A final rule on mandates that would require interstate trucks to be equipped with electronic onboard recorders will not be issued until late this year or early 2013. According to a report by Transport Topics, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration officials will not issue a final rule, or even a new proposed supplemental rule, as it reacts to a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, which struck down an FMCSA proposal that would that would have gone into effect in June of this year. The court ruled that FMCSA failed to ensure that EOBR devices would not be used to harass truck drivers.
FMCSA has responded by saying its new rule will address those harassment concerns as it lays the groundwork for a universal proposal mandate for nearly all interstate trucks. FMCSA intends to use the next few months to schedule “listening sessions,” wherein it will collect input from drivers and carriers to better understand how EOBR devices might be used to harass truckers.
TRUCK ACCIDENT FAST FACT: According to TruckInjuries.com, about 27 percent of drivers of large trucks involved in a fatal truck accident had at least one prior speeding conviction. By contrast, 19 percent of drivers of passenger cars involved in a fatal crash committed previous speeding infractions.
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