04/22/1997 01:35 PM Senate TRA

                                                                               
             HB  83 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE INSPECTIONS                            
                                                                             
                                                                             
 Number 434                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WARD  announced that  CSHB 83(STA)  was the final order of          
 business before the committee.                                                
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN , Prime Sponsor, said that this matter was             
 brought to his attention by the Ombudsman's office.  The bill would           
 repeal an unnecessary law that requires commercial vehicle                    
 inspections twice a year; that law has not been followed.  The                
 industry itself has a much better program that complies with the              
 federal government and provides more assurance of safety on the               
 highways.  Representative Martin hoped that the committee would               
 support CSHB 83(STA).                                                         
                                                                               
  SERGEANT BRAD BROWN , Alaska State Troopers, explained that through          
 the years, there has been an effective size and weight enforcement            
 program which includes commercial vehicle enforcement.  In 1985/86            
 commercial vehicle enforcement dwindled.  Although AS 28.32 was               
 introduced as an inspection program, no fiscal note was applied to            
 that which resulted in no commercial vehicle enforcement for a                
 time.  Alaska then became fourth in the nation for fatality rates             
 related to commercial vehicles.  The troopers and the Alaska                  
 Highway Safety Planning did review the development of a commercial            
 vehicle enforcement unit.  Throughout this process the state,                 
 federal, and industry have worked together.  Initially, the out of            
 service rate was 88 to 90 percent of commercial vehicles inspected            
 in the Anchorage area in 1990.  That has been reduced to about a 23           
 percent out of service rate.  The accident rates have also been               
 significantly reduced with regard to commercial vehicles actually             
 contributing to an accident.  Sergeant Brown informed the committee           
 that he was out of state attending a hazardous material conference.           
 During this conference, Alaska has been the envy of many states.              
 By the industry and legislative regulatory process, Alaska has                
 brought itself in compliance with all the Motor Carrier Safety                
 Regulations, lowered the accident rate, and generally improved the            
 safety and operation of Alaska's highways.  Sergeant Brown                    
 expressed the desire to continue that through HB 83 by continuing             
 to operate under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations which           
 require one inspection per year, establish the criteria to be met             
 for those inspections and the qualifications required of the                  
 inspectors.                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR LINCOLN  referred to page 2, line 16 which speaks to the             
 compliance of 49 C.F.R. 396, but there is not a definition in the             
 bill speaking to that provision.   REPRESENTATIVE MARTIN  did not             
 know.                                                                         
                                                                               
 Number 509                                                                    
                                                                               
  FRANK DILLON , Executive Director of the Alaska Trucking                     
 Association, explained that this bill would replace a statute that            
 has been on the books, but has not been into effect nor would it              
 have worked well had it been put into effect.  This legislation               
 solidifies the adoption of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety                   
 Regulation which is an extensive system of safety regulations                 
 applying to truck users, the equipment standards, and the                     
 operators.  Mr. Dillon said that most of the companies in Alaska              
 have been doing this type of inspection as well as following these            
 rules for the last four years as a result of the administrative               
 adoption of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations at the               
 Department of Public Safety.                                                  
                                                                               
 Mr. Dillon pointed out that the mandated annual inspection will not           
 be the only inspection the trucks receive.  Everyday the truck is             
 inspected by the driver before operating the vehicle, the driver is           
 required to file a written report at the end of the work shift                
 listing any deficiencies.  There are also mandated programs                   
 requiring record keeping and regular maintenance checks.                      
 Furthermore, a truck can be stopped at any time by the commercial             
 vehicle unit and be inspected on the road.  Mr. Dillon echoed Mr.             
 Brown's comments regarding the reduction in the number of                     
 accidents.  In conclusion, Mr. Dillon requested that the committee            
 support CSHB 83(STA).                                                         
                                                                               
  SENATOR LINCOLN  determined from Mr. Dillon's statements that all of         
 the truckers understand the language of 49 C.F.R. 396.   FRANK                
 DILLON  noted that the process of education continues.  There are             
 some 25,000 to 30,000 commercial drivers license holders in Alaska            
 and some 35,000 to 45,000 commercial vehicles which are not                   
 concentrated in one area or with one company.  Mr. Dillon said that           
 the association along with DOT and the troopers have been educating           
 truck users throughout Alaska about these rules.  Mr. Dillon                  
 pointed out the substantial penalty imposed on those ignoring the             
 inspections and the criteria.                                                 
                                                                               
  CHAIRMAN WARD  inquired as to the pleasure of the committee.                 
                                                                               
  SENATOR WILKEN  moved to report CSHB 83(STA) out of committee with           
 individual recommendations and accompanying fiscal notes.  Without            
 objection, it was so ordered.