[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 166 (Thursday, August 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22952]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

49 CFR Part 393

[FHWA Docket No. MC-96-41; FHWA-97-2289]
RIN 2125-AE05


Public Meeting to Discuss the Development of the North American 
Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is announcing a public meeting concerning the 
development of the North American Standard for Protection Against 
Shifting or Falling Cargo. The meeting will include a review of the 
most recent version of the North American Standard for Protection 
Against Shifting or Falling Cargo and a discussion of issues related to 
the adoption of the guidelines by jurisdictions throughout North 
America.

DATES: The meeting will be held on October 1, 1998. The meeting will 
begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Rochester 
Hotel, 125 East Main Street in Rochester, New York.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry W. Minor, Office of Motor 
Carrier Research and Standards, HCS-10, (202) 366-4009; or Mr. Charles 
E. Medalen, Office of the Chief Counsel, HCC-20, (202) 366-1354, 
Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D. 
C. 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem 
and suitable communications software from the Federal Register 
Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet users may 
reach the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.nara.gov/nara/
fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs.

Background

    On October 17, 1996, the FHWA published an advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) concerning the development of the North 
American Standard for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo (61 
FR 54142). The ANPRM indicated that the FHWA is considering proposing 
amendments to its regulations concerning cargo securement requirements 
for commercial motor vehicles engaged in interstate commerce. 
Specifically, the agency is considering adopting new cargo securement 
rules that will be based upon the results of a multi-year comprehensive 
research program to evaluate current regulations and industry 
practices. The FHWA requested comments on the process to be used in 
developing the cargo securement guidelines.

Standard Development Process

    The preliminary efforts at developing the North American Standard 
for Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo are currently being 
managed by a drafting group. The drafting group is developing a model 
set of cargo securement guidelines based upon the results from the 
multi-year research program. Membership in the drafting group includes 
representatives from the FHWA, Transport Canada, the Canadian Council 
of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), the Ontario Ministry of 
Transportation, the Quebec Ministry of Transportation--Ontario and 
Quebec are conducting most of the research--and the Commercial Vehicle 
Safety Alliance (CVSA).
    The meeting on October 1 is the last in a series of public meetings 
and is intended to serve as part of a process for completing the 
guidelines. The meeting will involve a review of the work completed to 
date by the drafting group and discussions concerning the process for 
each of the jurisdictions in North America to adopt the guidelines. The 
meeting is open to all interested parties. This process is intended to 
ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to participate 
in the development of the guidelines, and to identify and consider the 
concerns of the Federal, State, and Provincial governments, carriers, 
shippers, industry groups, and associations as well as safety advocacy 
groups and the general public.
    For individuals and groups unable to attend the meeting, copies of 
the draft standard may be obtained, free of charge, by contacting Mr. 
Larry W. Minor at the address and telephone number listed at the 
beginning of this notice. Further, the CCMTA has posted the complete 
draft standard and related information (e.g., minutes of the previous 
public meetings, information about ordering copies of the cargo 
securement research reports, etc.) on the INTERNET. The website is:

http://www.ab.org/ccmta/ccmta.html.

    The FHWA will discuss the comments submitted to the docket in 
response to the 1996 ANPRM when it publishes a notice of proposed 
rulemaking.

Meeting Information

    The meeting will be held on October 1, 1998, at the Hyatt Regency 
Rochester Hotel, 125 East Main Street in Rochester, New York. The 
meeting is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is being held in 
connection with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's 1998 Fall 
Conference. Attendance for the cargo securement meeting is free of 
charge and open to all interested parties. However, anyone interested 
in attending the sessions and committee meetings of the CVSA's 1998 
Fall Conference must register with the CVSA and pay the appropriate 
registration fee. For further information about registration for other 
sessions or meetings of the CVSA's 1998 Fall Conference please contact 
the CVSA at (301) 564-1623.
    The FHWA notes that since the CVSA's 1998 Fall Conference is being 
held at the Hyatt Regency Rochester Hotel, the availability of guest 
rooms at the hotel is very unlikely. Therefore, those needing hotel 
accommodations should attempt to make reservations at other hotels in 
the vicinity.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 393

    Highway safety, Motor carriers, Motor vehicle safety.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136, 31502; 49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued: August 20, 1998.
Jill L. Hochman,
Acting Associate Administrator for Motor Carriers.
[FR Doc. 98-22952 Filed 8-26-98; 8:45 am]
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