WASHINGTON—The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill by a 359-65 vote on Dec. 3 authorizing $305 billion in funding for surface transportation projects for the next five years.
The legislation contains a controversial measure that would require NHTSA to create a standard mandating independent tire dealers to register tires at the point of sale and transmit registration information electronically to tire manufacturers.
At the request of the Tire Industry Association, House-Senate conferees on H.R. 22, also known as the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, added language directing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a study on requiring manufacturers to include electronic identification matching the information in the tire identification number on every tire, and to ensure the same type and format of electronic information technology is used on all tires.
However, the conferees made no timetable for the study and also eliminated language that would have required NHTSA to complete the study before considering the registration rule.
Among other things, the FAST Act would also:
• Require NHTSA to create minimum performance standards for tire fuel efficiency and wet traction;
• Require NHTSA to establish a user-friendly online tire recall search tool using TINs; and
• Require NHTSA to update its rule covering tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).
The Senate is expected to pass H.R. 22 on Dec. 4, and President Obama is expected to sign it as soon as it reaches his desk.