FMCSA Proposes Rule With Requirements And Incentives

fmcsa.dot.gov, Apr 30, 2007

Truck and bus companies with a history of serious hours-of-service (HOS) violations may be required to install electronic on-board recorders (EOBR) in all of their commercial vehicles for a minimum of two years, according to a proposed rule announced today by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

The proposed rule also would encourage industrywide use of electronic on-board recorders by providing incentives for voluntary use, said John H. Hill, FMCSA Administrator.

"The goal is to get more trucks and buses using innovative safety technologies like on-board recorders that will improve safety on our nation's roads," Hill said.

Specifically, the proposal would require EOBRs to record basic information needed to track a driver's duty status, including: identity of the driver, duty status, date, time and location of the commercial vehicle, and distance traveled. It would also add a new requirement to use Global Positioning System (GPS) technology or other location tracking systems to automatically identify the location of the vehicle, which further reduces the likelihood of falsification of HOS information. On-board HOS recording devices that are installed in commercial vehicles manufactured on or after two years from the effective date of a final rule would have to meet these new technical requirements, but EOBRs voluntarily installed before that time would be allowed to continue for the life of the vehicle. Read more at fmcsa.dot.gov.