WASHINGTON – Carriers that allow or require truck drivers to use hand-held cell phones in the U.S. can be fined up to $11,000, according to a federal proposal officially made public by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Individual drivers could pay up to $2,750 for violating the rule.

“Every time a commercial truck or bus driver takes his or her eyes off the road to use a cell phone, even for a few seconds, the driver places everyone around them at risk,” said US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who has consistently spoken out against distracted driving practices.

While it had considered banning all electronic devices while behind the wheel, the DOT decided to exempt hands-free technology as well as CB radios and push-to-talk devices as long as they don’t require the driver from entering data into a cell phone.

The NPRM is similar to a final rule that bans commercial drivers specifically from texting while driving.

The law, adds FMCSA, is not intended to restrict the driver’s use of a mobile phone when not driving.

"Because of the physical, manual, and visual distractions and the data indicating a safety risk associated with the use of hand-held mobile telephones, FMCSA believes it is in the interest of public safety to propose, at a minimum, a restriction on hand-held mobile telephone use while driving a CMV," the agency said in its proposal.

The FMCSA is also proposing to classify such offenses as a "serious" violation, which would mean two convictions in a three-year period could disqualify drivers for 60 days; and three convictions could lead to a 120-day disqualification.
The agency is opening up the proposal to comments.