FMCSA interim final rule enforces motor carrier registration

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced an interim final rule that will require states to start enforcing federal motor carrier registration requirements or risk losing assistance funding. State law enforcement personnel will be required 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. "The registration enforcement rule provides our safety investigators and inspectors with a very powerful tool to take action against motor carriers who fail to obtain the required operating authority," said FMCSA Administrator Joseph M. Clapp. 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 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. Comments on the FMCSA interim final rule may be submitted electronically at dms.dot.gov/submit/ The interim final rule, Docket No. FMCSA-2002-13015, can be viewed after searching at dms.dot.gov/