FMCSA wants stricter HOS verification

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration wants carriers to more closely verify drivers' hours of service and supporting logs, according to a Federal Register notice.

The notice said public comments on the matter must be submitted by Jan. 3, 2005.

According to the agency, "Every motor carrier must effectively monitor its drivers' HOS and the accuracy of the information contained on the drivers' record of duty status by comparing paper records of duty status."

Those records include a long list of documents - from bills of lading, toll receipts and accident reports to credit card records, on-board computer reports and transponder records.

However, the notice said. "All records may be maintained through the use of automated, electronic or laser technology systems provided the motor carrier can produce an accurate, legible and unaltered printed copy of the required data; and provided that alternate means for signature verification are available."

According to the FMCSA notice, a carrier's obligation to verify hours of service and documentation extends beyond company drivers to include owner-operators in their service. The notice is DMS Docket Number FMCSA-1998-3706. Comments can be submitted on the Web at dms.dot.gov.