Keeping Log Jams Off This Stretch of the Fox River
The advantages of having a home-based business are many. For safety compliance consultants Larry reed and Linda Pratsch of Appleton, Wis., the view from their home office located on the bank of the Fox River has got to rank at the top of the list. But do not be fooled by the pastoral setting of their office, it belies the seriousness of the business that is conducted there.

Their business, L & L Transportation Services is a steadily growing company with a 20-year plus history of providing a personalized and effective approach to compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Larry began his career in trucking with a bulk tanker company, moved on to a safety materials provider and then, as often happens, opportunity came knocking on his door. An account landed in his lap and he knew he could provide better service for the client if he did it on his own. Larry took the leap and hasn't looked back since.

Now working together as partners, Larry and Linda deftly help clients negotiate through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation. Services that they provide include, but are not limited to:

Logbook audits, covering hours of service, form and falsification.

On-site safety compliance advisory.

Random, impartial, and confidential selection for drug/alcohol testing.

Mock DOT safety audits and profiles.

Presentations for driver safety meetings.

Exclusive source for all-new Driver Medical Examination Reports.

Exclusive source for carbonless, one sided, simplified log book pages that can be customized.

Of course a goal of L & L Transportation is to help their clients achieve and maintain a "Satisfactory" DOT rating. To that end, they have developed 

 

 easy-to-use forms which when purchased and put in to use, allow clients to take control of their own compliance program. Lowering liability insurance costs by improving safety ratings is an added benefit.

Larry and Linda are particularly proud of their copyrighted Driver Medical Examination Report. Larry explained, "We spent many months developing a user-friendly form that insures regulatory requirements are covered. We feel it is absolutely the best available, and by word of mouth, demand for the forms is really taking off." Linda pointed out the framed official copyright issued from the Library of Congress, which is displayed on their office wall. These improved forms are only available through L & L Transportation Services.



I can attest to the demand for the medical forms. During our interview, the phone interrupted us many times, orders were pouring in for the forms. L & L facilitates the purchase of their copyrighted forms with a toll-free number and the acceptance of MasterCard, Visa, or American Express for payment. Since the interview, L & L has hired a sales person to aid them with marketing the materials nationwide.

Health professionals in particular are requesting the forms as they contain physical qualification criteria as well as instructions, unfold for easy recording of information, and are designed to make a carbonless copy so that at the time of an exam the medical examiner does not have to chase down a copy machine. All this is accomplished with fewer pages than existing versions in circulation. A handy driver's wallet card is also available.

 For trucking firms that haven't got the time, expertise, or manpower to audit their own logs, L & L has an employee dedicated to auditing logs that are shipped to their office anywhere from on a monthly to a weekly frequency. Violations are then noted and recommendations are made. Linda noted that, "although we rarely get to personally meet the drivers, we certainly get to know their habits and routines from their logs."

In fact, Linda was able to solve a mystery from her knowledge of company logs. Authorities contacted L & L when a locked and idling truck had been parked an unusually long time in a lot in the southwestern part of the U.S. The only identifying information on the truck was a bright vinyl periodic inspection sticker provided by L & L. Based on the date and location; Linda was able to identify the company and driver of the vehicle. The deceased driver was subsequently found in the bunk. Also, in the past recovery of stolen equipment has been aided by the placement of the stickers.

Above all, L & L has to stay completely on top of all changes in the motor carrier regulation. Linda checks the Federal Register daily for any notification of proposed or enacted changes in regulations that may affect either their forms or their clients compliance programs. Because L & L provides many types of forms and cards that re used to remain DOT compliance, they work diligently to keep them up-to-date and easy to use.

A visit to their well-designed Web site located at: www.LnLtransportaion.com, will give you a glimpse into the services and forms they provide, as well as a look at a humorous column that Larry publishes called, "Log Jammer's Road Rage." From the web site you cannot see the wooded setting, beautiful river and wildlife that are part of every workday at L & L Transportation Services, but you can see the professional dedication that both Larry and Linda have for safety and compliance in the trucking industry.