Federal register grants

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced an interim final rule that will require states and state law enforcement personnel to place interstate motor carriers out of service and assess state penalties for not properly registering with the FMCSA as a for-hire carrier of passengers or freight.

Motor carriers placed out of service under this rule may have a hearing within 10 days of the out-of-service order to contest the out-of-service charge.

The interim final rule requires all states, as a condition of receiving Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) money, to place out of service any vehicles discovered operating without registration or proper operating authority. MCSAP provides states with money for roadside inspections and safety programs under federal grants.

Interstate carriers now submit a Form MCS-150, or a Motor Carrier Identification Report to the FMCSA. For-hire carriers must also apply for appropriate operating authority and file the required forms.

The interim final rule responds to requirements of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, which requires the FMCSA to enforce motor carrier registration requirements and assess penalties for noncompliance.

Written comments on this interim final rule should be sent by Oct 28, 2002, to the USDOT Docket Facility, Attn: Docket #FMCSA-2002-13015, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St SW, Washington DC 20590-0001 or faxed to 202-493-2251. Comments also may be submitted at http://dms.dot.gov/submit/. The interim final rule can be viewed at http://dms.dot.gov/.