A month ago I ran into Terry O Connor who drives the FedEx Mobile Safety unit. Terry's job is to inspect units and give up to date information on new DOT regulations, to help owner operators and drivers stay up to date on things.
Some people may not like it as they may feel that big brother is watching over them. I don't feel that is the case. Terry is twice retired, once from the US Coast Guard and once from being part of a team operation with his wife in a B unit with FedEx Custom Critcal.
I enjoy talking to Terry as he is a book of knowledge on DOT regulations. If you listen to him you will learn something. I sat and talked with Terry after I did the Pre Trip Challenge at the 2015 Expedite Expo. Last year was the first year and Travel Centers of America sponsored it. Travel Centers of America is doing it again at the 2016 Expedite Expo in Lexington, Ky on July 15th and 16th.
By talking to Terry I found out that laying your load locks on the floor on the sides of the box is a DOT violation. It's classified as unsecured freight and you can be hit with two points on your CSA score. I now always lock my load locks in place because of the information that was shared with me by Terry. At that time I wasn't even a contractor at FedEx Custom Critcal.
So when I ran into Terry a month ago Terry asked to do a DOT inspection on my truck which I was okay with. It was wasn't to pick at me or the truck. It was to help with a fresh set of eyes on the truck. We did the inspection and Terry found a marker light out and a muffler strap broke. I thanked him as I could have gotten wrote up by DOT if we hadn't caught it. I replaced the bulb and told my mechanic about the strap. He found that the strap was not only bad, it put a hole in the muffler and we replaced it.
Next time you see Terry out on the road, don't think that Terry is out to pick at your truck. He is only trying to help you. Plus you may get a free meal and a new FedEx Custom Critcal hat. Be safe out on the Roads.
Some people may not like it as they may feel that big brother is watching over them. I don't feel that is the case. Terry is twice retired, once from the US Coast Guard and once from being part of a team operation with his wife in a B unit with FedEx Custom Critcal.
I enjoy talking to Terry as he is a book of knowledge on DOT regulations. If you listen to him you will learn something. I sat and talked with Terry after I did the Pre Trip Challenge at the 2015 Expedite Expo. Last year was the first year and Travel Centers of America sponsored it. Travel Centers of America is doing it again at the 2016 Expedite Expo in Lexington, Ky on July 15th and 16th.
By talking to Terry I found out that laying your load locks on the floor on the sides of the box is a DOT violation. It's classified as unsecured freight and you can be hit with two points on your CSA score. I now always lock my load locks in place because of the information that was shared with me by Terry. At that time I wasn't even a contractor at FedEx Custom Critcal.
So when I ran into Terry a month ago Terry asked to do a DOT inspection on my truck which I was okay with. It was wasn't to pick at me or the truck. It was to help with a fresh set of eyes on the truck. We did the inspection and Terry found a marker light out and a muffler strap broke. I thanked him as I could have gotten wrote up by DOT if we hadn't caught it. I replaced the bulb and told my mechanic about the strap. He found that the strap was not only bad, it put a hole in the muffler and we replaced it.
Next time you see Terry out on the road, don't think that Terry is out to pick at your truck. He is only trying to help you. Plus you may get a free meal and a new FedEx Custom Critcal hat. Be safe out on the Roads.
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