[Federal Register: December 30, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 250)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 71791-71792]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30de98-19]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

49 CFR Part 395


Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology; Extension of
Application Date

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of extension of deadline for submission of applications
to participate in the GPS technology pilot demonstration project.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA 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
FHWA 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.

[[Page 71792]]

DATES: Applications must be received on or before June 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written applications should be mailed to the Office of Motor
Carrier Research and Standards (HCS-10), Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, D.C. 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neill L. Thomas, Office of Motor
Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-4009, or Mr. Charles Medalen,
Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, D.C. 20590. 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 FHWA in your State.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 narrowly crafted on-board
recorder provision is becoming obsolete.
    Before considering changes to the rule, the FHWA 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, the FHWA announced a pilot project that
would allow motor carriers to use GPS tracking systems and related
computer programs to monitor compliance with the hours-of-service
regulations. Drivers would be exempted from the requirement to maintain
paper logs (63 FR 16697). Werner Enterprises, Inc., was the first
carrier to enter into an agreement with the FHWA to use a GPS system
for this purpose. The FHWA 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 FHWA also believes the
project will demonstrate that reduced paperwork and recordkeeping
requirements are consistent with highway safety, while providing
economic advantages to the motor carrier industry.

Reason for Extending the Application Deadline

    No applications have been received to date. However, several motor
carriers have informed the FHWA of their desire to participate in this
pilot project. They were unable to purchase or develop the requisite
computer systems and software that complement the GPS technology before
the original application deadline of October 5, 1998. Therefore, to
ensure the best possible results for this pilot project, the agency is
extending the application period to June 30, 1999. Any 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 conditions specified in the April 6, 1998,
notice.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 553(b); 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 U.S.C. 31133,
31136, and 31502; sec. 345, Pub. L. 104-59, 109 Stat. 568, 613; and
49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: December 21, 1998.
Kenneth R. Wykle,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-34635 Filed 12-29-98; 8:45 am]
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