Washington – The Department of Transportation on Jan. 31 announced a proposed rule to mandate use of electronic onboard recorders by interstate commercial truck and bus companies.
According to a notice of proposed rulemaking (.pdf file) published in the Feb. 1 Federal Register, carriers that are required to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s hours-of-service regulations and violate the EOBR requirement would face civil penalties of up to $11,000 for each offense. Non-compliance also would negatively impact a carrier’s safety fitness rating and DOT operating authority. Comments must be received by April 4. The NPRM also would relieve interstate motor carriers from retaining certain HOS supporting documents, such as delivery and toll receipts.
On June 4, 2010, a final rule (.pdf file) went into effect mandating interstate commercial truck and bus companies with serious patterns of hours-of-service violations to install EOBRs in all vehicles. Carriers that do not comply will be ordered out of service. Motor carriers must comply with the final rule by June 4, 2012.
