FMCSA proposes to document HOS through on-board recorders
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a proposal requiring certain motor carriers operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce to use electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) to document their drivers’ hours of service (HOS). Under the proposal, all motor carriers currently required to maintain records of duty status (RODS) for HOS recordkeeping would be required to use EOBRs to monitor their drivers’ compliance with HOS requirements. According to the proposal, all motor carriers currently required to use RODS would still be required to obtain and keep RODS. The proposal explains that motor carriers subject to the proposed EOBR requirements would be relieved of the requirements to retain supporting documents to verify driving time. FMCSA also proposes to require all motor carriers – both RODS and timecard users – to systematically monitor their drivers’ compliance with HOS requirements. Motor carriers would be given three years after the effective date of the final rule to comply with these requirements.