Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/11/13/2012-27569/patterns-of-safety-violations-by-motor-carrier-management
Timestamp: 2016-07-02 02:02:10
Document Index: 206306111

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4113', '§ 32112', '§ 31135', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 385', '§ 386', 'art 386', '§ 385', '§ 31135']

-67624 (12 pages)
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2012-27569 Related Topics
To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and click on the “Submit a Comment” box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In the “Document Type” drop down menu, select “Rules,” insert “FMCSA-2011-0321” in the “Keyword” box, and click “Search.” When the new screen appears, click on “Submit a Comment” in the “Actions” column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
Section 31135 of title 49, United States Code, was originally enacted as part of § 4113 of SAFETEA-LU and was subsequently amended by § 32112 of MAP-21. Section 31135 requires employers and employees to comply with FMCSA's safety regulations that apply to the employees' and the employers' conduct. It prohibits motor carriers from using common ownership, common management, common control or common familial relationships to avoid compliance or mask or otherwise conceal noncompliance, or a history of noncompliance. It also authorizes FMCSA to withhold,
suspend, amend, or revoke the operating authority registration of a motor carrier if it or any person has engaged in a pattern or practice of avoiding compliance, or concealing noncompliance with regulations governing CMV safety prescribed under 49 U.S.C., Chapter 311, subchapter III. FMCSA may suspend, amend, or revoke the individual registration of an officer of a motor carrier who has engaged in a pattern or practice of or assisted in avoiding compliance, or masking or otherwise concealing noncompliance while serving as an officer of such motor carrier. FMCSA is required to establish standards implementing § 31135 through rulemaking.
FMCSA relies on 49 U.S.C. 13902, 13905, 31134, and 31135 for the authority and procedures to suspend and revoke operating authority registration in this proposed rule. The Motor Carrier Act of 1935 (74, 49 Stat. 543) authorized the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to issue operating authority registration to motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders subject to its jurisdiction and to suspend or revoke such operating authority registration for willful failure to comply with applicable statutes and regulations. The ICC Termination Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803) transferred this authority to the Secretary by enacting 49 U.S.C. 13902 (establishing standards for issuing operating authority registration) and 13905 (establishing standards and procedures for suspending and revoking operating authority registration). Section 4113 of SAFETEA-LU amended 49 U.S.C. 13902 to authorize FMCSA to deny an application for operating authority registration of a for-hire motor carrier if the motor carrier is not willing and able to comply with the duties of employers and employees established under 49 U.S.C. 31135. In addition, section 32105 of MAP-21 created new 49 U.S.C. 31134 establishing requirements for motor carriers seeking to obtain operating authority registration and USDOT numbers. This new section authorizes FMCSA to withhold, suspend or revoke operating authority registration for failing to disclose, among other things, common management or control with any other person or applicant for operating authority registration or any other person or applicant for operating authority registration that has been determined to be unfit, unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements for registration. The changes enacted as a part of MAP-21 are effective October 1, 2012.
If the Agency Official concludes that the motor carrier or person acting on its behalf has failed, or concealed failure, to do one or more of the actions described in § 385.907, the Agency Official would determine whether such conduct constitutes a pattern or practice of noncompliance or masking noncompliance by considering certain factors. These factors would include, but are not limited to, the frequency, remoteness in time or continuing nature of the conduct; the extent to which the regulatory violations caused by the conduct create a risk to safety; the effect the conduct had on safety performance, taking into account crashes, deaths and injuries, if any; whether the motor carrier or person acting on its behalf knew or should have known the conduct violated regulatory requirements; existing or closed enforcement actions; whether the motor carrier or person acting on its behalf engaged in the conduct for the purpose of avoiding compliance; and the extent to which the person exercises a controlling influence on the motor carrier's operations, if applicable. Inadvertent, isolated, or sporadic violations of FMCSA's regulations generally would not rise to the level of a pattern or practice. To establish a pattern or practice, the Agency would look for evidence of knowledge, conduct, or intent that shows egregious disregard for FMCSA's safety regulations.
49 U.S.C. 113, 504, 521(b), 5105(e), 5109, 13901-13905, 14701, 31133, 31135, 31136, 31137(a), 31144, 31148, and 31502; Sec. 113(a), 103; Sec. 408, Pub. L. 104-88; Sec. 350, Pub. L. 107-87; and 49 CFR 1.86.
