FMCSA Proposes to Allow for Electronic Recordkeeping and Signatures

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will consider a proposal to allow for electronic signatures and recordkeeping, the agency said in a notice. The proposal would allow for the flexibility to "conduct business using either electronic or traditional paper-based methods," it said. The proposed rule would apply "only to those documents that FMCSA’s regulations obligate entities or individuals to retain; it would not apply to forms or other documents that must be submitted directly to FMCSA," it said. The rule would also not apply to other agencies’ rules, "even if FMCSA requires compliance with those rules," the agency said. For example, some of FMCSA’s regulations cover hazardous materials and the proposed rule would not cover those requirements, it said. Comments on the proposal are due June 27.