[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 199 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55421-55422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-27665]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Reports, Forms and Recordkeeping Requirements Agency Information 
Collection Activity Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information 
Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs 
describe the nature of the information collections and their expected 
burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period 
soliciting comments on the current information collection--Motor 
Carrier Assessment of Compliance Reviews--was published on July 29, 
1998 [63 FR 40581] and on the proposed information collection--
Designation of Agent, Motor Carriers, Brokers and Freight Forwarders--
was published on June 4, 1998 [63 FR 30557].

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Arlene Kennedy, FHWA Information 
Collection Clearance Officer at (202) 366-9458.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

    (1) Title: Designation of Agents, Motor Carriers, Brokers and 
Freight Forwarders.
    OMB No.: 2125-0567.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to register 
for-hire motor carriers of regulated commodities under the provisions 
of 49 U.S.C. 13903, surface freight forwarders under the provisions of 
49 U.S. C. 13903, and property brokers under the provisions of 49 
U.S.C. 13904. These persons may conduct transportation services only if 
they are registered pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 13901. The Secretary has 
delegated authority pertaining to these registrations to the FHWA. 
Registered motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders must 
designate (1) an agent on whom service of notices in proceedings before 
the Secretary may be made (49 U.S.C. 13303); and (2) for every state in 
which they operate, agents on whom process issued by a court may be 
served in actions brought against the registered transportation entity 
(49 U.S.C. 13304). Regulations governing the designation of process 
agents are found at 49 CFR part 366. This designation is filed with the 
FHWA on Form BOC-3.
    Affected Public: Motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3,500.
    (2) Motor Carrier Assessment of Compliance Reviews.
    OMB No:. 2125-NEW.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Abstract: The mission of the FHWA's Office of Motor Carriers (OMC) 
is to promote safe transportation of passengers and goods on the 
Nation's highways. In the performance of its duties, the OMC conducts 
periodic compliance reviews with motor carriers in each State. The 
reviews are normally held at the motor carrier's principal place of 
business. Compliance reviews are investigations of the carrier's 
operation to determine whether they meet the safety fitness standards. 
To meet the safety fitness standards, a motor carrier must demonstrate 
that it has adequate safety management controls in place which function 
effectively to ensure acceptable compliance with applicable safety 
requirements. Upon completion of a compliance review, FHWA assigns the 
carrier either a satisfactory, conditional or unsatisfactory rating. A 
satisfactory rating means the carrier has established and is using 
adequate safety management controls that meet FHWA's safety fitness 
standards. A conditional rating means a carrier has adequate controls 
that could result in violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations. An unsatisfactory rating means that the carrier has 
inadequate controls that have resulted in violations of the 
regulations. Compliance reviews can result in enforcement actions 
against a carrier for violations of safety

[[Page 55422]]

regulations. A civil fine is a primary enforcement tool used by the 
FHWA to induce regulatory compliance.
    A survey of selected review participants will provide the 
information necessary for the OMC to assess these compliance reviews so 
that ongoing improvements to the compliance review process can be 
accomplished. The information will be collected on a standardized 
questionnaire, via mail or by telephone. Respondents will be advised of 
the purpose for the survey and the confidentiality of their responses, 
either by an accompanying letter or orally by telephone. The 
questionnaire will request respondents to provide information 
pertaining to the compliance review process (i.e. notification, purpose 
and length of the review). The information will be collected from motor 
carriers shortly after FHWA or State officials complete a compliance 
review.
    Affected Public: Motor carrier employees who signed for receipt of 
the compliance review.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 250.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th 
Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention DOT Desk Officer. Comments 
are invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the 
Department, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; the accuracy of the Department's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 8, 1998.
Vanester M. Williams,
Clearance Officer, United States Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 98-27665 Filed 10-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P