Been there, done that, didn't work

Been there, done that, didn’t work The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s decision to allow companies to self-certify has backfired on multiple occasions. So, the question now is whether the federal government has learned its lesson or plans to roll the dice with self-certification again. Although the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and most truckers opposed the electronic logging mandate in any form, FMCSA’s decision to allow ELD manufacturers to self-certify their products has been a complete mess. Not only is the agency constantly playing a game of “Whack-A-Mole” in its efforts to revoke bad devices, but it has also opened the door to many ELDs that are vulnerable to cybersecurity attacks. FMCSA also allowed entry-level driver training schools to self-certify, which opened the door to CDL mills that either fail to meet all federal standards or commit outright fraud by handing out commercial driver’s licenses to pretty much anyone willing to cough up the dough. The agency has seen the error in its ways, announcing a “complete overhaul” of the ELD vetting process and admitting that self-certification has made it easy for companies to register non-compliant devices or re-register devices that had been revoked. FMCSA also recently removed about 550 CDL training schools for operating with unqualified instructors, using fake addresses or failing to provide drivers with proper hazmat training. During an interview with Land Line late last year, FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said that self-certification leads to a lack of oversight. “(It) opens the door for potential fraud occurring,” Barrs said. “People not following the rules because no one is watching. I use the no one’s minding the store type of analogy. If nobody’s watching, then I’m going to find a way to skirt the system, which then compromises safety.” Well, if there’s ever been a store that’s needed