[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37689-37690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17804]


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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.

DATES: Applications must be received on or before December 31, 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 (HMCS-10), (202) 366-4009, or Mr. 
Charles Medalen, Office of Chief Counsel (HCC-20), (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:

Electronic Access

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

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-

[[Page 37690]]

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

    The FHWA has received letters or telephone calls from 17 entities 
that have expressed their desire to participate in the pilot program. 
Development of the related safety management computer systems has been 
slow. Those motor carriers that wish to participate in the pilot 
demonstration project have been unable to purchase or develop the 
requisite computer systems and software that complement the GPS 
technology before the extended application deadline of June 30, 1999. 
Two entities have informed us that they now have the requisite 
software. Others will be coming on-line shortly. Therefore, to ensure 
the best possible results for this pilot project, the agency is 
extending the application period to December 31, 1999. 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: July 7, 1999.
Kenneth R. Wykle,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-17804 Filed 7-12-99; 8:45 am]
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