Members of congress unveil underride guard legislation

From Transport Topics. Legislation that would require the sides of trailers and the front of trucks to be equipped with underride guards was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on Dec. 12. The companion bills, sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), would direct the U.S. Department of…

underride-guards

From Transport Topics.

Legislation that would require the sides of trailers and the front of trucks to be equipped with underride guards was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on Dec. 12.

The companion bills, sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to within a year of the bill’s passage issue a rule requiring side underride guards on trailers, semi-trailers, and single-unit trucks heavier than 10,000 pounds built on or after the rule’s effective date. From there, the industry would have one year to comply.

The secretary would have two years from the law’s adoption to issue a rule that extends to all of those types of equipment — meaning those built either before or after the rule’s effective date. The industry would have three years to comply.

The measure also would require DOT to issue a rule within two years of the bill’s enactment requiring front underride guards on commercial vehicles heavier than 10,000 pounds manufactured on or after the rule’s effective date. The industry would have a year to comply. Within three years after the bill’s passage, DOT would be required to mandate front underride guards on all commercial vehicles heavier than 10,000 pounds. From there, the industry would have three years to comply.

See the full story from Transport Topics online.

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