[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46682-46683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22097]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. 95-20]


Advanced Technology in Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations; 
Request for Comments

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA seeks information from motor carriers, vehicle and 
component manufacturers, technology vendors, and the public on the use 
of advanced driver, vehicle, and inspection technology in commercial 
motor vehicle operations. The FHWA plans to evaluate existing 
technologies to determine if they could be used to simplify or automate 
compliance with any of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 
(FMCSRs) without compromising public safety. Commenters are encouraged 
to identify safety-related technology that could reduce paperwork or 
contribute to more efficient safety management and enforcement 
practices.

DATES: Comments should be received no later than November 6, 1995.

ADDRESSES: All written, signed comments should refer to the docket 
number that appears at the top of this document and must be submitted 
to HCC-10, Room 4232, Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Highway 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590. All 
comments received will be available for examination at the above 
address from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of 
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Philip J. Roke, Office of Motor 
Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-5884, or Mr. Charles Medalen, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FHWA requests ideas, suggestions, and comments from motor 
carriers, manufacturers, technology vendors, other interested parties, 
and the public on how technology currently available, or soon to become 
available, to motor carriers and drivers subject to Federal regulatory 
requirements could be substituted for existing regulatory methods 
without compromising public safety. This is consistent with the goals 
of the agency's Zero Base Regulatory Review of the FMCSRs (49 CFR parts 
350-399).
    Specifically, the FHWA requests commenters to identify and discuss 
technologies that could reduce costs, delays, and paperwork burdens 
associated with the current rules, or even enhance operational safety. 
For example, on September 30, 1988, the FHWA published a final rule (53 
FR 38666) to allow motor carriers, at their option, to use certain 
automatic on-board recording devices to record their drivers' records 
of duty status in lieu of the required handwritten record of duty 
status. This provision is now found at Sec. 395.15 of the FMCSRs. 
Comparable innovations with even greater economic or safety potential 
may now be available or in the final stages of development.
    Information submitted by commenters will help the agency decide 
which rules could benefit from technological modernization. We will 
consider amending or replacing current rules with technology-based 
standards that are consistent with the safe operation of commercial 
motor vehicles. Any revisions or modifications to the FMCSRs would be 
done under a separate rulemaking.

Ongoing Research and Development

    The FHWA is pursuing several research projects addressing advances 
in driver, vehicle, and inspection technology. These projects include 
studies of fitness-for-duty testing devices, automated roadside 
inspection technologies, advanced brake system testing devices, and the 
feasibility of standardized vehicle safety component diagnostic 
devices. The FHWA will use relevant information supplied in response to 
this notice to supplement and/or validate these research findings.

Manufacturing Standards

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
establishes vehicle manufacturing standards and has the statutory 
authority to require specific components and or systems in original 
manufactured vehicles. The FHWA plans to share relevant vehicle 
component and/or systems information received in response to this 
notice with the NHTSA.

Information Requested

    The FHWA requests commenters to provide information on available or 
soon-to-be available driver and vehicle technology that reduces the 
regulatory burden of complying with specific areas of the FMCSRs. 
Please provide as much data as possible on the design, operation, and 
cost (hardware, software, installation, training, maintenance, etc.) of 
each device or technology. Reductions in regulatory burdens should be 
quantified if at all possible. Detailed estimates of savings (in 
expenditures, time, accidents avoided, etc.) are also very important. 
(49 U.S.C. 31136, 315022; 49 CFR 1.48)


[[Page 46683]]

    Issued on: August 30, 1995.
Rodney E. Slater,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 95-22097 Filed 9-6-95; 8:45 am]
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