During a Senate subcommittee hearing on reauthorization of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Chairman Sen. Frank Lautenberg referred to the 2009 Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act, or S. 779, that freezes truck lengths and weights on the National Highway System, which includes the Interstate System.
Last year, the House introduced a related bill, H.R.1618, which has 126 sponsors.
Francis “Buzzy” France, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance president, said the alliance does not support changes to truck size and weight until it has a more scientific approach to evaluate its safety.
Lautenberg’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security held “Oversight of Motor Carrier Safety Efforts” last month that covered a number of trucking issues.
The distinction between inter and intrastate commerce should be eliminated, France said. “These distinctions have resulted in a complicated web of applicable regulations, exemptions and inconsistent enforcement practices,” he said.
Lautenberg said the new rule regarding electronic onboard recorders will affect 1.3 percent of trucking companies. “Electronic on board recorders should be installed on every truck and bus to protect all drivers on the roads—whether they’re driving a truck, a bus, or a family car,” the New Jersey Democrat said.
This year, the FMCSA anticipates issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish a National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners, which would establish minimum training and testing requirements for healthcare professionals issuing medical certificates for interstate truckers. A final rule will be issued by July 2011.
