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PUCO promoting commercial vehicle safety across Ohio

Tips for drivers to avoid top violations seen in Ohio

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Dec. 17, 2013) – Ohio’s world-class transportation system includes eight interstate highways that offer safe, fast and reliable options for all travelers. Highways are the arteries of commerce, but are only as efficient and dependable as the safe drivers that use them.  

Ohio ranks fifth as one of the most highly traveled states in the country. There are also more private and commercial trucks registered in Ohio than 44 other states in the country with approximately 105,000 commercial vehicles registered to operate in the state that fall under the PUCO’s jurisdiction. Additionally, there are more than 1,074,000 drivers with a Commercial Drivers License in Ohio — which means an estimated one out of every eight Ohio drivers is licensed to drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV).

The PUCO’s Transportation Department, Motor Carrier Division is committed to improving road safety for Ohioans by ensuring the safe operation of CMVs in Ohio. Motor carrier companies that transport in commerce and operate in Ohio, must remain in compliance with all federal and state safety regulations that are administered by the PUCO Transportation Department, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The PUCO and the Ohio State Highway Patrol regularly perform thorough and fair inspections of commercial vehicles and professional drivers to ensure Ohio’s highways remain safe for families. Each safety inspection follows a standard process to make sure the driver and motor carrier meet the necessary state and federal safety regulations. Drivers and motor carriers that do not meet these regulations are issued violations, and in some cases cannot continue driving until the violation is corrected.

Common violations and safety tips

Vehicles and drivers that fail safety inspections are immediately placed out-of-service and not allowed to operate until the identified safety problems are addressed. The PUCO believes driver awareness and education can cut down the volume of violations and offers these tips in avoiding some of the most common out-of-service violations issued to drivers, motor carriers and hazardous material haulers in Ohio.

1)      Record of duty status violations are often the most frequently cited violations for CMV drivers in Ohio. Federal law requires drivers to record his/her duty status for each 24-hour period. Often times driver’s neglect to fully record their duty status (as outlined in the federal safety regulations) until they reach their destination.

Tip for drivers: Keep log books inside the truck cab at all times. Remember to keep log books current as of the last time you came on-duty, and not when you first began your haul.  

2)      Out-of-service violations for lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps and turn signals) and tires on trucks routinely top the citation list each year and can lead to substantial fines for motor carriers. Too many violations can impact a motor carrier’s safety rating, which is available to the public and customers on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website. Most lighting and tire violations are easily avoidable and can be caught during a pre-trip driver inspection. 

Tip for motor carriers: Practice periodic checks on your drivers to make sure they are practicing pre- and post-trip inspections. Self-audits and organized company reviews will save money and ensure company-wide safe practices. The PUCO provides many of these required forms for safe commercial driving on our website.    

3)      Shipping paper violations and improper placarding violations are other common out-of-service violations for motor carriers hauling hazardous materials. There are different rules and regulations that apply for motor carriers hauling hazardous materials — and since motor carriers typically haul items other than hazmat more frequently, drivers tend to forget which rules apply and tend to make simple mistakes.   

Tip for drivers and motor carriers when hauling hazardous material:  Participate in quarterly refresher safety courses for drivers about current rules and regulations. The rules and regulations for shipping papers and placarding rarely change and violations are easily preventable. Remember that shipping papers must be kept at arms length of the driver at all times. In case of an emergency, first responders must know exactly what the driver is hauling.    

If a motor carrier is found to be in violation of a safety regulation, they are issued a civil forfeiture, or fine. The PUCO facilitates the civil forfeiture program to deter violations and encourage compliance with the federal and state rules. From 2008–2012 there was a 29 percent decrease in the total out-of-service violations issued to motor carriers and professional drivers in Ohio.  

History of PUCO civil forfeiture program

Prior to 1988, transportation violations were issued by local courts. Because violations were issued against a driver, motor carriers had little incentive to comply with safety regulations. Additionally, violations were not included in the carrier’s safety record, making it difficult to identify carriers with patterns of violations.

To create a consistent means to track safety violations and issue penalties, the PUCO was given authority to assess civil forfeitures for violations involving highway transportation and hazardous materials in 1988. In 1995, Ohio law authorized the PUCO to assess civil forfeitures for all motor carrier safety violations. The PUCO annually issues an average of 3,000 penalty notices and collects approximately $2.5 million in civil forfeitures.

For more information

All of us have a part to play in the safe transit of commercial goods on Ohio roadways. The PUCO wants to help motor carriers and drivers understand and practice safe procedures. By being mindful of common violations and following the tips to avoiding them, motor carriers and drivers can help keep violations to a minimum and better ensure safe operations.

For more information on motor carrier safety, the PUCO’s CMV inspection process and civil forfeiture program, contact the PUCO at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) or visit the motor carrier industry section of www.PUCO.ohio.gov.

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The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative.