Page 10 - Arkansas Trucking Report Volume 22 Issue 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

registrant to set up an International
Registration Plan (IRP) account online,
in addition to new features for existing
customers to upload documents and
instantaneously print cab cards online.
Online customers will also be allowed
thirty (30) days to submit additional
source documents.
The new online processes are
the result of Arkansas Trucking
Association’s efforts to modernize the
process and service carriers who are
registering in Arkansas with more con-
venient options.
SPLIT SLEEPER BERTH PILOT a positive or no effect on subsequent The Arkansas Department of
PROGRAM DELAYED FOR neurobehavioral performance. Finance and Administration made the
FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT Currently, drivers who use sleeper upgrades following legislation supported
Plans for flexible sleeper berth berths must divide their non-duty time by the Arkansas Trucking Association
pilot program are behind schedule with one eight-hour period and another
after another public comment period two-hour period. The exempted 240
closed on Nov. 27. The Federal Motor drivers participating in the pilot will
Carrier Safety Administration website be allowed to split the 10 hours in the
said the pilot was supposed to begin in sleeper berth (using splits of three and
July 2017. According to Sean Garney, seven hours, four and six hours, or two
director of safety policy for American five-hour periods).
Trucking Associations, the pilot pro- The added flexibility will permit
gram is now expected sometime next drivers to rest whenever they are tired
spring or summer. or to take advantage of congested times
The pilot program, which is expect- by getting rest.
ed to cost $2.6 million, will be designed The most recent comment period
to answer the question of whether split closed with 143 comments.
sleeper berth time affects driver safety and sponsored by Rep. Andy Davis.
performance and fatigue levels based NEW ONLINE VEHICLE Earlier this year, when signing the new
on data from ELDs, onboard monitor- REGISTRATION SERVICES bill into law, Gov. Hutchinson praised
ing systems, roadside violations, wrist AVAILABLE JAN. 1 the industry, saying the law is “just a
actigraphy, pyschomotor vigilance tests, Arkansas Trucking Association perfect example of improving efficiency
subjective sleepiness ratings, sleep logs, applauds the announcement of for the consumer, but it’s also reflective
and other data such as vehicle miles new and modernized services from of the trucking industry governing your
traveled. the Department of Finance and own affairs. You say, ‘There’s a problem;
Proponents of the pilot hope to Administration’s Office of Motor let’s get a solution for it.’”
corroborate the findings of most sleep Vehicles. Beginning January 1, 2018,
studies. Well-timed split sleep has either new services will allow a first-time 

10 Issue 6 2017 | ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT