[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 59 (Thursday, March 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14717-14718]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7736]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[FHWA Docket No. MC-97-13]


Development of a Directory of Offerors of Truck and Bus Brake 
Mechanic Training Courses and Materials

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for information.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is requesting information from companies and 
organizations that offer, to the motor carrier industry, training 
courses and training material concerning the maintenance of heavy truck 
and bus brake systems. The information will be used to develop a brake 
training resources directory to assist motor carriers in identifying 
companies or organizations that provide personal training and/or 
training materials that could be useful in helping motor carriers 
improve their brake maintenance programs. The directory will not serve 
as an endorsement or approval by the FHWA of the companies and 
organizations listed therein. The directory would be intended only to 
provide motor carriers with a detailed listing of all known offerors of 
brake training information, and brief descriptions of the courses or 
products and services that are available. This action is being taken to 
help motor carriers reduce the incidence of brake-related violations of 
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, thereby improving safety 
on the Nation's highways.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit written, signed comments to FHWA Docket No. MC-97-13, 
room 4232, HCC-10, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Highway 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. All 
comments received will be available for examination at the above 
address from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of 
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Larry W. Minor, Office of Motor 
Carrier Research and Standards, (202) 366-4009; or Mr. Charles E. 
Medalen, Office of Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1354, Federal Highway 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20590. Office 
hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Conference Committee report on the 1993 Department of 
Transportation Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 102-388, October 6, 1992) 
directed the FHWA to follow the instructions of the House report in 
obligating certain research funds, including funding research on means 
to improve the training of heavy truck brake mechanics. H.R. Conf. Rep. 
No. 102-924, at 35 (1992). The House report on the appropriations bill 
stated that ``the Committee believes the Federal Highway Administration 
should use the expertise available at the Trucking Research Institute 
for safety and research activities related to commercial motor 
vehicles.'' H.R. Rep. No. 102-639, at 85-86 (1992). The House report 
specifically recommended that the FHWA enter into a contract or 
cooperative agreement with the Trucking Research Institute (TRI) to 
study methods of improving the training of heavy truck brake mechanics. 
The TRI is a non-profit organization created by the American Trucking 
Associations Foundation, Inc.
    The FHWA entered into a multi-task contract with the TRI covering 
several research subjects including brake mechanic training. The brake 
mechanic training portion of the research program was structured in two 
phases. Phase 1 covered problem identification, a review of data 
available from the FHWA's Motor Carrier Management Information System 
(MCMIS), carrier surveys, and discussion with industry experts. Phase 2 
is being used for follow-up activities to resolve problems identified 
in Phase 1.

Recommendations Presented in the Phase I Report

    The TRI submitted its final report on Phase 1 (``Commercial Vehicle 
Brake Violations in Roadside Inspections'') to the FHWA on June 2, 
1995. A copy of the report for Phase I has been placed in the docket. 
The final report included the following recommendations to the FHWA and 
the motor carrier industry:
    1. Motor carriers must accept the ultimate responsibility for the 
maintenance of their vehicles.
    2. A vehicle demonstration program, incorporating the best current 
technology to provide a nearly maintenance-free brake system, should be 
developed to encourage the industry to produce and accept automatic 
slack adjusters, long-stroke chambers, and low-deflection components.
    3. Brake suppliers and/or vehicle OEMs should develop and market a

[[Page 14718]]

system to alert drivers to brake defects (e.g., brake adjustment).
    4. Mechanic and driver training should not be seen as a stand-alone 
solution to the brake violation problem.
    5. Government and industry efforts to improve motor carrier 
management commitment to brake maintenance should take a targeted, 
rather than a general approach. The program should start with 
contacting high violation-rate carriers, informing them of their 
problems, and offering them help from both industry and government.
    6. The vehicle identification number (VIN) should be recorded on 
each vehicle inspection report.
    7. A simple, standardized tool should be developed for use by 
carriers and enforcement inspectors to measure pushrod travel.

Development of Publications Concerning Brake Maintenance

    As part of the effort to follow up on the recommendations presented 
in the Phase 1 report, the FHWA and the TRI will work together in the 
development of publications to help increase industry awareness of the 
importance of proper brake maintenance and to inform carriers of the 
availability of technical information to improve their brake 
maintenance programs. The FHWA believes this work is necessary because 
the Phase 1 report indicated that brake suppliers and OEMs have 
developed a variety of training materials but that most motor carriers 
are not aware this material is available to them.

Information Requested

    The FHWA and The Maintenance Council (TMC) of the American Trucking 
Associations are developing a brake training resources directory. This 
industry-wide directory will list information on brake training 
materials, classes, short courses, computer-based training, video 
training and any other types of brake training that are being offered 
to the motor carrier industry. The directory will be organized into two 
groups: personal instruction, and products/services. The directory is 
intended for distribution to all interested motor carriers with a 
special emphasis on motor carriers that appear to have unusually high 
brake-related violation rates during roadside inspections. The 
information will be published as a pamphlet with copies provided free 
of charge by the FHWA. The FHWA requests that interested parties submit 
detailed information on the types of training/training material that 
they offer to motor carrier industry.

Personal Training

    The following information is requested:
    1. Training format(s) (classroom, home-study, hands-on, computer-
based, etc.);
    2. Training availability (at the customer's request, mail order, 
call for current schedule);
    3. Training cost (current price list, fee/tuition available upon 
request, or no charge);
    4. Type of training organization (Federal, State or local 
government agency or department; college/university, vocational/trade 
school; association; business/corporation);
    5. Length of course; and
    6. Training location(s).

Products/Services

    The following information is requested:
    1. Product format(s) (video, slides, printed material, audio tapes, 
computer-based, computer compact disc (CD-ROM));
    2. Product/services cost (current price list, fees available upon 
request, or no charge); and
    3. Type of organization offering the products/services (Federal, 
State or local government agency or department; college/university, 
vocational/trade school; association; business/corporation).

Deadline for Submission of Information

    All information received before the close of business on the 
comment closing date indicated in the caption ``DATES'' will be 
considered and will be available for examination in the docket room at 
the above address. Information received after the comment closing date 
will be filed in the docket and will be considered to the extent 
practicable. The FHWA, however, may publish the directory at any time 
after the close of the comment period. The FHWA will publish a notice 
of availability in the Federal Register when the directory is 
completed.

( 49 U.S.C. 31133; 49 CFR 1.48)

    Issued on: March 19, 1997.
Jane Garvey,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-7736 Filed 3-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P