[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28548-28549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13906]


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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.

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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: <a href="http://
www.access.gpo.gov/su__">http://
www.access.gpo.gov/su__</a> 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