Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/05/28/2013-12564/agency-information-collection-activities-approval-of-a-new-information-collection-request-driver-and
Timestamp: 2017-08-17 02:26:45
Document Index: 571435193

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 395', '§\u2009395', '§\u2009395', '§\u2009395', '§\u2009395', '§\u2009395', 'art 395', '§\u200932301', '§\u200932911']

Federal Register :: Agency Information Collection Activities; Approval of a New Information Collection Request: Driver and Carrier Surveys Related to Electronic Onboard Recorders (EOBRs), and Potential Harassment Deriving From EOBR Use
A Notice by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on 05/28/2013
32001-32005 (5 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-12564 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-12564
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The purpose of this new ICR is to broadly examine, by the collection of survey data, the issue of driver harassment and determine the extent to which Electronic Onboard Recorders (EOBRs) used to document drivers' hours of service (HOS) could be used by motor carriers or enforcement personnel to harass drivers or monitor driver productivity. The survey will collect information on the extent to which respondents believe that the use Start Printed Page 32002of EOBRs may result in coercion of drivers by motor carriers, shippers, receivers, and transportation intermediaries. The proposed surveys for drivers and carriers collect information related to issues of EOBR harassment of drivers by carriers. FMCSA plans to publish a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking on EOBRs. Prior to the issuance of a final rule, FMCSA will consider the survey results.
After conducting notice-and-comment on the rulemaking regarding automated methods of recording RODS, the Agency issued a final rule on September 30, 1988. The rule revised part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) by allowing motor carriers the flexibility to equip CMVs with an automatic onboard recording device (AOBRD) in lieu of requiring drivers to complete handwritten RODS. The term “automatic onboard recording device” was defined under § 395.2 as follows:
an electric, electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical device capable of recording driver's duty status information accurately and automatically as required by § 395.15. The device must be integrally synchronized with specific operations of the commercial motor vehicle in which it is installed. At a minimum, the device must record engine use, road speed, miles driven, the date, and time of day.
On April 5, 2010, FMCSA published a final rule to incorporate new performance standards for electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs) installed in CMVs manufactured on or after June 4, 2012 (75 FR 17208). The new rule required installation of EOBRs meeting the new performance standards in CMVs operated by motor carriers found by the Agency to have serious HOS noncompliance. EOBRs would have been required to record the CMVs location automatically at each change of duty status and at intervals while the CMV is in motion. Currently, onboard recorders are not required to do this. To ensure a smooth transition from AOBRDs to EOBRs, the final rule would have required that for CMVs manufactured on or after June 4, 2012, devices installed by a manufacturer or motor carrier would need to have met the requirements of § 395.16. CMVs manufactured prior to June 4, 2012, could be equipped with an HOS recording device that met the requirements of either § 395.15 (AOBRD) or § 395.16.
The effectiveness of mechanisms currently available under 49 CFR 392.3, 49 CFR part 395 and 49 U.S.C. 31105(a) to protect against carrier coercion; andStart Printed Page 32003
As a result of the court's ruling, carriers relying on electronic devices to monitor HOS compliance are currently governed by the rules that address the use of AOBRDs as in effect immediately before the court's ruling (49 CFR 395.15). On May 14, 2012, FMCSA rescinded the April 5, 2010, final rule, as amended September 13, 2010, in response to the court's decision to vacate the rulemaking. FMCSA had previously announced its intent to move forward with a proposal on EOBRs with a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) [77 FR 7562 (February 13, 2012)]. Congress subsequently mandated that the Secretary of Transportation adopt regulations requiring that CMVs involved in interstate commerce and operated by drivers who are required to keep records of duty status (RODS) be equipped with “electronic logging devices” (MAP-21, Pub. L. 112-141, § 32301(b), 126 Stat. 405, 786-788 [July 6, 2012], amending 49 U.S.C. 31137). MAP-21 retained the requirement that regulations ensure such devices not be used to harass drivers of CMVs and also required that certain regulations governing CMV safety ensure that drivers of CMVs are not coerced into operating in violation of regulations to be promulgated [Pub. L. 112-141, § 32911. 126 Stat. at 818 (amending 49 U.S.C. 31136(a))].
Second, this commenter raised a concern that drivers will not feel free to comment because of the fear of intimidation by their superiors. In response, no surveys conducted at truck stops will identify the driver or the Start Printed Page 32004company for which he/she works for, and the data will be aggregated and not associated with any individual or fleet.
6; III-A-2 OOIDA commented: Without knowing the number of questions and the scope of the discussions that FMCSA interviewers intend to conduct, it is difficult to judge whether the estimated time burden in the notice is accurate.
6; III-A-3-a OOIDA commented: FMCSA would enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information collected if it: a) collected sufficient data from drivers who operated an EOBR rather than just a random sample.
6; III-A-3-b OOIDA commented: FMCSA would enhance the quality usefulness, and clarity of the information collected if it: b) asked drivers whether they had experienced each of the examples of the type of harassment outlined in these comments.
6; III-A-3-c OOIDA commented: FMCSA would enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information collected if it: c) guaranteed drivers' confidentiality to ensure candor without fear of retaliation or enforcement actions.
7; III-A-3-d OOIDA commented: FMCSA would enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the information collected if it: d) ensured the survey was broad enough to inquire to the types of harassment described in these comments.
7; III-A-4 OOIDA commented: The burden of the survey would be reduced if drivers were asked whether they had specifically been harassed, rather than asking driver broad, nonspecific questions.
14 OOIDA commented: Include law enforcement use or non-use of EOBRs.