Publication of ELD Proposal Is ‘Imminent,’ Ferro Says
Publication of the proposed rule requiring trucks to have electronic logging devices is “imminent,” Anne Ferro, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, told a House subcommittee hearing March 12.
The proposed rule has cleared the White House Office of Management and Budget, meaning it can be published, Ferro told the House Transportation Committee’s subcommittee on highways and transit. OMB said it cleared the proposal March 11.
Once published in the Federal Register, trucking, safety advocates and technology companies can comment on the proposed rule. FMCSA could make changes to the rule after reading the commentary.
Mandated by MAP-21, the 2012 transportation reauthorization law, the ELD rule is to provide greater scrutiny of driver compliance with hours-of-service regulations.
When finalized, the rule will require drivers to use ELDs and specify minimum performance and design standards for the technology companies that manufacture the devices for tracking driver hours behind the wheel.
American Trucking Associations and several safety advocacy groups support mandating ELDs, but it is opposed by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.
