Northern Michigan Wine Tours

Northwest Michigan is home to two individual wine
appellations: the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission
Peninsula. While each has its own unique character and
distinguishing features, both benefit from the proximity
to our region’s greatest natural resource: the Great Lakes.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience Northwest Michigan and wanted to go wine tasting with a designated driver, then kick back in the air-conditioned comfort of our passenger van for a fun-filled scenic tour of local wineries and attractions. We’ll visit several wineries on the Leelanau or Old Mission Peninsula, where you’ll enjoy the hospitality of the vintners and have the opportunity to taste and purchase their wines. Along the way, we just might stop at a scenic vista or out-of-the-way attraction so our guests can enjoy the natural beauty of Michigan Wine Country.

Our goal : We want you and your friends to take part in a complete wine tasting “experience” that leaves you not only with great memories, but increases your knowledge of the wines and wine-growing region of northwest Michigan.

You can’t be serious! My company pickup truck might be a CMV?

 

** From J & J Keller’s Safety Clicks Newsletter
Did you know that your company pickup truck just might be defined as a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs)? You may be thinking to yourself, “But I’m not hauling cargo with the truck so it can’t be a commercial motor vehicle,” or “This truck is way too small.”
In order to understand how and when some of your company’s smaller vehicles suddenly become CMVs, consider the following:
Commerce involves anything that is the furtherance of business, such as hauling supplies and tools to and from a worksite, dropping off workers, or just visiting a worksite during the course of business. If you are not hauling freight for someone else, you can still be considered a private (motor) carrier.
The weight of the truck, load, and any trailer you may be transporting are included in the 10,001 pounds or greater definition of CMV found in §390.5. This includes the manufacturer’s specifications of the truck by itself (i.e., Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)) or with a trailer (i.e., Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)). If you exceed the manufacturer’s weight specifications, and the actual weight of the vehicle and load, with or without a trailer, is 10,001 pounds or greater, this is considered a CMV based on Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) or Gross Combination Weight (GCW).
Any size vehicle is subject to the safety regulations if it is hauling placardable amounts of hazmat.
Even if the trailer is only a small utility trailer, if it places you at the 10,001 pounds or greater, you are now operating a commercial motor vehicle. If the vehicle only meets the definition when pulling a trailer, you would only be concerned about observance of the safety regulations on those days it meets the definition. This includes USDOT markings on the side of the truck and properly secured cargo. The pickups may have to stop at roadside inspection stations also.
When you find your pickup meets this CMV definition, whoever drives this vehicle must be completely qualified under Part 391, including a copy of the medical certificate on the person of the driver when operating the truck. And the driver must comply with hours-of-service regulations. Even if he or she utilizes one of the short haul exceptions in §395.1(e) (i.e., 100-air-mile radius driver or 150-air-mile radius non-CDL driver), you will need to make sure that he or she does not exceed the daily on-duty hours, does not drive more than 11 of those hours, and has at least 10 hours off between tours of duty. In addition, you will need to make sure that the driver, even if he or she does not operate the vehicle every day, is able to drive based on the 60- or 70-hour rule. If the driver cannot meet the conditions set forth in §395.1(e), he or she would have to complete a driver’s log for the day the vehicle is used as a commercial motor vehicle.
The pickup truck and trailer are also subject to vehicle inspection and maintenance rules. On those days that the vehicle meets the definition of commercial motor vehicle, the driver must conduct a pre-trip inspection per §396.13 and §392.7 and be satisfied that the truck and trailer are in safe operating condition. The driver must also document a post-trip inspection in accordance with §396.11. The next time the pickup truck and/or trailer is used this report must be maintained and reviewed prior to operation, even if days, weeks, or months elapses. You must also retain records on the annual/period inspection of both the truck and trailer, including the appropriate documentation while on the road (i.e., inspection stickers or a copy of the inspection forms). In addition, you would be expected to present maintenance records on the truck and trailer in the event of an audit.

Say What?

TRANSPORTATION TERMS EXPLAINED:

 

NON EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION (NEMT):  Transportation to or from any medical service for the purpose of receiving treatment and/or medical evaluation.

 

LOADED MILEAGE: The distance traveled by a motor vehicle while transporting a client from a pickup point to a drop-off point.

 

UNLOADED MILEAGE:  The distance traveled by a motor vehicle to the point of pickup of the passenger AND/OR from the point of drop-off of the passenger.

 

TRAVEL TIME: Driving time for a motor vehicle from the point of departure to the location of destination

 

ACCESSIBILITY:  The extent to which vehicles, are barrier-free and can be used by people who have disabilities, including wheelchair users.

 

CURB-TO-CURB SERVICE: A common designation for paratransit services. The transit vehicle picks up and discharges passengers at the curb or driveway in front of their home or destination. In curb-to-curb service the driver does not assist the passenger along walks or steps to the door of the home or other destination.

 

EMPLOYMENT TRANSPORTATION: Transportation specifically designed to take passengers to and from work or work-related activities.

 

OPERATING COSTS: Non-capital costs associated with operating and maintaining a transportation service, including labor, fuel, administrative and maintenance

 

PARATRANSIT: Types of passenger transportation that are more flexible than conventional fixed-route transit but more structured than the use of private automobiles. Most often refers to wheelchair-accessible, demand-response van service.

 

TRIP: A one-way movement of a person or vehicle between two points.

 

CHARTER SERVICE: A vehicle hired for exclusive use that does not operate over a regular route, on a regular schedule. (FTA1)

A commercial passenger vehicle trip not scheduled, but specially arranged. The charter contract normally commits the carrier to furnish the agreed to transportation service at a specified time between designated locations. (FHWA2)

About Coastline Transportation

Service – Integrity – Reliability

The service of Coastline Transportation in N.W. Lower Michigan is an unmatched amenity. From arranging the smallest details of everyday life to a once in a lifetime event, Coastline Transportation becomes your personal luxury.

Coastline Transprotation is a fairly new concept in personal & professional service in Michigan. Please see the service menu for more information.

Affiliations & Education

     * Michigan Association of Transportation Systems (MASSTrans)

     * Ludington Area Chamber of Commerce

     * Benzie County Chamber of Commerce

     * Access 2 Care

     * Amercian Disability Installations

     * Bachelor of Arts, Alma College 1990

Code of Ethics

Coastline Transportaion Code of Ethics: always act in the best interest of your employer. Placing their interest above your own, perform and maintain the highest level of professional standards in all relationships and duties. Key attributes: reliability, integrity, confidentiality, respect, and professional.