Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/835233
commercial carrier journal | june 2017 15 JOURNAL NEWS Congress again slows deployment of wireless roadside inspections T he 2017 fiscal year spending package cleared by Congress last month bars the U.S. Department of Transportation from further work developing or deploying a wireless road- side inspection program until DOT can ensure the program does not duplicate systems already in place at state and local levels, among other hurdles. The measure builds upon congres- sional intent in recent years to slow progress on a national wireless roadside inspection program until DOT answers certain questions for lawmakers. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 cleared the House May 3 and the Senate the next day and then headed to the White House for President Trump's signature. The bill keeps the government funded through Sept. 30. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is developing, deploying and testing a wireless inspection system and last year announced it was begin- ning a third phase of testing involving about 600 trucks and drivers. The sys- tem's aim is to inspect vehicles and driv- ers without the need to stop via roadside sensors and transmission of vehicle data. The agency said last year it possibly could determine the feasibility of a national wireless inspection program as early as September 2017. It's unclear whether the 2017 appropriations bill will affect that timeline. The bill restricts work on the program by withholding funding for "design, development, testing or implementa- tion of a wireless roadside inspection program until 180 days after [the DOT] certifies to" congressional appropria- tions committees "that such program does not conflict with existing non-fed- eral electronic screening systems, create capabilities already available or require additional statutory authority to incor- porate generated inspection data into safety determinations or databases." The bill also requires DOT to address privacy concerns of carriers and drivers regarding wireless inspection data. – James Jaillet ON THE GO! with *Contest entry open from May 1 st to July 31 st , 2017 at participating TruckForce ® Service Centers only. No purchase necessary. Items may not be exactly as shown. See in-store or on-line for official contest rules and regulations. Void where prohibited by law. Supported by These Quality Brands: ENTER TO WIN * 1 of 10 OXX COFFEEBOXX Single Cup Brewing Systems WIN * OXX COFFEEBOXX Single Cup Brewing Systems Have your next service performed by the experts at your local TruckForce Service Center before July 31, 2017 and Find your local TruckForce ® Service Center by calling 800.494.4731 or by visiting www.TruckForceService.com Locations Coast to Coast in the United States and Canada FMCSA last year began a third phase of wireless inspection system testing involv- ing about 600 trucks and drivers.