Driver Safety

Safety is a top priority at ELE Logistics and we wanted to focus on one area that we see a common issue in the transportation world. The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) had issued a rule that restricts the use of all hand-held mobile devices by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). This rule restricts the driver from holding a mobile device to make a call, or dialing by pressing more than a single button.   CMV drivers can use a mobile phone only if it is a hands-free phone located in close proximity. Research shows that CMV drivers who are on a mobile phone while driving are 6 times greater into getting into a crash or near crash than those who do not.

So what does that mean to drivers and carriers? There will be fines up to $2,750 for drivers and could result in a disqualification by a State of drivers required to have a Commercial Driver License. Along with this, there are severe risks when the driver takes his/her eyes off the roadway. To avoid these issues, a mounted phone is acceptable as long as it is in close proximity to the driver. Also, using an earpiece, speaker phone function, or voice-activated dialing falls under FMCSA compliance.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our safety department if you require more information on mobile phone restriction while operating CMVs. Stay Safe!

Source: FMCSA