Head of Canada Truck Group Backs EOBRs for All Trucks Operating in North America

From Tranposrt Topics. Byline: Michele Fuetsch

Electronic onboard recorders should be mandatory for all truckers operating in North America, the president of the Canadian Trucking Alliance said.

“It is rather bizarre that, in 2010, our industry relies on an archaic paper-based system when the rest of the world and the rest of society . . . is moving to a digital electronic world,” David Bradley said.

Mandatory EOBR regulations would “level the playing field to make sure that everybody is complying” with hours-of-service rules in whatever country they are operating in, Bradley told Transport Topics.

CTA, Canada’s largest trucking advocacy group, has 4,500 carriers as members.

On both sides of the U.S.-Canada border, “I think there’s a lot of inventive bookkeeping going on,” Bradley said. “There are people who have a variety of reasons why they might be opposed, but a good number of them simply don’t want to have that sort of oversight, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to bring an end to.”

If governments are serious about safety and enforcing HOS rules, he added, they “should be using all of the tools” at their disposal to promote compliance.

Bradley commented in connection with a position paper CTA issued March 15 that called for a universal, mandatory EOBR rule in Canada and, eventually, in all of North America.

Transportation officials in both Canada and the United States are currently conducting policy reviews on EOBRs.

In the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering expanding a proposed rule written during the Bush administration to require EOBRs for companies that fail several HOS reviews.

Current FMCSA officials said the agency might issue a new proposal before the end of the year.

In Canada, the Council of Motor Transport Administrators is working on a proposed EOBR rule to be issued in October.

In a position paper filed with the council, CTA urged policymakers to address unresolved issues with EOBRs that include a “reasonable, common-sense” approach to enforcement.

For instance, if truckers were stopped for an HOS violation 10 minutes from home or a rest area, then the industry likely would oppose an EOBR rule, CTA said.

The CTA position paper also called for harmonization of the rules between the United States and Canada and for driver protections that ensure EOBRs are used only to monitor hours, not to remotely control shutdowns or lockouts.

CTA also said that any EOBR rule should not prescribe specific types of technology and that policymakers should not be drawn into a large-versus-small carrier argument over cost effects.

“Anytime someone is breaking the law in order to run their business, they’re getting, arguably, a leg up on somebody else,” Bradley said.

EOBRs would help to set trucking rates that accurately “reflect what it really costs to run a trucking business safely,” he added.

In the United States, American Trucking Associations does not support a universal, mandatory EOBR rule.

ATA supports an FMCSA “remedial” approach that would require fleets with poor HOS compliance to use EOBRs, said Dave Osiecki, ATA’s senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs.

“We think that that’s a good idea,” Osiecki said.

According to ATA policy, there would have to be “sound evidence” that EOBRs enhance safety before a mandatory, universal EOBR rule would be justified.

As more trucks have EOBRs, Osiecki said, increased data indeed might show the devices increase safety. For now, though, the evidence shows only that EOBRs increase compliance to HOS rules, he said.

Published Comments in the Federal Register Regarding NPRM 395.16

These are my official comments regarding NPRM 395.16, published om 17 April 2007.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 395.16

I believe that we'll find the new EOBR rule, when it is made public, to be largely consistent with the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)395.16. This NPRM is a reasonable compromise, weighing the needs of small and large companies. It allows competing technologies, is reasonable and clear. There are some troublesome areas, but it's about as good as we can hope for when this many parties are involved.

Paperless Drivers' Logs Whitepaper

With today's news that the White House has released the new EOBR rule, I decided to re-post the link to this free whitepaper on commercial drivers' paperless DOT logs.

White House Clears Final EOBR Rule

A final rule mandating electronic onboard recorders for carriers that have a history of serious noncompliance with hours-of-service rules could be just days away now that the White House Office of Management and Budget has cleared the measure. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is expected soon to publish the rule in the Federal Register. Details of the final rule won’t be public until FMCSA announces it.

WEBINAR: CSA 2010’s impact on the driver force

As carriers begin to cope with the realities of Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010, they’ll look at retention and recruitment in new ways. In a webinar produced by Overdrive and Truckers News, Don Osterberg, Schneider National’s senior vice president of safety, security and driver training, will examine how fleets need to evaluate drivers’ safety performance and whether the new federal safety initiative will create a shortage of drivers with sufficiently clean records.

CTA Reiterates Support for EOBRs

The Canadian Trucking Alliance has reiterated its support for an electronic on-board recorder mandate in response to a discussion paper prepared by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.

ATRI Seeks Comments on HOS - Online Survey

The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) is continuing data collection and analysis to measure Hours-of-Service impacts on driver safety. For this latest effort, data is requested on overall safety performance for calendar year 2009.

WEBINAR: Driving Change; March 18 at 1:00 PM CDT

Driving Change Webinar March 18 at 1:00 PM CDT

A short, informational webinar to learn about the tools and processes available to you. You can lead the change in your fleet by decreasing costs and improving the work environment.

How is fuel economy influenced by driver behavior?

How can I reduce my fleet’s emissions?

Will improved driving skills reduce maintenance costs?

How can I coach my drivers by measuring safe driving habits?

We'll discuss how successful fleets are answering these questions.

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2010 Workshop, April 19-22 in San Antonio, TX

WASHINGTON, DC (March 4, 2010) – Truck and bus safety specialists, together with law enforcement, government and industry from across North America, will convene at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 2010 Workshop, April 19-22 in San Antonio, TX, to assess processes and procedures that will improve commercial motor vehicle and overall highway transportation safety.