[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5730-5736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3178]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
49 CFR Parts 571 and 575
[Docket No. 96-09, Notice 01]
RIN 2127-AF81
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Truck-Camper Loading;
Consumer Information Regulations, Truck-Camper Loading
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: This document proposes to rescind Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (Standard) No. 126, Truck-camper loading, and combine its
provisions with 49 CFR 575.103, Truck-camper loading. This action is
being proposed because a review of all of this agency's standards and
regulations pursuant to the President's regulatory reinvention
initiative led the agency to the tentative conclusion that combining
these two rules into one will make their respective requirements easier
to understand and apply.
DATE: Comments must be received on or before April 15, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket number and notice number
set forth above and be submitted, preferably in 10 copies, to: Docket
Section, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh
Street SW, Room 5109, Washington, DC 20590. Docket hours are from 9:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical issues: Robert M.
Clarke, Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 5307, Washington,
DC 20590. Telephone (202) 366-5278, FAX (202) 366-4329. For legal
issues: Walter Myers, Office of the Chief Counsel, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 5219,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2992; FAX (202) 366-3820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Standard No. 126 was initially established by final rule published
on August 15, 1972 (37 FR 16497) to provide information that can be
used by consumers to reduce overloading and improper load distribution
in truck-camper combinations. The standard requires manufacturers of
slide-in campers to affix a label to each camper specifying, among
other things, the maximum weight of the camper and its equipment. The
standard also requires that the owner's manual for the camper contain a
picture showing the location of the longitudinal center of gravity of
the camper when properly loaded. When initially published, the standard
also required manufacturers of trucks capable of accommodating slide-in
campers to include in the truck operator's manual a picture showing the
manufacturer's recommended longitudinal center of gravity for the cargo
weight rating of the camper and a picture of the proper match of a
truck and slide-in camper.
On the same day, August 15, 1972, NHTSA published a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to require that slide-in campers
be identified by a vehicle identification number ``to facilitate any
future defect notification and recall campaigns that might occur'' (37
FR 16505).
In a notice published on December 14, 1972 (37 FR 26605), NHTSA
adopted the requirement for a vehicle identification number. In the
same notice, in response to petitions for reconsideration of the final
rule of August 15, 1972, which established Standard No. 126 (37 FR
16497), NHTSA withdrew the truck requirements from the standard and
reissued them in 49 CFR 575.103, a consumer information regulation (37
FR 26607).
Pursuant to the March 4, 1994 directive entitled Regulatory
Reinvention Initiative from the President to the heads of all Federal
departments and agencies, NHTSA reviewed all its Federal motor vehicle
safety standards and related regulations. As a result of that review,
NHTSA identified several standards and regulations, or portions
thereof, that it would propose to rescind or amend. The agency
tentatively determined that the camper requirements of Standard No. 126
and the truck requirements of 49 CFR 575.103 should be combined into
one regulation as before, but this time as a consumer information
regulation rather than as a safety standard.
Agency Proposal
a. Truck Camper Loading
After reviewing the requirements for truck-camper loading, which
involve labeling and certain information in the owner's manual, the
agency has tentatively concluded that it serves no useful purpose to
keep the camper requirements separate from the truck requirements in
the CFR. The agency believes that it would be easier, more convenient,
and more efficient for manufacturers, regulators, and the public to
apply those provisions if they were combined rather than maintained as
separate provisions in the CFR. Indeed, placing them together is
appropriate since their subject matter is so closely related.
Accordingly, the agency proposes to rescind Standard No. 126 and
consolidate its requirements into 49 CFR 575.103.
[[Page 5731]]
b. Slide-in Camper Vehicle Identification Number
As stated in the Background discussion above, Standard No. 126
requires camper manufacturers to assign a vehicle identification number
(VIN) to each slide-in camper they produce. Specifically, paragraph
S5.1.1(e) provides that manufacturers must assign a number to each
slide-in camper ``for identification purposes consisting of arabic
numerals, roman letters, or both.'' The same paragraph further provides
that no two campers produced within a 10-year period shall have the
same identification number.
