[Federal Register: May 26, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 100)]
[Notices]
[Page 28548-28549]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26my98-91]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-98-3808]

Notice of Request for Renewal of a Currently Approved Information
Collection: Financial Responsibility, Trucking and Freight Forwarding

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the
intention of the FHWA to request the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to renew its clearance of the currently approved information
collection identified below under Supplementary Information. This
information collection provides registered motor carriers, property
brokers, and freight forwarders a means of meeting financial security
documentation requirements.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: All signed, written comments should refer to the docket
number that appears in the heading of this document and must be
submitted to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room PL-401, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. All comments received
will be available for examination at the above address between 10:00
a.m. and 5:00 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of comments must
include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Marian Lee, Office of Motor
Carrier Information Analysis, (202) 358-7051, Federal Highway
Administration, Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.,
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Financial Responsibility, Trucking and Freight Forwarding.
    OMB Number: 2125-0570.
    Background: The Secretary of Transportation is authorized to
register for-hire motor carriers of regulated commodities under the
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 13902, surface freight forwarders under the
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 13903, and property brokers under the
provisions of 49 U.S.C. 13904. These persons may conduct transportation
services only if they are registered pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 13901. The
Secretary has delegated authority pertaining to these registrations to
the FHWA. Registration remains valid only as long as the transportation
entities maintain, on file with the FHWA, evidence of the required
levels of insurance coverage pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 13906. Regulations
governing financial responsibility requirements are found at 49 CFR
387.
    Forms BMC-91, 91x and 82 provide evidence of the required coverage
for bodily injury and property damage (BI&PD) liability. Forms BMC-34
and 83 establish compliance with cargo liability requirements. Forms
BMC-84 and 85 are filed by brokers to comply with the requirement for a
$10,000 surety bond or trust fund agreement. Forms BMC-35, 36, and 85
cancel prior filings. Forms BMC-90 and 32 are endorsements which must
be attached to BI&PD and cargo insurance policies, respectively, but
are not filed with the FHWA.
    Motor carriers can also apply to self-insure BI&PD and/or cargo
liability in lieu of filing certificates of insurance or surety bonds
with the FHWA. Form BMC-40 is the application used to apply for self-
insurance authority.
    Respondents: Motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers.
    Estimated Average Burden per Response: The estimated average burden
per response for the BMC-40 is 40 hours. The estimated average burden
per response for each of the other forms is 10 minutes per form.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: The estimated total annual burden is
200 hours for the BMC-40 based on 5 filings per year. The estimated
total annual burden for all of the other forms is 30,000 hours based on
180,000 filings per year.
    Frequency: Certificates of insurance, surety bonds and trust fund
agreements are required when the transportation entity first registers
with the FHWA and then when such coverages are replaced. Notices of
cancellation are required only when such certificates of insurance,
surety bonds or trust fund agreements are canceled. Form BMC-40 is
generally

[[Page 28549]]

filed only once when a carrier seeks approval to self-insure its BI&PD
and/or cargo liability.

Public Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to send comments regarding any
aspect of this information collection, including but not limited to:
(1) the necessity and utility of the information collection for the
proper performance of the functions of the FHWA; (2) the accuracy of
the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways to minimize the
collection burden without reducing the quality of the collected
information. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be
summarized and/or included in the request for OMB's clearance for a
renewal of this information collection.

Electronic Availability

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem
and suitable communications software from the Federal Register
electronic bulletin board service (telephone number: 202-512-1661).
Internet users may reach the Federal Register's WWW site at: http://
www.access.gpo.gov/su__ docs.

    Authority: 23 U.S.C. 315 and 49 CFR 1.48.
    Issued on: May 13, 1998.
George S. Moore, Jr.,
Associate Administrator for Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-13906 Filed 5-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P