DOT Intends to Issue Rulemaking To Launch Safety Inspection Program For Intermodal Container Chassis
The Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued a press release announcing that the DOT intends to begin a rulemaking process to launch a safety inspection program for intermodal container chassis.
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According to the press release, this prospective inspection program will provide added oversight to help ensure that the trailer beds used by truckers to haul cargo containers are safe.
DOT sources explain that there is currently no timeline for issuing a proposed rule. These sources further state that an inspection program would not go into effect until the proposed rule's comment process was complete and a final rule was issued with a specified effective date(s).
(Intermodal container chassis are the flat trailer beds that cargo containers are loaded onto when being transported by truck. The press release states that they are used to transport more than $450 billion in cargo value entering and leaving the U.S. annually. Cargo containers being hauled by rail and shipping companies are regularly transferred to trucks before final delivery.)
Inspection Program Would be Modeled on Compliance Review Program for Trucking Community
The press release states that the new inspection program would be modeled on the compliance review program already in place for the nation's trucking community. Chassis providers would be required to obtain a USDOT number and display it on their chassis so that data could be captured. The press release adds that FMCSA would apply the same penalty structure and enforcement actions for equipment, including issuing out-of-service orders and revoking USDOT numbers when needed.
According to the press release, intermodal container chassis have been subject to routine safety inspections and review during federal and local enforcement actions. Most chassis are not owned by trucking companies and are not included as part of the existing compliance review process for truck operators. Within the coming weeks, the press release states that DOT would outline specific details and a timeline for a notice of proposed rulemaking on the issue.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 01/26/04 news, 04012625, for BP summary of FMCSA's withdrawal of a proposed rule on maintenance of intermodal container chassis and trailers.)
FMCSA Contact - Andy Beck (202) 366-8810
FMCSA Press Release (FMCSA 1-04, dated 01/26/04) available athttp://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/contactus/press/2004/012604.htm