'Roadability' Comment Time Extended

The Federal Highway Administration has extended until Aug. 30 the deadline for comments on its proposed rulemaking regarding the "roadworthiness" of intermodal equipment.

The proposed rule, issued in response to a petition from the American Trucking Associations and its Intermodal Conference, would make companies that hand off a container, chassis or trailers to a motor carrier responsible for the equipment's condition (3-29, p. 8). Without the rule, inspectors who find unsafe equipment or overweight loads may continue to penalize the driver and the trucking company receiving the container.

The Intermodal Conference said the driver is being held responsible for things he cannot reasonably be expected to check, such as the thickness of the brakes on the container chassis.

Under the proposal, the equipment provider -- usually a steamship company, railroad or terminal operator -- would have to assure that the chassis and load meet safety and weight requirements for highway travel.

The FHWA said it was extending the comment period in response to the petitioners' request for more time to collect and analyze data in addressing specific questions asked in the rulemaking notice.

For the full story, see the May 17 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.