DOT revises drug data forms
The Department of Transportation’s Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance (ODAPC) is revising the Management Information System (MIS) forms currently used within five DOT agencies – including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – and the U.S. Coast Guard for submission of annual drug and alcohol program data. DOT is streamlining the annual reporting of drug and alcohol program data to its agencies through use of a one-page MIS data collection form. The department is standardizing across the DOT agencies the information collected and reducing the amount of data reported by transportation employers. If a DOT agency requires supplemental data, the DOT agency will address those issues separately. For more information, visit http://dms.dot.gov/search and search Docket No. 15676.
FMCSA changes rules for passenger carriers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has modified the safety requirements governing the operation of commercial vans and small buses in interstate commerce. Under the new rule, the safety regulations will apply to all businesses operating commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport between nine and 15 passengers, including the driver, in interstate commerce for “direct compensation” when the vehicle is operated beyond a 75-air-mile radius from the location where the driver normally works. Affected motor carriers must comply with the rule by Nov. 10.
With the revisions, these motor carriers will now be subject to the same safety requirements as motor coach operations except for the commercial driver’s license and controlled substances and alcohol testing regulations. For more information on the rule, which was required by the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999, visit http://dms.dot.gov/search and search Docket No. 7017.
