Thursday, June 03, 2010
Overview of Motor Carrier Industry: Types of Motor Carriers
The U.S. highway trucking industry makes use of an extensive road and street system that occupies approximately 3.9 million miles. Of that amount, 42,000 miles are part of the interstate and defense highway system, which was designed to connect major cities with four-lane limited access roads.
* Private versus for-hire. The private carrier provides a service to the shipper that owns or leases the vehicles, and thus does not charge a fee. The for-hire carrier charges a fee for providing service to the public and can operate intrastate and interstate.
* Local vs. Inter-city. For-hire carriers are either local or inter-city operators. As local carriers they pick up and deliver interstate freight within what is commonly called a commercial zone of a city or region as defined by the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
* Interstate For-Hire Operating Authority. Interstate operating authority is required to transport property (regulated commodities) or passengers for-hire in interstate commerce. Obtaining this authority can be done by contacting the USDOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at (800) 832-5660. It can also be don by processing a registration request online at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
* Common vs. Contract. Common carriers are required to serve the general public when the need to do so is there, at reasonable rates, and without discrimination. Contract carriers, on the other hand, serve specific shippers with whom the carriers have a contract and are therefore not available for carrying freight for the general public.
* Intrastate Private Motor Carriers. Persons who provide transportation of property or passengers by commercial motor vehicle and are not for-hire motor carriers.
* Intrastate Household Goods Freight Forwarder. A freight forwarder of household goods, unaccompanied baggage, or used automobiles.
* Interstate Freight Carriers.
* Intrastate and Interstate Carriers of Hazardous Waste.
* Exempt. These for-hire carriers are specifically exempt from economic regulation by the STB. This gives them freedom from economic regulatory control by the type of commodity hauled ( agriculture, lumber, etc.), or by the nature of its operation, such as ancillary service to the air and ocean transportation industry. Rates charged and services provided and the numbers of vehicles used are determined strictly by market supply and demand.
* Private versus for-hire. The private carrier provides a service to the shipper that owns or leases the vehicles, and thus does not charge a fee. The for-hire carrier charges a fee for providing service to the public and can operate intrastate and interstate.
* Local vs. Inter-city. For-hire carriers are either local or inter-city operators. As local carriers they pick up and deliver interstate freight within what is commonly called a commercial zone of a city or region as defined by the Surface Transportation Board (STB).
* Interstate For-Hire Operating Authority. Interstate operating authority is required to transport property (regulated commodities) or passengers for-hire in interstate commerce. Obtaining this authority can be done by contacting the USDOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at (800) 832-5660. It can also be don by processing a registration request online at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
* Common vs. Contract. Common carriers are required to serve the general public when the need to do so is there, at reasonable rates, and without discrimination. Contract carriers, on the other hand, serve specific shippers with whom the carriers have a contract and are therefore not available for carrying freight for the general public.
* Intrastate Private Motor Carriers. Persons who provide transportation of property or passengers by commercial motor vehicle and are not for-hire motor carriers.
* Intrastate Household Goods Freight Forwarder. A freight forwarder of household goods, unaccompanied baggage, or used automobiles.
* Interstate Freight Carriers.
* Intrastate and Interstate Carriers of Hazardous Waste.
* Exempt. These for-hire carriers are specifically exempt from economic regulation by the STB. This gives them freedom from economic regulatory control by the type of commodity hauled ( agriculture, lumber, etc.), or by the nature of its operation, such as ancillary service to the air and ocean transportation industry. Rates charged and services provided and the numbers of vehicles used are determined strictly by market supply and demand.
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Post-accident testing
382.303
May an employer allow a driver, subject to post-accident controlled
substances testing, to continue to drive pending receipt of the results of the
controlled substances test?
Yes. A driver may continue to drive, so long as no other restrictions
are imposed by §382.307 or by law enforcement officials
May an employer allow a driver, subject to post-accident controlled
substances testing, to continue to drive pending receipt of the results of the
controlled substances test?
Yes. A driver may continue to drive, so long as no other restrictions
are imposed by §382.307 or by law enforcement officials
