Yes, URS Will Affect You

Starting Jan. 14, 2017, all carriers will start using the new MCSA-1 online-only form. The MCS-150 no longer will exist.

When the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration adopted the Unified Registration System rule in August 2013, one part that became effective almost immediately was the requirement to complete the biennial update. As of Nov. 1, 2013, motor carriers holding a USDOT number were required to update their information with FMCSA on a biennial (two-year) basis according to the schedule in 49 CFR §390.19, or face deactivation of their USDOT number.

The requirement to complete the biennial update was actually not new; FMCSA simply put some serious consequences in place if a carrier did not keep its information up to date. Since this part of URS has been in place for over three years now, all carriers existing as of Nov. 1, 2013, have been required to complete a biennial update.

See? Most of you have already been affected by URS. But that's just the beginning.

The biennial update requirement was a relatively minor kickoff to the many changes that will be implemented by URS. There's much more to come that will change the way all motor carriers interact with the FMCSA. It is a big deal.

One of the biggest and most notable changes that will affect all motor carriers is that starting Jan. 14, 2017, all carriers will start using the new MCSA-1 online-only form. The MCS-150 no longer will exist. New entrants, meaning new carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, etc., that have never had a USDOT number or federal authority, are currently required to apply for a USDOT number and authority (if needed) using the FMCSA's new online-only MCSA-1 form. The new MCSA-1 is currently available on FMCSA's website, but again, until Jan. 14, is to be used only by new ...Read the rest of this story

Commentary: Bringing the Diagnostics to the Fleet

Denise Rondini

Rapid diagnosis of trucks has been standard operating practice at many dealerships for quite some time. But some dealers have taken it a step further.

One of them is Fyda Freightliner. At its Cincinnati, Ohio, location, it recently launched Mobile Express Assessment, a program that dispatches a mobile van and a technician to where the customer's truck is located. The van is equipped with all of the latest diagnostic equipment and operates as a fully functioning office, allowing a preliminary diagnosis and worst-case estimate for repairs.

This is not the traditional mobile maintenance service that many dealers provide. According to Dustin Nunley, service manager for Fyda Freightliner Cincinnati, “Mobile EA is a diagnostic process only, and our technicians do not do on-site repairs, so we don't have the overhead typically related to traditional mobile service and maintenance trucks.”

The state-of-the art mobile diagnostic vehicle is used to diagnose complex fault codes, performance concerns, regeneration issues, etc., he explains. “Mobile EA features a flat base rate change with no hidden costs, such as mileage.”

The idea for Mobile Express Assessment grew out of a weekly change management meeting at the dealership. “It was during one such meeting when our team was discussing ideas on how to increase our business level by adding a new offering that would be a big customer benefit,” he explains.

“By offering our customers the opportunity to have our service technician come to them to diagnose their vehicles, we not only build our relationships with our customers, but we also help them control their maintenance expenses. Mobile Express Assessment allows the customer to make an educated decision about needed vehicle repairs without the cost associated with transporting the unit to our facility,” he adds.

Carol Firth, marketing manager for Fyda Freightliner, says that as with Express Assessment at the dealership, ...Read the rest of this story

One Month Left: Vote for Medium-Duty Truck of the Year

Cast your ballot today for Work Truck's 2017 Medium-Duty Truck of the Year Award, there is only one month left to be sure your vote is included for this prestigious award. Professional fleet managers are encouraged to vote for the best-of-the-best medium-duty work truck here.

When voting, please consider which medium-duty truck model best fits your fleet requirements, including application effectiveness, durability, quality, servicing, maintenance, and lifecycle costs. The award is for trucks that were available for purchase for at least half of 2016, regardless of model-year.

The award is sponsored by Work Truck magazine. Balloting closes January 20.

Vote today!

Past winners include:

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