The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has made some technical changes in its new electronic onboard recorder rule in response to concerns raised by makers of electronic onboard recorders and trucking interests.

The agency dropped its requirement that EOBRs be able to operate in extreme temperatures, changed its requirement for a certain type of USB connector, and announced plans to clarify its requirements for EOBR reporting.

Originally the agency wanted the devices to be able to tolerate a temperature range from minus 40 degrees to 185 degrees. But Qualcomm and other EOBR suppliers, and American Trucking Associations, said that the cost of adding such protection to EOBRs would be excessive, and is not necessary. Typical EOBRs are built to operate in a temperature range of 22 below zero to 158 degrees, Qualcomm said. The agency agreed that the requirement is not necessary.

The USB connector issue has to do with the agency's initial requirement that recorders be capable of transferring data through a wired communication standard using a Type B connector, as well as through certain wireless connections.

Finally, the agency agreed with EOBR supplier Xata that the fault code requirements in the rule need to be clarified. The agency said it will take on the issue during the implementation period before the rule goes into effect in June, 2012. The agency also intends to address Xata's request for additional data transfer options during this period.

The amendments appeared in yesterday's Federal Register (www.gpoaccess.gov/fr).