into the cold weather.

1. Flashlight
Nighttime or near-blizzard conditions can decrease visibility to near-zero. A bright flashlight can provide much-needed light to either work on getting back on the road or signal to others for help. It’s smart to keep extra batteries in your emergency survival kit.

2. Bag of cat litter
For those new to winter weather, icy conditions greatly reduce your tire traction. To get your car unstuck, pour non-clumping kitty litter in the path of your tires. Other alternatives include sand or road salt.

3. Snow shovel
If snow starts piling up around your car on the side of the road, you’ll need a shovel to help you clear a path or uncover your car. Keep your car visible to rescue teams by limiting the amount of snow surrounding it or covering your tail lights.

4. First aid kit
A basic first aid kit can come in handy in the event of minor scrapes or pains, but even more so if you’re stranded. If you take daily medications, you should also pack extras away in your kit.

5. Ice scraper
People familiar with winter weather know how vital a windshield scraper is for getting ice and snow off of a windshield. During a deep freeze or emergency situation, you don’t want to waste time — or your car’s battery — waiting to defrost a thick sheet of ice on your windshield.

6. Jumper cables
Speaking of batteries, you’ll need to be able to jumpstart your car if the battery goes dead. While jumping a car is common, it can be dangerous if you don’t do it correctly. Most importantly, reduce the risk of sparking by never touching the clamps end to end and avoid any moisture near the cables.

7. Water
Dehydration is a serious threat when you’re stranded. Keep a large jug of water—preferably glass—in your car for emergencies. Replace the water every few months since it may go through extreme temperature changes inside your car.

8. Blanket
Pack a large, thick blanket away in your car to keep you warm in winter weather or to use as padding in case you need to work on your car. Consider adding a reflective emergency blanket or sleeping bag to your kit too.

9. Cell phone charger
This is essential for most drivers already but it won’t hurt to add an extra charger with a lighter adapter to your kit. Of course, this assumes you have enough gas and battery to keep your car running to get a charge so consider packing a portable phone charger too.

Print out an emergency contact sheet to keep in your car just in case your phone dies and you don’t have access to a charger. You may be able to borrow someone else’s phone to call for help or contact your loved ones to let them know you’re safe.

10. Reflective triangles
Breaking down on the side of the road can put you at risk for passing drivers, especially in low visibility conditions. Put out reflective triangles to make your car more visible and protect from any hazards.

11. Non-perishable snacks
Granola bars, nuts, crackers, dried fruit, and jerky are a few examples of snacks you can keep on hand in case you get stranded. Like the water, you should replace these every few months or sooner so they don’t expire.

12. Matches
Waterproof matches or a lighter can provide some light and warmth in case of emergency. These small items hardly take up any space in your kit too.

13. Toolkit
Similar to the first aid kit, a basic toolkit can be useful year-round in your car. From small repairs to changing a tire, keep these on hand in case you need them.

Other recommended items
For those who like to always be prepared, consider adding a few more items to your winter car emergency kit. Stock up with plenty of winter clothing like a hat, large coat, socks, and gloves to stay warm and dry.

Pack these additional supplies if you have space in your car: somethings may be required to have in your truck…

Extra winter clothes
Snow boots
Tire chains
Duct tape
Empty gas can
Tow strap
Fire extinguisher
Road flare
Snow brush
Traction mats