Inside This Issue...

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced the availability of Commercial Driver's License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grant funding as authorized by Section 4124 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The program is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for improving states' implementation of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, including expenses for computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel, training, and quality control. Grants made under this program may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or buildings. The agency in each state designated as the primary driver licensing agency responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the CDL program is eligible to apply for grant funding. To apply for funding, applicants must register with the grants.gov Web site and submit an application in accordance with instructions provided. FMCSA will initially consider funding for applications submitted by Jan. 14, 2007 for qualified applicants. If additional funding remains available, applications submitted after Jan. 14, 2007 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Funds will not be available for allocation until fiscal year 2007 appropriations legislation is passed and signed into law.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has published a final rule that codifies existing FTA administrative guidance for safety-sensitive employees of ferryboat operations that are subject to the drug and alcohol (D&A) testing regulations of both FTA and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). This rule will provide regulatory relief to ferryboat operators who were previously subject to duplicative D&A testing regulations, and improve ferryboat operator compliance with FTA D&A testing regulations. This rule does not adopt the proposed rule with respect to certain motor carrier operators who are subject to the D&A testing regulations of both FTA and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). FTA will retain its current guidance and interpretation with respect to these motor carrier operators. This rule is effective Jan. 2, 2007. For more information on program issues, contact Gerald Powers, Office of Safety and Security, at (617) 494-2395. For legal issues, contact Shauna Coleman, Office of the Chief Counsel, at (202) 366-4011.

Program planning has started for the 2007 Annual International Conference in South Dakota. E-mail your "hot buttons," leadership concerns and professional development goals by Dec. 15 for consideration on the conference agenda. The conference program planning committee also will be selecting a limited number of presentation ideas from associate member submissions. If you are interested in presenting a topic, serving on a panel, or providing a speaker, submit the Session Proposal Form by Dec. 15, 2006.

If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following surveys.

• Pennsylvania – Financial Responsibility Reporting Insurance Cancellation (Ends 12/15/06)
• Ohio – Low & Under Speed Vehicle Inquiry (Ends 12/13/2006)
• Maryland – Barcodes on Vehicle Registrations (Ends 12/08/2006)

The Customer Service Excellence Awards recognizes individuals, teams and agencies who display exemplary service and either support, promote or provide a true quality service driven culture or experience. The awards process has changed. The former Star Search and Excellence in Customer Service award categories have been merged to form the new Customer Service Excellence Awards. Winners are selected at the regional level, with those receiving the highest scores gaining eligibility for the coveted International Customer Service Excellence Award in each of the categories. Submit your nominations before Feb. 2, 2007. More information can be found on the Customer Service Excellence Awards Web page.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued three new safety recommendations. These include Safety Recommendation H-06-28, which calls for legislation to prohibit cellular telephone use by Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders with a passenger-carrying or school bus endorsement, while driving under the authority of that endorsement, except in emergencies.

On Nov. 15, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released its annual report on the Top Management Challenges facing the Department in FY 2007. In considering the items for this year's list, DOT continued to focus on its key strategic goals to improve transportation safety, capacity, and efficiency. The report was included in the Department's FY 2006 Performance and Accountability Report.

The Transportation Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has released a new report entitled "The Road Safety Monitor: Drugs and Driving." Based on TIRF’s national opinion poll, the report examines the attitudes and opinions of Canadians regarding marijuana/hashish use and driving. It also examines the number and characteristics of Canadians who drive after using marijuana/hashish. The report shows that an estimated 520,000 Canadians have driven after using marijuana or hashish in the past year. There has also been an increase in the percentage of Canadians who admit to driving after using marijuana or hashish. In 2002, 1.5 percent of Canadians admitted to driving after usage at some time in the past year; this climbed to 2.4 percent in 2005. Primary financial support for "The Road Safety Monitor" is provided by Transport Canada, the Brewers of Canada, and Toyota Canada. Additional financial support comes from the Canada Safety Council. To download the report, see TIRF's Web site.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced the establishment of the Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Advisory Committee. Section 4135 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires creation of a “task force” to study and address current impediments and foreseeable challenges to the CDL Program’s effectiveness and measures needed to realize the full safety potential of the program. The FMCSA is chartering an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to satisfy this SAFETEA-LU requirement. The Secretary of Transportation will appoint to the CDL Advisory Committee 15 individuals representing stakeholders. The CDL Advisory Committee will begin work by the end of calendar year 2006. Applications must be received by Jan. 2, 2007. FMCSA will periodically call for applications, as necessary. Please forward any recommendations for participation on the advisory committee to AAMVA's Karen Morton at kmorton@aamva.org.

On Nov. 16, the Senate passed a resolution (S Res 618) designating Nov. 26, 2006 as “Drive Safer Sunday." Since the day after Thanskgiving is the busiest highway traffic day of the year, the Senate encouraged the following: high schools, colleges, universities, administrators, teachers, primary schools, and secondary schools launch campus-wide educational campaigns to urge students to be careful about safety when driving; national trucking firms to alert drivers to be especially focused on driving safely during the heaviest traffic day of the year, and to publicize the importance of the day using Citizen’s band (CB) radios and in truck stops across the nation; clergy to remind members to travel safely when attending services and gatherings; law enforcement personnel to remind drivers and passengers to drive particularly safely on the Sunday after Thanksgiving; and everyone to use the Sunday after Thanksgiving as an opportunity to educate themselves about highway safety.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) intends to establish a system of records under the Privacy Act of 1974. The proposal will take effect on Jan. 8, 2007 if no comments are received. If comments are received, the comments will be considered and, where adopted, the documents will be republished with changes. The "Correspondence Tracking System" will contain records and related correspondence on individuals and groups who have sent correspondence expressing opinions or concerns, or are requesting information from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and DOT about matters under FHWA’s purview.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) intends to establish another system of records under the Privacy Act of 1974. If no comments are received, the proposal will become effective on Jan. 12, 2007. If comments are received, the comments will be considered and, where adopted, the documents will be republished with changes. The system, "SAFETYNET," covers companies and drivers of commercial motor vehicles (i.e., trucks with a gross combination weight of 10,001 pounds or more, buses used to transport more than 9 passengers [including the driver], and vehicles transporting hazardous materials). It also includes information on shipping and freight-forwarding companies registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). SAFETYNET systems deployed and operated by state agencies may also contain information on motor carrier companies and operations residing in that state. Specific personal information related to individuals is maintained on: drivers associated with vehicle inspections and crashes related to the motor carrier companies in the system; FMCSA and state officials with authorized access to SAFETYNET via personally assigned user accounts; and federal and state Safety Investigators (SI) performing motor carrier enforcement duties.

FMCSA has announced the next public meeting of its Medical Review Board (MRB). The MRB will continue deliberations on current FMCSA medical standards, as well as consider recommendations for new science-based standards and guidelines to ensure the physical condition of drivers is adequate to enable them to safely operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), the meeting is open to the public. The MRB meeting will be held from 9 am to 12:30 pm on Jan. 10, 2007 at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room 2230, Washington, DC 20590-0001. The public must enter through the Southwest Visitor Entrance and comply with building security procedures, including provision of appropriate identification prior to being accompanied by a federal employee to the meeting rooms. You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket Management System (DMS) Docket Number FMCSA-2006-26274 at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit or http://www.regulations.gov.