The final rule of December 14, 1972 stated that the purpose of the
camper VIN was to increase the accuracy and efficiency of recall
campaigns conducted by manufacturers to remedy safety defects. However,
out of the 26 recalls that have been conducted under Standard No. 126
since its inception in 1972, none have involved or relied on the camper
VIN. Information available to NHTSA discloses that while some camper
manufacturers use a 17-digit VIN similar to the VIN required on
vehicles by Standard No. 115 and 49 CFR Part 565, others combine the
camper VIN and the camper serial number. Thus, there is no uniformity
in the industry as to the application of the camper VIN. Agency
experience in past slide-in camper recalls has been that the
manufacturer's model and serial numbers are sufficient to identify the
campers and/or the models involved in the recall. NHTSA has tentatively
concluded, therefore, that requiring slide-in campers to have a VIN is
redundant and does not serve its intended purpose. Accordingly, NHTSA
proposes to delete the requirement for a vehicle identification number
on slide-in campers.
Rulemaking Analyses and Notices
Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures
This rulemaking document was not reviewed under E.O. 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review. NHTSA has considered the impact of this
rulemaking action under the DOT's regulatory policies and procedures
and has determined that it is not ``significant'' within the meaning of
those policies and procedures.
The amendments proposed in this rulemaking action are intended to
reorganize certain existing requirements and to eliminate a separate,
unneeded requirement, thereby simplifying and streamlining the body of
Federal regulations. The agency estimates that there would be no cost
impact or lead time effects for either manufacturers, dealers, or
consumers.
Elimination of the requirement for assigning and affixing a camper
VIN would result in only minimal cost savings. Currently, camper
manufacturers are required to place the camper VIN on the label
containing other information about campers. Since camper manufacturers
would continue to be required to place that label on their campers,
being relieved of the necessity of placing a camper VIN on the label
would at most enable the manufacturers to use a slightly smaller label.
Accordingly, the agency believes that impacts would be so minimal
as not to warrant the preparation of a full preliminary regulatory
evaluation.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
NHTSA has also considered the impacts of this notice under the
Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that this proposed rule
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities. For the reasons stated above, this proposal would have
no significant impact on manufacturers of slide-in campers and trucks
capable of accommodating slide-in campers, thus would have no impact on
the costs of those products. Accordingly, the agency has not prepared a
preliminary regulatory flexibility analysis.
Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)
This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined
that the proposed rule would not have sufficient Federalism
implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism Assessment. No
state laws would be affected.
Paperwork Reduction Act
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. 96-
511, the agency notes that there are no information collection
requirements associated with this rulemaking action.
Executive Order 12778 (Civil Justice Reform)
This proposed rule would not have any retroactive effect. Under 49
U.S.C. 30103(b), whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard is in
effect, a state or political subdivision thereof may prescribe or
continue in effect a standard applicable to the same aspect of
performance of a motor vehicle only if the state's standard is
identical to the Federal standard. However, the United States
government, a state or political subdivision thereof may prescribe a
standard for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment for its own use
that imposes a higher performance requirement than that required by the
Federal standard. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a procedure for judicial
review of final rules establishing, amending or revoking Federal motor
vehicle safety standards. This section does not require submission of a
petition for reconsideration or other administrative procedures before
parties may file suit in court.
Comments
Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the proposal.
It is requested but not required that comments be submitted in 10
copies.
Comments must not exceed 15 pages in length (49 CFR 553.21). This
limitation is intended to encourage commenters to detail their primary
arguments in a concise fashion. Necessary attachments may be appended
to these submissions without regard to the 15-page limit.
If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim
of confidentiality, 3 copies of the complete submission, including the
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and 7
copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been
deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for
confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth
the information specified in 49 CFR Part 512, the agency's confidential
business information regulation.
All comments received before the close of business on the comment
closing date indicated above for the proposal will be considered, and
will be available to the public for examination in the docket at the
above address both before and after the closing date. To the extent
possible, comments filed after the closing date will also be
considered. Comments received too late for consideration in regard to
the final rule will be considered as suggestions for further rulemaking
action. The agency will continue to file relevant information in the
docket as it becomes available after the closing date, and it is
recommended that interested persons continue to examine the docket for
new material.
Those persons desiring to be notified upon receipt of their
comments in the docket section should enclose a self- addressed,
stamped postcard in the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving
the comments, the docket
[[Page 5732]]
supervisor will return the postcard by mail.
List of Subjects
49 CFR Part 571
Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles, Rubber and rubber
products, Tires.
49 CFR Part 575
Consumer protection, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Tires.
