February 2021 Newsletter
CVSA International Roadcheck Set for May 4-6
Mark your calendars! This year’s International Roadcheck is set for May 4-6 with a special focus on commercial motor vehicle lighting and hours of service. “Lamps inoperable” was the #1 vehicle violation (12% of the total) in fiscal 2020. The International Roadcheck seeks to raise awareness of the North American Standard Inspection Program and highway safety rules and regulations while collecting data. The Inspections will be carried out over a 72-hour period in jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
FMCSA Extensions
Many truck drivers have still been unable to renew their CDLs or make appointments for physical exams in order to obtain their medical certificates. Due to this, FMCSA is allowing states to choose to extend the use of expired CDLs and CPLs through May 31, 2021. The waiver was set to expire on February 28, 2021. States are not required, however, to extend the validity of CDLs and CPLs due for renewal since March 1, 2020.
Recognizing the Stages of Burnout and How to Avoid It
Clifton Peterson, a long time truck driver, wrote, “We truckers, more than many others, have nothing but time to think. Self-evaluation is a norm, and as I’ve written before, it can also be a barrier to progress when it morphs into a tendency to let the ANTs (or automatic negative thoughts) overpower us during those hours upon hours hauling.” To help stop these automatic negative thoughts from taking over make sure you know the 5 stages of burnout and the various tips and tricks to apply to combat them.
The 5 Stages of burnout:
- The honeymoon phase- initial high of job satisfaction
- Awareness of difficulty over positivity- only see the tough days ahead
- Chronic stress- good days are dominated by stress
- Exhaustion- tiredness imprisons your thoughts
- Habitual Burnout- all the factors above become overwhelming and there is a looming sense of helplessness, defeat, or feeling trapped
If you find yourself experiencing any of the 5 stages of burnout use these simple tips to shift your mindset:
- Scale back, don’t take on more work than you can handle
- Build new relationships at work or in your community
- Go off-grid, meaning shift from technology based activities to more creative personal projects in your free time (reading books, starting a new hobby, meditating)
- Get out of your own head by doing something meaningful for someone else
- Consider a change in scenery
