CSA - Sample 5 Why's - Driver's Record of Duty Status Not Current
Violation
A roadside inspection report for a motor carrier showed the following violation: §395.8(f)(1) - Driver's Record of Duty Status Not Current.
The motor carrier will want to find out the root cause of this Fatigued Driving BASIC violation.
Question 1: Why did this event take place?
Answer: The driver did not indicate any activity since his last duty change which was 8 hours ago.
Question 2: Why did the driver fail to bring it up to date?
Answer: He was planning on bringing it up to date at the end of his day.
Question 3: Why did the driver plan on filling out the log at the end rather than as he went along?
Answer: The driver felt it wasn't a big deal. He would estimate his time in specific places, and as long as there was not a supporting document to conflict, it would "all come out in the wash." He knew he would be done within the 11 and 14-hour rules and thought it was not hurting anything.
Question 4: Why did the driver have such a lackadaisical attitude about log completion?
Answer: Every other driver at the location had the same philosophy.
Question 5: Why did everyone at this location feel this way?
Answer: The safety manager was not enforcing accurate and timely completion of driver logs.
Possible Solutions
What might be some solution(s) based on the safety management cycle and the root cause(s)?
- Communicate with the safety manager in question about his role and responsibilities in ensuring driver compliance with the hours-of-service rules and company policies.
- Modify your policy and procedures to include discipline language for supervisors who do not enforce the company policies and compliance with the regulations.
- Review your current hours-of-service policies and procedures and update as needed, communicate contents and consequences through a safety meeting or training session, and regularly conduct refresher training on the topic of hours of service.
- Assign the role of monitoring roadside inspection reports for hours-of-service violations. Look for trends for the company as a whole, by locations, and by drivers. Enforce your company policy and conduct refresher training based on these findings.
- Offer incentives to drivers who have do not have hours-of-service violations over a specific time frame.
- Offer incentives to safety managers whose driving staff accomplishes minimal or no hours-of-service violations over a specific time period.