Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/117975
journal EOBR rule could come by September, Ferro says A rule mandating the use of electronic onboard recorders is expected to be proposed by September, said Anne Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Ferro and other U.S. Department of Transportation administrators testified March 14 at a hearing held by the U.S. House Transportation Committee���s Highways and Transit Subcommittee, where they were asked to update subcommittee members on progress on initiatives and rules required by 2012���s MAP-21 highway funding law. MAP-21 requires FMCSA to implement an electronic log mandate by the end of the law���s 27-month life. As a follow-up to Ferro���s testimony, U.S. Rep. Thomas Petri (R-Ore.), the subcommittee���s chairman, questioned the rigidity of a ���one size fits all��� EOBR rule that doesn���t offer flexibility for individual situations. Ferro said she and the agency have taken that into account, and a uniform electronic logging rule ���is a very strong one as it pertains to safety and ensuring everyone���s operating on a level playing field.��� Most companies that switch to electronic logs switch ���very effectively and very profitably,��� Ferro said. ���They���re finding it���s a very efficient mechanism��� for tracking on-duty status. Ferro said four factors comprise the rule: Technical specifications used for EOBR devices, ensuring drivers are not harassed, ensuring any support documents and paperwork are reduced and streamlined, and the EOBR requirement itself. Changing topics slightly, subcommittee ranking member U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) questioned the impact of detention time on hours of service and what FMCSA planned to do to compensate. Ferro said the agency currently is studying detention time, and results are expected by 2015. Per MAP-21, the agency also is working on establishing a drug and alcohol clearinghouse that will provide fleets with pre-employment information on driver applicants about prior drug and alcohol tests and test refusals ���so they can thereby avoid hiring someone not qualified to operate a commercial vehicle,��� Ferro said. A proposed clearinghouse rule is expected this spring. Victor Mendez, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, updated the subcommittee on the required study on truck size and weight limits. FHWA, per MAP-21, is studying the impact of increasing allowable truck weight to 97,000 pounds on six-axle configurations; also included in the study are looks at ���longer combination vehicles.��� ���We will provide a data-driven objective analysis looking at issues that have to be balanced,��� Mendez said. ���Like highway safety, the impact on infrastructure, transportation of goods throughout our nation in a safe manner ��� how that plays out economically in vehicle configuration.��� ��� James Jaillet leading news, trucking market conditions and industry analysis Renschler moves on from Daimler Trucks A ndreas Renschler no longer will head Daimler Trucks, parent company Daimler AG announced Feb. 21. Renschler, who has headed the company���s trucks division since October 2004, will be moving to a production and purchasing role for MercedezBenz, another Daimler company. The change went into effect April 1, and Wolfgang Bernhard will assume the role as head of Daimler Trucks, the parent company of Daimler Trucks North America and engine and transmission maker Detroit. Bernhard has been on the Daimler AG Board of Management and headed operations for Mercedes-Benz since February 2010. ���Wolfgang Bernhard and Andreas Renschler are two highly experienced members of Daimler���s Board of Management,��� said Manfred Bischoff, chairman of the Supervisory Board with AG. ���With this change, they will both be able to utilize their management know-how from their previous responsibilities within their new functions, Scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit ccjdigital.com/subscribe-to-newsletters to sign up for the CCJ Daily Report, a daily e-mail newsletter filled with news, analysis, blogs and market condition articles. thus expanding their own expertise in all automobile areas.��� commercial carrier journal CCJ_0413_JOURNAL.indd 9 | april 2013 9 3/21/13 9:35 AM