Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
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leading news, trucking market conditions and industry analysis A proposed federal rule to implement minimum driver training and certifica- tion standards has moved a step closer to publication, according to a report pub- lished by the U.S. Department of Transportation last month. The rule was sent from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to DOT's main office for its approval on Sept. 1, according to the report. The agency's Entry-Level Driver Training rule has been in the works in some form for more than 20 years, with the lat- est congressional call for action coming in 2012 with that year's MAP-21 highway funding act, which required FMCSA to pro- duce the rule. The agency tried to accelerate the rulemaking by producing it via a "negotiated rulemak- ing," which called on industry stakeholders to collaborate to produce the rule. A 26-member committee formed for the so-called "reg- neg" submitted a 106-page report to FMCSA in June with recommendations for the rule, entry-level curriculums, behind- the-wheel time and more. – James Jaillet I n an internal memo circulated to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration employees last month, Acting Administrator Scott Darling laid out the agency's rest-of-year priorities, highlighted by small changes to Compliance Safety Accountability and publishing a rule to mandate electronic logging devices. Darling said CSA Phase III is one of the main priorities in preparation for launching offsite investigations and cooperative safety plans as the final two CSA interventions. FMCSA is "lining up the necessary training for federal and state investigators and out- reach to the industry." He said the agency also is moving forward on a new type of "crash BASIC investiga- tion" that focuses on identifying trends in carrier crash behaviors. FMCSA also will be fine-tuning the Safety Measurement System algorithm to better identify carriers for investigation. FMCSA also is in the final stages of publishing a carrier safety fitness determination proposal that would increase the use of inspection data. This rule would focus on incorporating roadside inspection and crash data to assess the safety performance of trucking and bus companies. FMCSA will seek public comment on the rule when it is published. Darling said the looming final rule to require ELDs is "designed to benefit everyone" by improv- ing hours-of-service compliance, which the agency estimates will prevent about 20 fatalities and 400 injuries each year; helping businesses cut paperwork and save money; protecting drivers from harassment; and making it easier for law enforcement and safety inspectors to review driver HOS records. The ELD rule was delayed a month and at press time was planned for publication Oct. 30, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The rule was sent from FMCSA to the White House Office of Management and Budget on July 28 for its required approval, and DOT said last month it expects OMB to clear the rule Oct. 26. FMCSA also has prioritized modernizing the inspection process by launching a new ver- sion of its inspection software program, Aspen 3.0. The agency says many of the functions needed at roadside are integrated into the system without requiring more software. Law enforcement personnel also are able to obtain direct access to out-of-service notices. The agency also plans to implement a new revamped Unified Registration System designed to improve the accuracy and timeliness of the information in its database of registered motor car- riers. Details will be published in a Federal Register notice. – Matt Cole Scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit ccjdigital.com/news/subscribe-to-news- letters to sign up for the CCJ Daily Report, a daily e-mail newsletter filled with news, analysis, blogs and market condition articles. Driver training rule moves ahead FMCSA priorities include CSA tweaks, ELD rule The agency says the looming ELD man- date will prevent about 20 fatalities and 400 injuries each year. 8 commercial carrier journal | october 2015