[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 25 (Monday, February 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5927-5928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2675]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology Pilot Demonstration 
Project; Extension of Deadline for Submission of Applications

AGENCY:  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION:  Notice of extension of deadline for submission of applications 
to participate in pilot demonstration project.

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SUMMARY:  The FMCSA 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 
FMCSA 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 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES:  Written applications should be mailed to: GPS Technology 
Pilot Demonstration Project, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and 
Operations, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Neill L. Thomas, Office of Bus 
and Truck Standards and Operations, (202) 366-4009, Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 
D.C. 20590-0001, or Mr. Charles Medalen, Office of Chief Counsel (HCC-
20), (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590-0001. 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 FMCSA 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 home page 
at: http://www.nara.gov/fedregand the Government Printing Office's 
database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Creation of New Agency

    On December 9, 1999, the President signed the Motor Carrier Safety 
Improvement Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-159, 113 Stat. 1748). The new 
statute established the FMCSA in the Department of Transportation. On 
January 4, 2000, the Office of the Secretary published a final rule 
rescinding the authority previously delegated to the Office of Motor 
Carrier Safety (OMCS) (65 FR 220). This authority is now delegated to 
the FMCSA.
    The motor carrier functions of the OMCS's Resource Centers and 
Division (i.e., State) Offices have been transferred to FMCSA Resource 
Centers and FMCSA Division Offices, respectively. Rulemaking, 
enforcement and other activities of the Office of Motor Carrier Safety 
while part of the FHWA, and while operating independently of the FHWA, 
will be continued by the FMCSA. The redelegation will cause no changes 
in the motor carrier functions and operations previously handled by the 
FHWA or the OMCS. For the time being, all phone numbers and addresses 
are unchanged.

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 current on-board recorder 
provision is becoming obsolete. Before considering changes to the rule, 
the agency 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 (63 FR 16697), the FHWA announced a pilot project 
that would allow motor carriers to use GPS technology and related 
computer programs to monitor compliance with the hours-of-service 
regulations. Drivers would be exempted from the requirement to maintain 
paper logs. Werner Enterprises, Inc., was the first carrier to enter 
into an agreement with the FHWA to use GPS technology for this purpose.
    On July 13, 1999 (64 FR 37689), the FHWA extended the deadline for 
submission of applications to participate in the GPS technology pilot 
demonstration project. The agency indicated that it had received 
letters and telephone calls from various entities expressing interest 
in participating in the program and that two of these entities had 
acquired the software necessary to participate. The agency also 
indicated that other entities would soon have the hardware and software 
necessary. To date, however, Werner Enterprises, Inc. is the only 
carrier operating under an agreement with the agency to use GPS 
technology to monitor drivers' hours-of-service.

Reason for Extending the Application Deadline

    The FMCSA 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 FMCSA also believes extending the 
application deadline to enable other motor carriers to participate will 
help to demonstrate that the use of technology to reduce paperwork and 
minimize recordkeeping burdens is consistent with highway safety.
    The FMCSA continues to receive letters or telephone calls from 
motor carriers expressing interest in participating in the GPS pilot 
demonstration project. Many of these motor carriers are either 
considering modifications to their current GPS technology programs, or 
planning to have changes made to GPS technology being purchased, in 
order to meet the hardware and software requirements for participation 
in the pilot demonstration project. The FMCSA is extending the 
application deadline until December 29, 2000, to provide these motor 
carriers with an opportunity to participate in the pilot demonstration 
project once they have in place the hardware and software needed to 
satisfy the criteria for participation. 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

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conditions specified in the April 6, 1998, notice.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 31136, and 31502; and 49 CFR 1.73.

    Issued on: January 26, 2000.
Julie Anna Cirillo,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 00-2675 Filed 2-4-00; 8:45 am]
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