91ÊÓƵ

September 8, 1999 9:55 AM, EDT

New federal rules will suspend the licenses of commercial truck drivers who fail to slow, stop or check for oncoming trains at railroad highway-grade crossings.

The rules will also assess civil fines of up to $10,000 on carriers that knowingly allow or require drivers to violate the regulations.

The Federal Highway Administration rejected arguments on the part of American Trucking Associations, the Truckload Carriers Association and others that penalizing carriers for driver violations was unfair.

A first violation will bring a commercial driver license disqualification of at least 60 days; two in any three-year period carry a suspension of at least 120 days; and three in three years will bring at least a year’s disqualification.

The rules go into effect Oct. 4.

The final rule, which responds to a requirement enacted in the ICC Termination Act of 1995, also mandates that states adopt the federal sanctions and penalties for these violations. If they don’t, they run the risk of losing their Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program and highway funding.