U.S. Legislative Issues

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has opened a 30-day public comment period on its plans to survey more than 1,000 drivers and motor carriers for input on ways that drivers can potentially be harassed by the use of electronic logging devices. The drivers will be surveyed randomly at truck stops to avoid being intimidated by their employers, FMCSA said in a Federal Register notice published on May 28.

FMCSA said it plans to randomly survey drivers at truck stops to avoid concerns that drivers will "not feel free to comment without the fear of intimidation by their superiors" when using devices such as electronic onboard recorders, or EOBRs. The EOBR harassment survey is in direct response to a 2011 federal court ruling rejecting FMCSA’s previous logging device rule that did not go far enough to protect drivers against potential harassment from supervisors using the devices.


EPA has announced a $9 million funding opportunity for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. The program is soliciting proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of tons of pollution produced by diesel engines and diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas. States, tribes, local governments, and non-profits, with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality, are eligible to apply for DERA grants.  

Funds awarded under this program cannot be used to fund emissions reductions mandated under Federal law. Equipment used for testing emissions or for fueling infrastructure is not eligible for funding. Buses, medium or heavy duty trucks, marine engines, and locomotives may qualify for funding. Non-road engines or vehicles used in construction, cargo handling (including at a port or airport), agriculture, mining, or energy production (including stationary generators and pumps) also qualify. Grant funds may be used for clean diesel projects that use: retrofit technologies that are verified or certified by either EPA or CARB; idle-reduction technologies that are EPA verified; aerodynamic technologies and low rolling resistance tires that are EPA verified; and Early replacement and repower with certified engine configurations (incremental costs only).

The deadline for submitting applications is June 25. For more information on the Request for Proposals and other documents, visit:  http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm