[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 63 (Monday, April 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16611-16612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-4792]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2005-22056]


Public Meeting To Discuss the Implementation of the North 
American Standard for Cargo Securement

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

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces the third in a series of public meetings 
concerning the implementation of the North American Standard for 
Protection Against Shifting or Falling Cargo. On September 27, 2002, 
FMCSA published a Final Rule revising its regulations concerning 
protection against shifting and falling cargo for commercial motor 
vehicles (CMVs) engaged in interstate commerce. The final rule is based 
on the North American Cargo Securement Standard Model Regulations, 
which reflect the results of a multi-year comprehensive research 
program to evaluate U.S. and Canadian cargo securement regulations. 
Motor carriers operating in the United States had until January 1, 
2004, to comply with the new regulations. On September 23, 2004, 
Canada's Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and 
Highway Safety approved a new National Safety Code Standard for cargo 
securement. Full implementation of the new cargo securement 
requirements in Canada began in the summer of 2005. This meeting is the 
third in a series of meetings to discuss the process for ensuring the 
consistent interpretation and enforcement of the harmonized cargo 
securement standards by FMCSA and the Canadian Provinces. The meeting 
is being held in connection with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance 
(CVSA)'s 2006 Annual Conference.

DATES: The meeting will be held on April 23-24, 2006. The meeting will 
begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. on April 23, and continue from 1:30 
p.m. until 5 p.m. on April 24.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Marriott Hartford Downtown & 
Connecticut Convention Center, 200 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, 
Connecticut.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Huntley, Chief of the 
Vehicle and Roadside Operations Division (MC-PSV), Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590. Phone: 202-366-5370.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On September 27, 2002 (67 FR 61212), FMCSA published a final rule 
revising its regulations concerning protection against shifting and 
falling cargo for CMVs operated in interstate commerce (49 CFR part 
393). The new cargo securement standards are based on the North 
American Cargo Securement Standard Model Regulations, which reflect the 
results of a multi-year comprehensive research program to

[[Page 16612]]

evaluate U.S. and Canadian cargo securement regulations. The program 
included evaluations of the motor carrier industry's best practices, 
and recommendations presented during a series of public meetings 
involving U.S. and Canadian industry experts, Federal, State and 
Provincial enforcement officials, and other interested parties. The 
intent of the rulemaking was to reduce the number of crashes caused by 
cargo shifting on or within, or falling from, CMVs operating in 
interstate commerce, and to harmonize to the greatest extent 
practicable U.S., Canadian, and Mexican cargo securement regulations. 
Motor carriers had until January 1, 2004, to comply with the new 
regulations.

Maintaining Uniformity Between U.S. and Canadian Cargo Securement 
Standards

    FMCSA believes it is necessary to continue working with U.S. and 
Canadian industry experts, Federal, State and Provincial enforcement 
officials, and other interested parties to maintain to the greatest 
extent practicable, harmonization of U.S. and Canadian cargo securement 
standards. A major part of this effort includes uniformity in 
interpreting the meaning of the requirements adopted by the U.S. and 
Canada. While there are some differences between certain provisions of 
the regulations adopted by FMCSA and Canada's National Safety Code 
Standard 10, most of the contents of the model regulations have been 
adopted, or will soon be adopted, by almost all jurisdictions in the 
U.S. and Canada. To ensure consistency in the interpretation and 
enforcement of the requirements, FMCSA is working with its partners in 
Canada to share information about requests for interpretation, and to 
exchange technical information that would be helpful to the regulatory 
agencies in developing responses to such requests. FMCSA is also 
working with its partners in Canada to ensure that interpretations are 
made available to all interested parties in an efficient and timely 
manner.
    As part of the process for ensuring consistent interpretations of 
the harmonized cargo securement regulations, FMCSA is participating in 
this public meeting to provide all interested parties the opportunity 
to discuss interpretation and implementation issues with the Agency and 
its Canadian counterparts. This is the third in a series of public 
meetings on this subject. The first meeting was held April 21-22, 2005, 
in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The second meeting was held September 29-
30, 2005, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Minutes from the Albuquerque and 
Indianapolis meetings, and the presentations made by participants have 
been placed in the public docket (Docket No. FMCSA-2005-22056). The 
minutes and presentations from the Hartford meeting and any future 
cargo securement implementation issues meetings will also be placed in 
this docket. Future public meetings will be announced in the Federal 
Register.

Meeting Information

    The meeting will be held on April 23-24, 2006, at the Marriott 
Hartford Downtown & Connecticut Convention Center, 200 Columbus 
Boulevard, Hartford, Connecticut. The meeting is scheduled from 8 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. on April 23, and from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on April 24. The 
meeting is being held in connection with the Commercial Vehicle Safety 
Alliance (CVSA)'s 2006 Annual 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 2006 Annual 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 2006 Annual Conference please contact the CVSA at (202) 775-
1623.

    Issued on: March 27, 2006.
Annette M. Sandberg,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E6-4792 Filed 3-31-06; 8:45 am]
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