385.923 Service and computation of time.
(1) Whether a new or affiliated motor carrier was used for the purpose of avoiding compliance or masking or otherwise concealing noncompliance with the regulations prescribed under 49 U.S.C., Chapter 311, subchapter III. In weighing this factor, the Agency Official may consider the stated business purpose for the creation of the new or affiliated motor carrier; (2) The motor carriers' safety performance histories, including, among other things, safety violations and enforcement actions, if any;
(a) General. The Agency Official may issue an order to suspend a motor carrier's registration based on a determination made in accordance with § 385.905.
(ii) The petitioner may file an answer in opposition, accompanied by affidavits or other evidence relied on. The answer must be served within 10 days of service of the motion. (iii) The Assistant Administrator will issue a decision on the motion to vacate within 10 days of the close of the time period for serving the answer to the motion. The 30-day period for review of the petition for review in paragraph (e)(5) of this section is tolled from the time the Agency Official's motion to lift a stay is served until the Assistant Administrator issues a decision on the motion.
§ 385.915 Revocation proceedings.
(a) General. The Agency Official may issue an order to revoke a motor carrier's registration, if he or she determines that the motor carrier has willfully violated an order issued under § 385.913(d)(1)(i) or (ii), for a period of at least 30 days.
(b) Commencement of proceedings. The Agency Official may commence a proceeding under this section by issuing an order to the motor carrier and serving a copy on the person(s), if any, who intervened under § 385.913(c). The order must:
(6) Provide notice to the person(s), if any, who have intervened under § 385.913(c) of their right to intervene in the proceeding; and
(c) Right of individual person(s) to intervene. The person(s) who exercised their right to intervene under § 385.913(c) may—but are not required to—serve a separate response and supporting documentation to an order served under paragraph (b) of this section, within 30 days of being served with the order. Failure to timely serve a response constitutes waiver of the right to intervene. A person who did not intervene under § 385.913(c) may not intervene under this section.
(iv) Provide notice that a Final Agency Order revoking the motor carrier's registration will remain in effect and bar approval of any subsequent application for registration until rescinded by the Agency Official pursuant to § 385.917.
(e) Administrative review. The motor carrier or an intervening person may petition the Assistant Administrator for review of an order issued under this section by following the procedures set forth in § 385.913(e).
§ 385.917 Petitions for rescission.
§ 385.919 Other orders unaffected.
§ 385.921 Penalties.
(a) Any motor carrier that the Agency determines engages or has engaged in a pattern or practice of avoiding regulatory compliance or masking noncompliance or violates an order issued under this subpart shall be subject to the civil or criminal penalty provisions of 49 U.S.C. 521(b) and applicable regulations. (b) Any motor carrier who permits the exercise of controlling influence over its operations by any person that the Agency determines, under this subpart, engages in or has engaged in a pattern or practice of avoiding regulatory compliance or masking noncompliance while acting on behalf of any motor carrier, shall be subject to the civil or criminal penalty provisions of 49 U.S.C. 521(b) and applicable regulations.
§ 385.923 Service and computation of time.
Service of documents and computations of time will be made in accordance with §§ 386.6 and 386.8 of this subchapter.
49 U.S.C. 113, chapters 5, 51, 59, 131-141, 145-149, 311, 313, and 315; Sec. 204, Pub. L. 104-88, 109 Stat. 803, 941 (49 U.S.C. 701 note); Sec. 217, Pub. L. 105-159, 113 Stat. 1748, 1767; Sec. 206, Pub. L. 106-159, 113 Stat. 1763; subtitle B, title IV of Pub. L. 109-59; 49 CFR 1.86 and 1.87; and Sec. 32112, Pub. L. 112-141.
Appendix A to Part 386—Penalty Schedule; Violations of Notice and Orders Back to Top
j. Violation—Conducting operations during a period of suspension or revocation under §§ 385.913 or 385.915.
1. Although MAP-21 includes authority for FMCSA to withhold operating authority registration under § 31135, FMCSA has elected not to incorporate that authority into this proposed rule. The Agency has existing authority to withhold operating authority registration and will continue to exercise this authority under its current registration process.