[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46682-46683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22097]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. 95-20]
Advanced Technology in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations;
Request for Comments
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA seeks information from motor carriers, vehicle and
component manufacturers, technology vendors, and the public on the use
of advanced driver, vehicle, and inspection technology in commercial
motor vehicle operations. The FHWA plans to evaluate existing
technologies to determine if they could be used to simplify or automate
compliance with any of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
(FMCSRs) without compromising public safety. Commenters are encouraged
to identify safety-related technology that could reduce paperwork or
contribute to more efficient safety management and enforcement
practices.
DATES: Comments should be received no later than November 6, 1995.
ADDRESSES: All written, signed comments should refer to the docket
number that appears at the top of this document and must be submitted
to HCC-10, Room 4232, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Highway
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. All
comments received will be available for examination at the above
address from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Philip J. Roke, Office of Motor
Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-5884, or Mr. Charles Medalen,
Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.,
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The FHWA requests ideas, suggestions, and comments from motor
carriers, manufacturers, technology vendors, other interested parties,
and the public on how technology currently available, or soon to become
available, to motor carriers and drivers subject to Federal regulatory
requirements could be substituted for existing regulatory methods
without compromising public safety. This is consistent with the goals
of the agency's Zero Base Regulatory Review of the FMCSRs (49 CFR parts
350-399).
Specifically, the FHWA requests commenters to identify and discuss
technologies that could reduce costs, delays, and paperwork burdens
associated with the current rules, or even enhance operational safety.
For example, on September 30, 1988, the FHWA published a final rule (53
FR 38666) to allow motor carriers, at their option, to use certain
automatic on-board recording devices to record their drivers' records
of duty status in lieu of the required handwritten record of duty
status. This provision is now found at Sec. 395.15 of the FMCSRs.
Comparable innovations with even greater economic or safety potential
may now be available or in the final stages of development.
Information submitted by commenters will help the agency decide
which rules could benefit from technological modernization. We will
consider amending or replacing current rules with technology-based
standards that are consistent with the safe operation of commercial
motor vehicles. Any revisions or modifications to the FMCSRs would be
done under a separate rulemaking.
Ongoing Research and Development
The FHWA is pursuing several research projects addressing advances
in driver, vehicle, and inspection technology. These projects include
studies of fitness-for-duty testing devices, automated roadside
inspection technologies, advanced brake system testing devices, and the
feasibility of standardized vehicle safety component diagnostic
devices. The FHWA will use relevant information supplied in response to
this notice to supplement and/or validate these research findings.
Manufacturing Standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
establishes vehicle manufacturing standards and has the statutory
authority to require specific components and or systems in original
manufactured vehicles. The FHWA plans to share relevant vehicle
component and/or systems information received in response to this
notice with the NHTSA.
Information Requested
The FHWA requests commenters to provide information on available or
soon-to-be available driver and vehicle technology that reduces the
regulatory burden of complying with specific areas of the FMCSRs.
Please provide as much data as possible on the design, operation, and
cost (hardware, software, installation, training, maintenance, etc.) of
each device or technology. Reductions in regulatory burdens should be
quantified if at all possible. Detailed estimates of savings (in
expenditures, time, accidents avoided, etc.) are also very important.
(49 U.S.C. 31136, 315022; 49 CFR 1.48)
[[Page 46683]]
Issued on: August 30, 1995.
Rodney E. Slater,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-22097 Filed 9-6-95; 8:45 am]
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