Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/119523
Logbook EOBR rule close, agency says The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration expects a rule mandating the use of electronic onboard recorders to be proposed by September. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro and other U.S. Department of Transportation administrators testified March 14 at a hearing held by the U.S. House Transportation Committee's Highways and Transit Subcommittee, where they were asked to update subcommittee members on initiatives required by 2012's MAP-21 highway funding law. MAP-21 requires FMCSA to implement an electronic log mandate by the end of the law's 27-month life. As a follow-up to Ferro's testimony, U.S. Rep. Thomas Petri (R-Ore.), the subcommittee's chairman, questioned the rigidity of a "one size fits all" EOBR rule that doesn't offer flexibility for individual situations. Ferro said she and the agency have taken that into account, and a uniform electronic logging rule "is a very strong one as it pertains to safety and ensuring everyone's operating on a level playing field." Most companies that switch to electronic logs switch "very effectively and very profitably," Ferro said. "They're finding it's a very, very efficient mechanism" for Short hauls A TWO-DAY BLITZ in Arizona put 109 drivers out of service. "Operation Southern For more from the hearing – including an exchange between FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro and U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullen (R-Okla.) about why the agency can't delay hours of service implementation – scan the QR code with your smartphone, or visit OverdriveOnline. com and search "electronic log." tracking on-duty status. "Over time, sometimes almost immediately, drivers prefer it as well." Ferro said the rule addresses four areas: Technical specifications used for EOBR devices, ensuring drivers are not harassed, ensuring any supporting documents and paperwork are reduced, and the EOBR requirement itself. Changing topics slightly, subcommittee ranking member U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) Shield" was conducted in late February on I-10 between the Maricopa/Pinal County lines and resulted in 826 inspections. The majority of questioned the impact of detention time on hours of service and what FMCSA planned to do to compensate. Ferro said the agency currently is studying detention time and that results are expected by 2015. She also said provisions in MAP-21 allow the agency to "take action" against a shipper or receiver that coerces a driver to violate hours requirements. – James Jaillet out-of-service orders came from log violations. NAVISTAR INTERNATIONAL promoted Troy Clarke to president and chief executive officer, effective April 15. Lewis Campbell will step down as executive chairman and interim CEO, Navistar said. 14 | Overdrive | April 2013 Logbook_0413.indd 14 4/1/13 9:00 PM