Over the past month, we have spent a great deal of time discussing the requirements and qualifications that must be attained in order to be a CMV driver. To end this series, we have put together another list. This week, we would like to discuss the physical requirements that your drivers must meet.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers must:

•    Have no loss of a foot, leg, hand, or arm OR has been granted a skill performance evaluation certificate;

•    Have no impairment of a hand or finger which will interfere with the power of grasping;

•    Have no impairment of an arm, foot or leg which could interfere with the ability to perform normal tasks that are associated with operating a CMV;

•    Have no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus which requires insulin for control;

•    Have no current clinical diagnosis of: myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by collapse, congestive cardiac failure, syncope, etc.;

•    Have no medical history of respiratory dysfunction that will interfere with his/her ability to control a CMV;

•    Have no medical history of epilepsy or any other condition that may interfere with safe driving;

•    Have no mental, nervous, organic or functional disease or psychiatric disorder that will interfere with driving;

•    Have distant visual acuity of at least 20/40 in each eye without contact lenses.

For a full list, be sure to check it out here.

We at Wolpert Insurance hope that you have found this series helpful and useful! Having the best drivers out on the road will not only lower the chance of an accident, but claim or even lawsuit.

For those times that you do face a claim, we are here to provide you with reliable movers insurance. For more information on your options, contact our agency.

Welcome back! Over the past few weeks, our agency has focused on CMV driver qualifications and disqualifications. As the owner of a moving and storage company, it is important to be aware of such things. Last week, we went over the penalties that your drivers would face if he or she were found with drugs or alcohol on them or the use of either. This week, we would like to focus on the things that must be in a CMV driver’s file. Without these items, your drivers would not be able to operate your vehicles.

Every motor carrier must have a file for each regularly employed driver that should include:

•    Driver’s application for employment

•    Inquiry to previous employers – 3 years

•    Inquiry to state agencies – 3 years

•    Inquiry to state agencies – annual

•    Annual review of driving record

•    Annual driver’s certification of violations

•    Driver’s road test certificate or equivalent

•    Medical examiner’s certificate

The last thing you want is to find your company in trouble because your CMV driver’s do not have a file including the above items.

At Wolpert Insurance, our goal is to make sure your company is aware of such rules and regulations to stay out of trouble. We are also here to provide you with affordable and comprehensive movers insurance to help you deal with the unexpected issues and financial woes. For more information, contact our experts by calling 508-459-4700 or visit our website to fill out the free quote form!

Last week, we discussed the different ways in which a driver could be disqualified. Of those ways, one disqualification that was listed read “…driving a CMV while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and controlled substances.” Without a doubt, a driver found under the influence will face severe consequences.

As an employer, it is your responsibility to let your drivers know of this. You must ensure that all persons designated to supervise drivers receive at least 60 minutes of training on alcohol misuse and receive at least an additional 60 minutes of training on controlled substance use. Employers should also let drivers know of the following penalties:

1.    A first offender is disqualified for one year following conviction or forfeiture (6 months for possessions of a controlled substance.)

2.    For a second offense within three years, a driver is disqualified for three years.

As you can see, drug and alcohol use is no joke, especially when it comes to driving. All employers must be aware of the consequences and pass them along to employees. If one of your drivers is under the influence and goes unnoticed, he or she may end up in an accident, hurting themselves or worse, killing another. The last thing your business needs is a lawsuit on its hands!

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure your business is run as safely and smoothly as possible. This is exactly why we are dedicated to providing your moving and storage business with the proper coverage. Contact us for more information.