FMCSA Issues EOBR Rule for Serious HOS Violators

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Friday issued a rule that will require carriers with serious patterns of hours-of-service violations to user electronic on-board recorders in all vehicles.

FMCSA estimated that 5,700 truck and bus companies would be required to use EOBRs after the first year of implementation for the rule, which goes into effect June 1, 2012.

The agency also said it will start the rulemaking process later this year for a rule mandating EOBRs for more carriers.

Under the rule, carriers with 10% or more HOS violations during a compliance review will be required to install and use EOBRs in all of their vehicles for at least two years, FMCSA said in a statement.

Carriers that voluntarily use EOBRs will be exempt from some of FMCSA’s requirements regarding HOS supporting documents.

The rule also outlines technical requirements for EOBRs, which record data about the amount of time a driver operates the vehicle.