FHWA first announced the plans for such a system back in 1996 . When trucking got its own agency within the federal administration , it inherited the task of developing the URS plan . Through the years , it ’ s been a rough path , but FMCSA issued the Final Rule for the Unified Registration System on August 23 , 2013 . URS requirements are being rolled out in a phased approach . The online registration application was available for first-time applicants on December 12 , 2015 . All applicants will begin using URS for registration and changes starting next month , on September 30 , 2016 . Enforcement for existing “ entities ” is effective December 31 .
The requirement for electronic filing of the Form BOC-3 , designation of process agent , goes into effect on September 30 , however , companies already registered with FMCSA as of that date will not be required to comply until December 31 , 2016 . According to the agency ’ s website ( www . fmcsa . dot . gov ), the FMCSA will also begin issuing a separate and distinct safety registration , consistent with the URS Final Rule and new statutory requirements . Existing registered carriers with an active U . S . DOT number ( who are not under an operations out-ofservice order or who have not had their operating authority registration revoked ) will hold safety registration when the URS is fully implemented .
All new applications for registration received on or after September 30 , 2016 will incur a $ 300 registration fee for each distinct registration type – including safety registration – and each requested operating authority registration . A new application for registration and fees will be required if an applicant ’ s registration has been revoked ( but the applicant will retain the same U . S . DOT number ). No fees will be required for businesses that are already registered and are simply filing a biennial update or a name / address / form of business change .
After September 30 , applicants seeking reinstatement of a suspended registration must pay a reinstatement fee of $ 10 for each request for reinstatement after that date . There have been some changes to the schedule for the URS roll-out and NTA advises carriers and regulated entities to get familiar with the outreach material and FAQs provided by the FMCSA on their website . There ’ s also a printout version of a URS brochure , a glossary and a “ need-to-know ” flyer .
22 | TIBO Magazine - Fall 2016
LOADING AND UNLOADING DELAYS
Finally , the Department of Transportation ’ s Inspector General has initiated an audit of commercial motor vehicle loading and unloading delays in response to provisions of the Fixing America ’ s Surface Transportation ( FAST ) Act highway bill , which became law late last year . The DOT Inspector General ( IG ) said that the FASTAct directs the FMCSA to issue regulations on collecting data on loading and unloading delays . The law also directs DOT to report on the impact of loading and unloading delays in areas such as the economy and efficiency of the transportation system .
“ Accordingly , we are initiating this audit ,” said DOT IG in a statement issued June 16 . “ Our objectives will be to ( 1 ) assess available data on motor carrier loading and unloading delays , and ( 2 ) provide information on measuring the potential effects of loading and unloading delays .” DOT noted that while hours-ofservice regulations limit the number of hours a driver can work per day to 14 hours , “ Delays at shipping and receiving facilities during cargo loading and unloading may result in travel delays and lost wages for drivers . Commercial truck drivers who experience these delays may then drive faster to make their deliveries within hours-of-service limits or operate beyond these limits and improperly log their driving time , thus increasing the risk of crashes and fatalities .”
Article By Wayne Schooling President & CEO North American Transportation Association
Wayne Schooling has been in the transportation business since 1962 . Starting out as a driver , Wayne later made the switch to management . Over the years , he has accumulated 22 various awards and honors , been involved with 6 professional affiliations , has spoken at several lectures , and earned 3 professional diplomas . Wayne is currently President Emeritus of the NorthAmerican Transportation Association ( NTA ).
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