Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Sept. 16, 2022:
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has signaled that it’s considering potential changes to the electronic logging device regulations as they pertain to pre-2000 engines, ELD malfunctions, ELD tech specs and more.
An advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments published in the Federal Register Friday morning seek feedback from the trucking industry and others on whether revisions should be made to certain parts of the ELD regs.
On the issue of pre-2000 engines being exempt from ELD regs, the FMCSA posited that many trucks with pre-2000 engines do in fact have engine control modules that could accommodate an ELD. The agency initially created the pre-2000 engine exemption because some of those trucks did not have ECMs. "Should FMCSA re-evaluate or modify the applicability of the current ELD regulation for rebuilt or remanufactured CMV engines or glider kits?" the agency asks.
As part of the same question, FMCSA requested "data regarding the size of the glider kit population utilizing pre-2000 engines.”
Other questions the agency is asking in its Federal Register notice include generally those aimed at identifying "ways to improve the clarity of current regulations on the use" of ELDs, and how to address "certain concerns about the technical specifications" raised by the trucking industry.
Specifically, in addition to the questions about the pre-2000 engine exemption, FMCSA also asks for comment on addressing ELD malfunctions; on the process for removing ELD products from FMCSA’s list of certified devices; on technical specifications; and on ELD certification by providers.
