so, how long before they add the device to our cars? DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration 49 CFR Part 395 Global Positioning System (GPS) Technology AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of interpretation; request for participation in pilot demonstration project. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FHWA believes global positioning system (GPS) technology and many of the complementary safety management computer systems currently being used by the motor carrier industry, provide at least the same degree of monitoring accuracy as the ``automatic on-board recorders'' allowed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), 49 CFR 395.15. Accordingly, the FHWA is announcing a voluntary program under which a motor carrier with GPS technology and related safety management computer systems may enter into an agreement with the FHWA to use such systems in a pilot demonstration project to record and monitor drivers' hours of service in lieu of complying with the handwritten ``records of duty status'' requirement of the FMCSRs, 49 CFR 395.8. Consistent with the President's initiatives in reinventing government and regulatory reform, the project is intended to demonstrate whether the motor carrier industry can use the technology to improve compliance with the hours-of-service requirements in a manner which promotes safety and operational efficiency while reducing paperwork requirements. <snip> Background On September 30, 1988, the FHWA published a final rule (53 FR 38666) {interesting number?} to allow motor carriers, at their option, to use certain automatic on-board recording devices to record their drivers' records of duty status in lieu of the required handwritten records of duty status. This provision is now codified at 49 CFR 395.15. Many motor carriers that employed that technology found that their compliance with the hours-of-service regulations improved. New technologies are emerging, however, and the narrowly crafted on-board recorder provision is becoming obsolete. <snip> The FHWA is aware of the benefits of GPS technology to monitor and control drivers' compliance with the hours-of-service regulations. <snip> Premise: Section 395.2 of the FMCSRs defines an ``automatic on- board recording device'' as ``an electric, electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical device capable of recording driver's duty status information accurately and automatically as required by Sec. 395.15. The device must be integrally synchronized with specific operations of the commercial motor vehicle in which it is installed. At a minimum, the device must record engine use, road speed, miles driven, the date, and time of day.'' Section 395.15 of the FMCSRs provides motor carriers the authority to use ``automatic on-board recording devices'' to record their drivers' hours-of-service in lieu of complying with the handwritten record of duty status requirements of Sec. 395.8. <snip> Issued on: March 25, 1998. Gloria J. Jeff, Deputy Federal Highway Administrator. [FR Doc. 98-8882 Filed 4-3-98] ----------------------------------------- [Federal Register: April 6, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 65)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 16697-16699]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr06ap98-15]