RSF 75, Federal Out-of-Service Reporting System

The objective of this project is to develop a Federal Out-of-Service Reporting System for FMCSA utilizing the data from Kentucky’s Automated Truck Screening Systems and information from Kentucky State Police – Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. In Kentucky, FOOS orders under code 950 are identified by looking at the USDOT number for the motor carrier responsible for safety (MCRFS). FMCSA requires commercial vehicle enforcement to pull-in, inspect, and detain any carriers identified with FOOS orders. However, not all trucks identified as having FOOS orders are detained at roadside. There are varying reasons for a lack of action on truck registrations indicating a 950 status. 1. Automated screening systems, like KATS, still have accuracy issues with LPRs and USDOT readers. Enforcement may pull in a truck after detecting an FOOS order but find the system misread the vehicle registration plate or the USDOT number. The truck must be released by law enforcement since it is operating legally. 2. The vehicle registration does not list the most current MCRFS. There may be a conflict between the MCRFS reflected on the vehicle registration plate and the USDOT listed on the side of the vehicle. This can happen when a truck breaks a lease with a motor carrier with an FOOS against them and leases on with another motor carrier without an FOOS order. In these cases, the truck is operating legally and therefore released. 3. The truck is owned or leased by a chameleon carrier attempting to evade an FOOS order. In these cases, a carrier will “reincarnate” their company by obtaining a new registration with slightly different contact information. There is no official process for addressing chameleon carriers, therefore officers and inspectors must release the truck and report it as a suspected chameleon carrier to FMCSA. 4. Drivers may run the scale or exit before an officer or inspector is able to conduct the inspection. Kentucky is sending more officers to mobile patrol and there are fewer personnel at the weigh stations. If a driver attempts to evade an FOOS order, there may not be an available officer to pursue the truck. 5. Vehicles may also be screened when enforcement is not present or monitoring the KATS systems. This happens when the commercial vehicle driver wants to utilize the rest haven services at the facility, but it is closed to enforcement activities. This represents only a small portion of the 40,000 trucks being screened daily. Also, some KATS systems are on roadways and screen vehicles 24 hours per day, 7 days per week regardless of the presence of enforcement. In these scenarios, there is no enforcement present to intercept the vehicle.