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April 2023 FMCSA Updates
Early in April 2023 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) held a meeting to update the public on certain topics. This was the annual Analysis, Research and Technology (ART) Forum. Here is are a few of the topics that were covered.
The ART is still developing the Level 8 electronic inspection. This will be needed for all fully automated trucks. These “rolling” inspection will be done electronically while the truck is in motion. If, data collected deems that the vehicle needs inspection than interaction between the truck, carrier and law enforcement will happen.
Here are the bullet points from the slide presentation on Level 8 inspections:
· CSVA defined the Level 8 data requirements and will help identify participants.
· FMCSA will define the technical requirements for sending data to State Inspection systems and will evaluate and share data collected with participating carriers.
· Technical vendors will build and provide the transfer service to carriers.
· States will identify inspection locations to serve as test sites.
· Motor carriers will participate in test and acquire technology solution from participating vendors.
The FMCSA know that automated trucks are coming and developing rules and technology for them. But the main focus right now is driver issues and driver safety.
On the regulation front. Here were the key regulations they are looking into and developing. The below are the bullet points from the slide presentation:
· FMCSA is proceeding with a motor carrier-based speed limiter rulemaking by preparing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to follow up on the National Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) and FMCSA’s jointly issued Sept 7, 2016, notice of notice of prosed rulemaking on this subject.
· The Advance SNPRM announcing the plan was published on May 4, 2022 and the Agency received more than 15.600 public comments.
· The new rulemaking proposal would request comments on a requirement for motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a gross vehicle weight ratting for more than 26,001 pounds and equipped with an electronic engine control unit (ECU) capable of governing the maximum speed, to limit the CMV to a speed TBD by the rulemaking.
Also, the FMCSA is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on a directive from Congress to require Automatic Emergency Breaking Systems (AEB) on CMVs. This rule will cover performance standards and the motor carrier responsibility in maintaining the AEB system.
Another issue they are studying is the crash statistics for the two-year medical certification and the one-year certification. The study is ongoing but initial data shows that those that receive two-year certs have lower risk of being in a crash.
Some of the other things the FMCSA is studying/working/exploring is Under 21 driver apprenticeship program, compensation, detention and are third-party CDL testing sites are effective. They are also studying crashes that happen near truck parking.
Another big item they are looking into is comparing crash statistics between new entry carriers compared to well established carries. This is to find out if a difference in safety performance between them.
Here is a link to the FMCSA website that provides forum presentation material if you would like to look at more. You will also find years past material also at this site:
FMCSA ART forum presentation material
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