The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has sent its final electronic onboard recorders rule to the Department of Transportation for review, acting agency Administrator Rose McMurray said.

The Bush administration was close to finalizing the rule, which former FMCSA Administrator John Hill said would expand the number of carriers required to use the devices, but withdrew its proposal in order to let the Obama team review it. The EOBRs would monitor hours-of-service performance by commercial drivers.

Once approved by DOT, the rule then must go to the White House Office of Management and Budget for a final review.

McMurray also said the agency was getting closer to implementing its new safety rating system for carriers, known as Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, or CSA 2010.

CSA 2010 aims to make “significant changes in the way we assess [carriers’] individual safety fitness,” she said. FMCSA will look at more data than ever before, and intervene sooner so fleets can get into compliance without additional enforcement.