Truckers Blast FMCSA Over Proposed Wireless Tracking Device Mandate

Public comments recently closed on a proposed federal mandate that would tag every commercial motor vehicle participating in interstate trucking with a wireless identification device. To say the freight transportation industry’s response was less than welcoming would be something of an understatement.

“FMCSA (Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration) requests public comment on whether the agency should amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to require every commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operating in interstate commerce to be equipped with electronic identification (ID) technology capable of wirelessly communicating a unique ID number when queried by a Federal or State motor carrier safety enforcement personnel,” the FMCSA states.

The advanced notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the Federal Register on Sept. 23 and the window to provide input closed on Nov. 22. The proposed mandate dates back to a request by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance during the Obama Administration. Proponents claim that installing unique electronic identifiers provides law enforcement with real-time data regarding so-called “high-risk carriers.”

“Mandating an electronic identifier requirement will not only save money in the long run – for both enforcement and industry – but will also enable more effective enforcement, improve safety and save thousands of lives every year,” according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

Opponents see wide-reaching problems that include another industry expense, the inability to protect truckers’ personal identity information, Big Brother-esque intrusions, and misuse. With more than 2,000 public comments posted on Regulations.gov, it is abundantly clear many freight transportation professionals want the seemingly endless and intrusive rule changes to stop. This is a sample of what trucking industry insiders had to say.

• “Stop further tightening the DOT knot around our necks for God sakes !!!! ELD covers this,” an owner-operator posted. “All this is commercial profiling at its finest. It’s an invasion of privacy and will only further hurt our industry with yet even more useless burdensome laws and financial requirements… LEAVE US ALONE AND LET US WORK !!!!!”
• “Truck drivers deserve to have privacy in their life. If there is a bad truck driver, then my question is, why is he still on the road, and how would this electronic records stop a bad truck driver? Please put people before corporate profits. Please put privacy first. Please do not pass bills that do not have the ability to maintain the information securely. We already have enough major corporations that can’t keep their information secure. We don’t need to create more data breaches for absolutely no reason,” Kristie Hernandez reportedly posted.
• “This along with the speed limiter will never go on any of my trucks, the over regulating and dumb laws you all come up with is insane, keep going and you won’t have anyone to drive any truck. Myself, along with many others, will not comply. More the government gets involved the worse it has gotten. Try fixing the homeless problem or the child trafficking first and leave us truckers alone,” posted under Will not comply llc.
• “No electronic ID’S. The FMCSA has done enough damage. They are trying to destroy the industry,” reportedly posted by Julie Horn.
• “This is just another electronic device on a truck that will fail and cause more issues than benefits. Have you not learned your lessons with the ELD failure. More accidents since that electronic device has been implemented,” reportedly posted by Sperry Rail Inc.
• “I am totally against this for several reasons, privacy and security reasons. Also, that’s another added cost to someone that probably won’t be able to afford it,” reportedly posted by Sharief Shakur.
• “I am an owner operator out of Columbus, I would like to express concern about the proposal to install electronic ID for trucks because of the fact that it will impede and hinder the liberties of truckers and it will harm the ability to make a decent income, it is also an invasion of privacy if I may say,” reportedly posted by Moses Iman. “DOT will be able to issue citations as we travel the highways without properly inspecting us and talking to us about their concerns, we have other concerns as broker transparency and the lack of truck parking in our nation please do not add to that without hearing from all the truckers that keep our nation moving.”

Sources: fmcsa.com, safetyandhealthmagazine.com, regulations.gov