If you run to the States, you may have gained a whole new appreciation for time management since Jan. 4, when new hours-of-service rules took effect. Noting that it’s never too late to learn, LogChek, a division of the TFS Group of Companies in Waterloo, Ont., has released a training video and workbook to help truck drivers, dispatchers, and fleet managers grapple with the new regs.

What’s different about the FMCSA Hours of Service Rules Reference Manual & Video Guide is that it not only summarizes the changes in plain language, it puts them into the context of a real-world trip, says Kristen Cooke, manager of LogChek.

“The first step is to explain how the new rules relate to the old ones,” she says. “But it’s just as important to learn how to strategically integrate the new rules into your trip planning so your freight operation is as efficient as can be. The video and workbook show you how.”

Centred around a multi-drop trip from Kitchener, Ont., to Atlanta, the 22-minute VHS video presentation covers drive time and off-duty requirements under the old and new rules; sleeper berth requirements under the old and new rules; and the technical amendments related to split sleeper berth provisions.

The 26-page workbook is available in .pdf format so you can print as many as you need. It supports the video with easy-to-read charts comparing the old and new U.S. rules, as well as samples of log sheets.

Supplementing the FMCSA Hours of Service Rules Reference Manual & Video Guide is a special website at www.logchek.com.

“The site has a wide range of reference material, links, and frequently asked questions about the new rules,” Cooke said. The FMCSA Hours of Service Rules Reference Manual & Video Guide costs $79.95 plus GST. Additional copies of the video are available for $49.95. The guide plus access to the HOS resources page at www.logchek.com are available for $129.95. For more information, contact 1-866-LOG CHEK (564-2435) or visit www.logchek.com.