Proposing to Require Electronic Logs

FMCSA 03-28 NPRM electronic logs.pdf

On March 28, 2014 (79 FR 17656), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) and request for comments on improving commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety and reducing the overall paperwork burden for both motor carriers and drivers by increasing the use of electronic logging devices (ELDs) within the motor carrier industry, which would in turn improve compliance with the applicable hours-of-service (HOS) rules. Specifically, this SNPRM proposes: (1) Requiring new technical specifications for ELDs that address statutory requirements; (2) mandating ELDs for drivers currently using records of duty status (RODS); (3) clarifying supporting document requirements so that motor carriers and drivers can comply efficiently with HOS regulations, and so that motor carriers can make the best use of ELDs and related support systems as their primary means of recording HOS information and ensuring HOS compliance; and (4) proposing both procedural and technical provisions aimed at ensuring that ELDs are not used to harass vehicle operators. This notice of proposed rulemaking supplements FMCSA’s February 1, 2011 (76 FR 5537) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and addresses issues raised by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in its 2011 decision vacating FMCSA’s April 5, 2010 (75 FR 17208) final rule concerning ELDs as well as subsequent statutory developments. Comments must be received on or before May 27, 2014.