In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR Parts 571 and 575 would
be amended as follows:
PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS
1. The authority citation for Part 571 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
Sec. 571.126 [Removed]
2. Section 571.126 would be removed.
PART 575--CONSUMER INFORMATION REGULATIONS
3. The authority citation for Part 575 would continue to read as
follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166;
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.
4. Section 575.103 would be revised to read as follows:
Sec. 575.103 Truck-camper loading.
(a) Scope. This section requires manufacturers of slide-in campers
to affix to each camper a label that contains information relating to
identification and proper loading of the camper and to provide more
detailed loading information in the owner's manual. This section also
requires manufacturers of trucks that would accommodate slide-in
campers to specify the cargo weight ratings and the longitudinal limits
within which the center of gravity for the cargo weight rating should
be located.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide information
that can be used to reduce overloading and improper load placement in
truck-camper combinations and unsafe truck- camper matching in order to
prevent accidents resulting from the adverse effects of these
conditions on vehicle steering and braking.
(c) Application. This section applies to slide-in campers and to
trucks that are capable of accommodating slide-in campers.
(d) Definitions. Camper means a structure designed to be mounted in
the cargo area of a truck, or attached to an incomplete vehicle with
motive power, for the purpose of providing shelter for persons.
Cargo Weight Rating means the value specified by the manufacturer
as the cargo-carrying capacity, in pounds or kilograms, of a vehicle,
exclusive of the weight of occupants in designated seating positions,
computed as 150 pounds or 68 kilograms times the number of designated
seating positions.
Slide-in Camper means a camper having a roof, floor, and sides,
designed to be mounted on and removable from the cargo area of a truck
by the user.
(e) Requirements.
(1) Slide-in Camper.
(i) Labels. Each slide-in camper shall have permanently affixed to
it, in such a manner that it cannot be removed without defacing or
destroying it, and in a plainly visible location on an exterior rear
surface other than the roof, steps, or bumper extension, a label
containing the following information in the English language lettered
in block capitals and numerals not less than 2.4 millimeters (three
thirty-seconds of an inch) high, of a color contrasting with the
background, in the order shown below and in the form illustrated in
Figure 1 to this section.
(A) Name of camper manufacturer. The full corporate or individual
name of the actual assembler of the camper shall be spelled out, except
that such abbreviations as ``Co.'' or ``Inc.'' and their foreign
equivalents, and the first and middle initials of individuals may be
used. The name of the manufacturer shall be preceded by the words
``Manufactured by'' or ``Mfd by.''
(B) Month and year of manufacture. It may be spelled out, such as
``June 1995'' or expressed in numerals, such as ``695.''
(C) The following statement completed as appropriate:
``Camper weight is ________ kg. (________ lbs.) maximum when it
contains standard equipment, ________ liters (________ gal.) of water,
________ kg. (________ lbs.) of bottled gas, and ________ cubic meters
(________ cubic ft.) refrigerator (or icebox with ________ kg.
(________ lbs.) of ice, as applicable). Consult owner's manual (or data
sheet, as applicable) for weights of additional or optional
equipment.''
(D) ``Liters (or gal.) of water'' refers to the volume of water
necessary to fill the camper's fresh water tanks to capacity. ``Kg. (or
lbs.) of bottled gas'' refers to the amount of gas necessary to fill
the camper's bottled gas tanks to capacity. The statement regarding a
``refrigerator'' or ``icebox'' refers to the capacity of the
refrigerator with which the vehicle is equipped or the weight of the
ice with which the icebox may be filled. Any of these items may be
omitted from the statement if the corresponding accessories are not
included with the camper, provided that the omission is noted in the
camper owner's manual as required in paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this
section.
(ii) Owner's manual. Each slide-in camper manufacturer shall
provide with each camper a manual or other document containing the
information specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(ii)(A) through (F) of this
section.
(A) The statement and information provided on the label as
specified in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section. Instead of the
information required by paragraphs (e)(1)(i)(B) and (C) of this
section, a manufacturer may use the statements ``See camper
identification label located (as applicable) for month and year of
manufacture.'' If water, bottled gas, or refrigerator (icebox) has been
omitted from this statement, the manufacturer's information shall note
such omission and advise that the weight of any such item when added to
the camper should be added to the maximum camper weight figure used in
selecting an appropriate truck.
(B) A list of other additional or optional equipment that the
camper is designed to carry, and the maximum weight of each if its
weight is more than 9 kg. (20 lbs) when installed.
