WAIS Document Retrieval[Federal Register: February 7, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 25)]
[Notices]
[Page 5927-5928]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07fe00-130]
[[Page 5927]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology Pilot Demonstration
Project; Extension of Deadline for Submission of Applications
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of extension of deadline for submission of applications
to participate in pilot demonstration project.
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SUMMARY: The FMCSA is extending the deadline for motor carriers to
submit applications to participate in the agency's Global Positioning
System (GPS) technology pilot demonstration project. This project
allows qualified motor carriers that use GPS technology and related
safety management computer systems to enter into an agreement with the
FMCSA to use such systems to record and monitor drivers' hours-of-
service, in lieu of requiring them to prepare handwritten records of
duty status. This project is intended to demonstrate that the motor
carrier industry can use this technology to improve compliance with the
hours-of-service requirements in a manner which promotes safety and
operational efficiency while reducing paperwork.
DATES: Applications must be received on or before December 29, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Written applications should be mailed to: GPS Technology
Pilot Demonstration Project, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and
Operations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neill L. Thomas, Office of Bus
and Truck Standards and Operations, (202) 366-4009, Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington,
D.C. 20590-0001, or Mr. Charles Medalen, Office of Chief Counsel (HCC-
20), (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:45
a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. Application requests and specific questions regarding this
pilot demonstration project may also be directed to the contact
person(s) named in this notice or the Division Offices of the FMCSA in
your State.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access
An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a
computer modem and suitable communications software from the Government
Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661.
Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register home page
at: http://www.nara.gov/fedregand the Government Printing Office's
database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Creation of New Agency
On December 9, 1999, the President signed the Motor Carrier Safety
Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748). The new
statute established the FMCSA in the Department of Transportation. On
January 4, 2000, the Office of the Secretary published a final rule
rescinding the authority previously delegated to the Office of Motor
Carrier Safety (OMCS) (65 FR 220). This authority is now delegated to
the FMCSA.
The motor carrier functions of the OMCS's Resource Centers and
Division (i.e., State) Offices have been transferred to FMCSA Resource
Centers and FMCSA Division Offices, respectively. Rulemaking,
enforcement and other activities of the Office of Motor Carrier Safety
while part of the FHWA, and while operating independently of the FHWA,
will be continued by the FMCSA. The redelegation will cause no changes
in the motor carrier functions and operations previously handled by the
FHWA or the OMCS. For the time being, all phone numbers and addresses
are unchanged.
Background
On September 30, 1988, the FHWA published a final rule (53 FR
38666) to allow motor carriers to use certain automatic on-board
devices to record their drivers' duty status in lieu of the handwritten
records required by 49 CFR 395.8. This provision is now codified at 49
CFR 395.15. Many motor carriers employing this technology found that
their compliance with the hours-of-service regulations improved. New
technologies are emerging, however, and the current on-board recorder
provision is becoming obsolete. Before considering changes to the rule,
the agency determined that it would be prudent to demonstrate the
effectiveness of more recent technology for ensuring compliance with
the hours-of-service regulations.
On April 6, 1998 (63 FR 16697), the FHWA announced a pilot project
that would allow motor carriers to use GPS technology and related
computer programs to monitor compliance with the hours-of-service
regulations. Drivers would be exempted from the requirement to maintain
paper logs. Werner Enterprises, Inc., was the first carrier to enter
into an agreement with the FHWA to use GPS technology for this purpose.
On July 13, 1999 (64 FR 37689), the FHWA extended the deadline for
submission of applications to participate in the GPS technology pilot
demonstration project. The agency indicated that it had received
letters and telephone calls from various entities expressing interest
in participating in the program and that two of these entities had
acquired the software necessary to participate. The agency also
indicated that other entities would soon have the hardware and software
necessary. To date, however, Werner Enterprises, Inc. is the only
carrier operating under an agreement with the agency to use GPS
technology to monitor drivers' hours-of-service.
Reason for Extending the Application Deadline
The FMCSA believes GPS technology and many of the complementary
safety management computer systems currently available to the motor
carrier industry provide at least the same degree of monitoring
accuracy as 49 CFR 395.15. The FMCSA also believes extending the
application deadline to enable other motor carriers to participate will
help to demonstrate that the use of technology to reduce paperwork and
minimize recordkeeping burdens is consistent with highway safety.
The FMCSA continues to receive letters or telephone calls from
motor carriers expressing interest in participating in the GPS pilot
demonstration project. Many of these motor carriers are either
considering modifications to their current GPS technology programs, or
planning to have changes made to GPS technology being purchased, in
order to meet the hardware and software requirements for participation
in the pilot demonstration project. The FMCSA is extending the
application deadline until December 29, 2000, to provide these motor
carriers with an opportunity to participate in the pilot demonstration
project once they have in place the hardware and software needed to
satisfy the criteria for participation. Motor carriers that wish to
participate in the pilot demonstration project must have GPS technology
and complementary safety management computer systems which meet all of
the
[[Page 5928]]
conditions specified in the April 6, 1998, notice.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136, and 31502; and 49 CFR 1.73.
Issued on: January 26, 2000.
Julie Anna Cirillo,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-2675 Filed 2-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4010-22-P
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