The American Trucking Associations and intermodal equipment providers have agreed on federal legislation that would establish requirements for chassis maintenance.
ATA announced that its Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference had reached consensus with the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association and the Association of American Railroads on sharing responsibility for maintenance, repair and inspection of intermodal equipment.
On March 15, U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., introduced the Intermodal Equipment Safety and Responsibility Act of 2005, which was sent to the transportation committee. Brown sponsored similar legislation in 2003.
HB 1296 would make the “equipment controller” liable for all violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations, unless the violations are caused by a motor carrier or driver through negligence or willful misconduct.
The legislation would authorize $7 million a year to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to fund the first five years of the inspection program.