(C) The statement: ``To estimate the total cargo load that will be
placed on a truck, add the weight of all passengers in the camper, the
weight of supplies, tools, and all other cargo, the weight of installed
additional or optional camper equipment, and the manufacturer's camper
weight figure. Select a truck that has a cargo weight rating that is
equal to or greater than the total cargo load of the camper and whose
manufacturer recommends a cargo center of gravity zone that will
contain the camper's center of gravity when it is installed.''
(D) The statements: ``When loading this camper, store heavy gear
first, keeping it on or close to the camper floor. Place heavy things
far enough forward to keep the loaded camper's center of gravity within
the zone recommended by the truck manufacturer. Store only light
objects on high shelves. Distribute weight to obtain even side-to-side
balance of the loaded vehicle. Secure loose items to prevent weight
shifts that could affect the balance of your vehicle. When the truck-
camper is loaded, drive to a scale and weigh on the front and on the
rear wheels separately to determine axle loads. The load on an axle
should not exceed its gross axle weight rating
[[Page 5733]]
(GAWR). The total of the axle loads should not exceed the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR). These weight ratings are given on the vehicle
certification label that is located on the left side of the vehicle,
normally on the dash panel, hinge pillar, door latch post, or door edge
next to the driver on trucks manufactured on or after January 1, 1972.
If weight ratings are exceeded, move or remove items to bring all
weights below the ratings.''
(E) A picture showing the location of the longitudinal center of
gravity of the camper within an accuracy of 5 centimeters (2 inches)
under the loaded condition specified in paragraph (e)(1)(i)(D) of this
section in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of this section.
(F) A picture showing the proper match of a truck and slide-in
camper in the form illustrated in Figure 3 to this section.
(2) Trucks.
(i) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section,
each manufacturer of a truck that is capable of accommodating a slide-
in camper shall provide to the purchaser in the owner's manual or other
document delivered with the truck, in writing and in the English
language, the information specified in paragraphs (e)(2)(i) (A) through
(E) of this section.
(A) A picture showing the manufacturer's recommended longitudinal
center of gravity zone for the cargo weight rating in the form
illustrated in Figure 4 to this section. The boundaries of the zone
shall be such that when a slide-in camper equal in weight to the
truck's cargo weight rating is installed, no GAWR of the truck is
exceeded.
(B) The truck's cargo weight rating.
(C) The statements: ``When the truck is used to carry a slide-in
camper, the total cargo load of the truck consists of the
manufacturer's camper weight figure, the weight of installed additional
camper equipment not included in the manufacturer's camper weight
figure, the weight of camper cargo, and the weight of passengers in the
camper. The total cargo load should not exceed the truck's cargo weight
rating and the camper's center of gravity should fall within the
truck's recommended center of gravity zone when installed.''
(D) A picture showing the proper match of a truck and slide-in
camper in the form illustrated in Figure 3 to this section.
(E) The statements: ``Secure loose items to prevent weight shifts
that could affect the balance of your vehicle. When the truck camper is
loaded, drive to a scale and weigh on the front and on the rear wheels
separately to determine axle loads. Individual axle loads should not
exceed either of the gross axle weight ratings (GAWR). The total of the
axle loads should not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
These ratings are given on the vehicle certification label that is
located on the left side of the vehicle, normally the dash, hinge
pillar, door latch post, or door edge next to the driver. If weight
ratings are exceeded, move or remove items to bring all weights below
the ratings.''
(ii) If a truck would accommodate a slide-in camper but the
manufacturer of the truck recommends that the truck not be used for
that purpose, the information specified in paragraph (E) of this
section shall not be provided but instead the manufacturer shall
provide a statement that the truck should not be used to carry a slide-
in camper.
Mfd. By: (Camper Manufacturer's Name)
(Month and Year of Manufacture)
Camper weight is ________ kg (________ lb) maximum when it contains
standard equipment, ________ liters (________ gal) of water, ________
kg (________ lb) of bottled gas, and ________ cubic meters (________
cubic ft) refrigerator (or icebox with ________kg (________lb) of ice,
as applicable). Consult owner's manual (or data sheet as applicable)
for weights of additional or optional equipment.
Figure 1. Label for Camper
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
[[Page 5734]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP14FE96.000
[[Page 5735]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP14FE96.001
[[Page 5736]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP14FE96.002
BILLING CODE 4910-59-C
Issued on February 8, 1996.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-3178 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P