June 18, 1998

On June 18, 1998, the FHWA published a final rule to remove, amend, and redesignate certain provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The revisions apply to financial responsibility; general applicability and definitions; accident record keeping requirements; qualifications of drivers; driving of commercial motor vehicles; hours of service of drivers; inspection, repair, and maintenance; and the transportation of hazardous materials.

This is the third in a series of rulemaking actions the FHWA has undertaken as part of its Zero Base Regulatory Review Program initiated in late 1992 and continued under the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative. Many of the revisions to the FMCSRs implemented in this final rule were recommended by motor carriers, drivers, safety and law enforcement experts, and others in public meetings and in written comments submitted to the agency.

In this final rule, the FHWA revises or eliminates a number of regulations considered to be obsolete, redundant, unnecessary, ineffective, burdensome, more appropriately regulated by State and local authorities, better addressed by company policy, or in need of clarification. Highlights of the final rule include:

•     Clarifying the Part 387 insurance requirement as it applies to school bus contractors.
•     Redefining and clarifying the definition of "Accident" for purposes of reporting and record keeping.
•     Allowing motor carriers to maintain records at regional offices or other driver work-reporting locations without prior agency approval.
•     Strengthening the requirement for drivers to notify motor carriers in the event of a loss of driving privileges.
•     Replacing the requirement for an annual review of a driver's driving record with a specific requirement to make an inquiry to the appropriate agency of every State in which the driver held a CMV operator's license or permit during the time period.
•     Removing the requirement to carry a driver-vehicle inspection report in the power unit of a commercial motor vehicle. 

If your publication would like more information on this final rule, please call our media relations contact Janet Kumer at (202) 366-0079. Internet users can access all Federal Register documents online: http://www.access.gpo.gov.

Sincerely yours,

George L. Reagle
Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers