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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will amend regulations to allow a fifth intermodal equipment marking option — an announcement anticipated since January, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA).

This fifth option will enable chassis and other intermodal equipment to be identified through a system that matches it to the responsible intermodal equipment provider (IEP). The amendment to FMCSA’s final rule will help advance the Global Intermodal Equipment Registry (GIER), an industry-sponsored solution developed by IANA.

“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 Chief Executive Officer Joni Casey in a prepared statement.
 
A “virtual technology” alternative to intermodal equipment marking options that were mandated in FMCSA’s final roadability regulations, GIER can reduce users’ costs by avoiding the now-required physical capturing and remarking of intermodal equipment, according to IANA. GIER uses existing alpha-numeric control numbers that currently appear on intermodal equipment and links equipment to a provider via a newly required IEP USDOT number.
 
By month’s end, all IEPs will be able to begin registering their equipment in GIER, which is in the final beta testing stages, according to IANA.