[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71791-71792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-34635]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

49 CFR Part 395


Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology; Extension of 
Application Date

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of extension of deadline for submission of applications 
to participate in the GPS technology pilot demonstration project.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is extending the deadline for motor carriers to 
submit applications to participate in the agency's Global Positioning 
System (GPS) technology pilot demonstration project. This project 
allows qualified motor carriers that use GPS technology and related 
safety management computer systems to enter into an agreement with the 
FHWA to use such systems to record and monitor drivers' hours of 
service, in lieu of requiring them to prepare handwritten records of 
duty status. This project is intended to demonstrate that the motor 
carrier industry can use this technology to improve compliance with the 
hours-of-service requirements in a manner which promotes safety and 
operational efficiency while reducing paperwork.


[[Page 71792]]


DATES: Applications must be received on or before June 30, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Written applications should be mailed to the Office of Motor 
Carrier Research and Standards (HCS-10), Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, D.C. 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neill L. Thomas, Office of Motor 
Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-4009, or Mr. Charles Medalen, 
Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway 
Administration, Department of Transportation, 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. Application 
requests and specific questions regarding this pilot demonstration 
project may also be directed to the contact person(s) named in this 
notice or the Division Offices of the FHWA in your State.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On September 30, 1988, the FHWA published a final rule (53 FR 
38666) to allow motor carriers to use certain automatic on-board 
devices to record their drivers' duty status in lieu of the handwritten 
records required by 49 CFR 395.8. This provision is now codified at 49 
CFR 395.15. Many motor carriers employing this technology found that 
their compliance with the hours-of-service regulations improved. New 
technologies are emerging, however, and the narrowly crafted on-board 
recorder provision is becoming obsolete.
    Before considering changes to the rule, the FHWA determined that it 
would be prudent to demonstrate the effectiveness of more recent 
technology for ensuring compliance with the hours-of-service 
regulations. On April 6, 1998, the FHWA announced a pilot project that 
would allow motor carriers to use GPS tracking systems and related 
computer programs to monitor compliance with the hours-of-service 
regulations. Drivers would be exempted from the requirement to maintain 
paper logs (63 FR 16697). Werner Enterprises, Inc., was the first 
carrier to enter into an agreement with the FHWA to use a GPS system 
for this purpose. The FHWA believes GPS technology and many of the 
complementary safety management computer systems currently available to 
the motor carrier industry provide at least the same degree of 
monitoring accuracy as 49 CFR 395.15. The FHWA also believes the 
project will demonstrate that reduced paperwork and recordkeeping 
requirements are consistent with highway safety, while providing 
economic advantages to the motor carrier industry.

Reason for Extending the Application Deadline

    No applications have been received to date. However, several motor 
carriers have informed the FHWA of their desire to participate in this 
pilot project. They were unable to purchase or develop the requisite 
computer systems and software that complement the GPS technology before 
the original application deadline of October 5, 1998. Therefore, to 
ensure the best possible results for this pilot project, the agency is 
extending the application period to June 30, 1999. Any motor carriers 
that wish to participate in the pilot demonstration project must have 
GPS technology and complementary safety management computer systems 
which meet all of the conditions specified in the April 6, 1998, 
notice.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 553(b); 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 U.S.C. 31133, 
31136, and 31502; sec. 345, Pub. L. 104-59, 109 Stat. 568, 613; and 
49 CFR 1.48.

    Issued on: December 21, 1998.
Kenneth R. Wykle,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 98-34635 Filed 12-29-98; 8:45 am]
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