FMCSA Looks at Electronic Onboard Recorders to Improve HOS Compliance, Drivers' Health

wo days after it asked a court to stay an order vacating new hours-of-service rules for truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Wednesday gave advanced notice of a proposed rule focusing on using electronic onboard recorders to improve HOS compliance.

The notice in Wednesday's Federal Register said that technological advancements since the government last addressed the issue of onboard recorders in 1984 made it appropriate to explore them again.

David Longo, FMCSA spokesman, told Transport Topics the recorders would allow for easier enforcement of HOS rules. It would also lead to better health for drivers, he said.

dequate to enable them to operate the vehicles safely," the notice said.

"In short, FMCSA is attempting to evaluate the suitability of EOBRs to demonstrate compliance with and enforcement of the hours-of-service regulations, which in turn have major implications for the welfare of drivers and the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles," FMCSA said.

The Department of Justice, on behalf of FMCSA, filed a motion on Monday asking a federal court to stay its earlier reversal of the new hours-of-service rules for truck drivers that took effect in January.

The new rules, which took effect Jan. 4, expanded the time a driver can drive from 10 to 11 hours a day, but cuts back on the number of hours a driver can be on-duty from 15 to 14 hours a day and eliminates the ability of drivers to "clock out" during meals and fuel breaks and for loading and unloading activity.

MCSA said it would accept comments until Nov. 30.

(Click here for the full text from the Federal Register.)

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