The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 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 appropriate 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) funds, to place out of service any vehicles discovered operating without registration or proper operating authority. MCSAP funds provide 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.
Written comments on this interim final rule should be sent by October 28, 2002, to the USDOT Docket Facility, Attn: Docket No. FMCSA-2002-13015, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington DC 20590-0001, or faxed to 202-493-2251. Comments may be submitted electronically at the DOT Web site.