Transportation 30

On June 29th we reported that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's "roadability" rule on intermodal container chassis would go into effect on June 30th.  While the majority of the "roadability" rule did take effect on that date, on August 20, 2010 the FMCSA extended until June 30, 2011 the compliance date for the portion of the rule requiring drivers and motor carriers to prepare a driver-vehicle inspection report ("DVIR") on an item of intermodal equipment if no damage, defects, or deficiences are discovered by, or reported to, the driver.

This action was taken to provide the FMCSA with sufficient time to address, through a notice-and-comment rulemaking proceeding, an issue raised in a petition for rulemaking submitted on March 31, 2010 by the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association ("OCEMA").  The OCEMA's petition argues that requiring the preparation and transmittal of no-defect DVIRs imposes an undue burden on drivers, motor carriers, intermodal equipment providers, and intermodal facilities nationwide.