FMCSA advisory group sets June agenda

At its June 20-22 meeting, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s trucking advisory group will discuss recommendations, including agency oversight of its long-haul cross-border trucking project with Mexico.

The public may attend the FMCSA Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee meeting in Alexandria, Va., or submit written comment by June 15.

The agency had asked members to designate two subcommittees to report to the committee. One would provide independent program monitoring of the cross-border program with Mexico and the other would review the agency’s Carrier Safety Measurement System violation groups and crash risk tables.

Members also expect at the meeting to finish recommendations to the FMCSA on patterns of safety violations by motor carrier management.

At its April meeting, the committee asked the agency to request Congress grant statutory authority over shippers and other intermediaries who contribute to excessive detention of truckers. The Federal Aviation Administration already possesses this right when dealing with the issue in aviation.

Members noted H.R. 756, which House members referred to subcommittee Feb. 18, would require the transportation department designate time limits shippers or receivers may detain a trucker without penalty.

Also on this issue, the committee recommended agency representatives:

  •  Institute a complaint line for drivers to report shippers who consistently detain drivers, consequently interfering with truckers’ hours of service compliance.
  • Conduct studies on the matter recommended in a 2011 Government Accountability Office report.
  • Develop a “Truck Driver’s Bill of Rights” to address provision of toilet, shower and parking facilities, detention compensation and available refreshments.

The FMCSA appoints the 19-member MCSAC, which include representatives from trucking, safety and law enforcement.

By including the docket number, FMCSA-2006-26367, people may submit written comment one of the following ways:

  • Online at http://www.regulations.gov.
  • By fax at (202) 493-2251.
  • By mail to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation; 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE; West Building, Room WI2-140; Washington, DC 20590.
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