Regulatory Guidance Concerning the Applicability of Fees for the UCR Plan and Agreement

Courtesy MTA
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces regulatory guidance concerning the applicability of fees in 49 CFR 367.20 to registration under the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement beginning after December 31, 2009. Until an adjustment in the fees is published by FMCSA, States participating in the UCR Plan and Agreement may assess and collect fees under the current FMCSA regulation. In accordance with a statutory amendment that applies to the current regulation, fees must be based on the number of self-propelled commercial motor vehicles owned and operated.

This regulatory guidance is effective on March 2, 2010.

For further information, contact:

Frederic L. Wood
Regulatory Affairs Division
Office of Chief Counsel
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
Washington DC, 20590

frederic.wood@dot.gov
Ph: (202) 366-0834

FMCSA Launches Pre-Employment Screening Web Site

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration yesterday launched a Web site where trucking companies can register for access to a safety database they will be able to use for screening applicants for driving jobs.

The data is not available yet and probably won't be for another couple of months, according to Michael Johnsen of the agency's Analysis Division. But carriers and third party driver service providers can start registering for the Pre-Employment Screening Program that the agency is creating.

The program will give employers access to five years of an applicant's crash history and three years of his inspection history - with the driver's permission. The data will be drawn from the Motor Carrier Management Information System and will include the same information that is used by agency staff and state police for enforcement. Drivers will have access to the information, as well, and can make the report a part of their application if they wish.

Read the complete version of this text here.

The registration Web site is at http://www.psp.fmcsa.dot.gov. The site includes a list of frequently asked questions.

Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers

U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.
“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said Secretary LaHood. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”

The action is the result of the Department’s interpretation of standing rules. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."

FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.
During the September 2009 Distracted Driving Summit, the Secretary announced the Department’s plan to pursue this regulatory action, as well as rulemakings to reduce the risks posed by distracted driving. President Obama also signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on December 30, 2009.

The regulatory guidance on today’s announcement will be on public display in the Federal Register January 26 and will appear in print in the Federal Register on January 27.
The public can follow the progress of the U.S. Department of Transportation in working to combat distracted driving www.distraction.gov.