The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has responded to a petition for reconsideration of the final "roadability" rule for intermodal container chassis and will amend the regulations to allow a fifth intermodal equipment marking option.

The announcement has been anticipated since January 2009. This fifth option will enable the identification of chassis and other intermodal equipment through a system that matches equipment to the responsible Intermodal Equipment Provider (IEP).

The amendment to the final rule will advance the Global Intermodal Equipment Registry (GIER), an industry sponsored solution that was developed by the Intermodal Association of North America. "I am very pleased that FMCSA has made the decision to allow for a fifth option. This decision positions GIER to move ahead and help the intermodal industry quickly and cost-effectively comply with the new roadability regulations," said IANA President and CEO Joni Casey.

GIER is a virtual technology alternative to the intermodal equipment marking options that were mandated in the final roadability regulations issued by FMCSA. It reduces costs for users by using technology to avoid the physical capturing and remarking of intermodal equipment to meet the regulatory requirements. Instead, GIER utilizes the existing unique alpha-numeric control numbers that currently appear on intermodal equipment.

This technology solution links equipment to the responsible intermodal equipment provider utilizing the newly-required IEP USDOT number. GIER also provides the critical IEP information needed to enable electronic processing of Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports in order to meet the FMCSA roadability regulations.

Beta testing for GIER currently is in its final stages.

Read "FMCSA Issues Intermodal Chassis 'Roadability' Regs," 12/18/2008