Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey

Sheleen Dumas
Department of Commerce
15 March 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 48 (Monday, March 15, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14305-14306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05231]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Census Bureau


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey

AGENCY: Census Bureau, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information 
collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information 
collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. The 
purpose of this notice is to allow for 60 days of public comment on the 
proposed reinstatement, with change, of the Vehicle Inventory and Use 
Survey, prior to the submission of the information collection request 
(ICR) to OMB for approval.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this proposed 
information collection must be received on or before May 14, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by

[[Page 14306]]

email to Thomas.J.Smith@census.gov. Please reference Vehicle Inventory 
and Use Survey in the subject line of your comments. You may also 
submit comments, identified by Docket Number USBC-2021-0008, to the 
Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. All comments 
received are part of the public record. No comments will be posted to 
http://www.regulations.gov for public viewing until after the comment 
period has closed. Comments will generally be posted without change. 
All Personally Identifiable Information (for example, name and address) 
voluntarily submitted by the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do 
not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or 
protected information. You may submit attachments to electronic 
comments in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF file formats.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
specific questions related to collection activities should be directed 
to Kelly Holder, VIUS Branch Chief, (301) 763-3462, 
Kelly.A.Holder@census.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Census Bureau plans to conduct a reinstated Vehicle Inventory 
and Use Survey (VIUS) in 2022. VIUS was the principal data source on 
the physical and operational characteristics of the nation's truck 
population from 1963 through 2002 and was conducted every five years in 
conjunction with the Quinquennial Economic Census. The survey was 
discontinued prior to the 2007 survey due to budget constraints. The 
discontinuation of the survey left a significant void in the U.S. 
Department of Transportation's knowledge of the U.S. truck fleet. The 
Bureau of Transportation Statistics is restoring the VIUS with its 
partners, the Federal Highway Administration and the U.S. Department of 
Energy. The U.S. Census Bureau will collect VIUS under the mandatory 
requirements of Title 13, Sections 131 and 182, of the U.S.C. as in 
previous economic censuses.
    VIUS utilizes a sample of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) for 
trucks registered in the 50 states and District of Columbia. The sample 
includes both personally-owned and commercially-owned trucks. VIUS 
excludes trucks owned by federal, state, and local governments; 
ambulances; buses; motor homes; farm tractors; unpowered trailer units; 
and passenger cars.
    Since the last VIUS was conducted nearly 20 years ago, some of the 
questionnaire content required updates. In particular, questions 
related to vehicle technology have been modified to reflect more recent 
safety and fuel economy features. Modified content includes emerging 
technologies such as driver assistance systems, collision warning and 
collision intervention features, driving control, and parking 
assistance features. New questions were also added based on stakeholder 
input collected during the years since the 2002 VIUS. This new content 
includes topics such as towing capacity, maintenance costs, time spent 
idling, use of overweight permits, and mileage driven while cubed out 
or weighed out.
    VIUS data are of considerable value to government, business, 
academia, and the general public. Data on the number and types of 
vehicles and how they are used are important in studying the future 
growth of transportation and are needed in calculating fees and cost 
allocations among highway users. The data also are important in 
evaluating safety risks to highway travelers and in assessing the 
energy efficiency and environmental impact of the nation's truck fleet.

II. Method of Collection

    The Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey will use two modes of data 
collection: Electronic instrument and paper questionnaire. All 
respondents will receive an initial letter with instructions to log 
into the electronic instrument. Respondents will be encouraged to use 
the electronic instrument method, however, a paper questionnaire will 
be sent as part of the non-response follow-up operation.
    Data are collected via two questionnaires based on truck type, one 
for light trucks (pickups, SUVs, minivans) and one for heavy trucks 
(including truck tractors). Content differs somewhat between the two 
forms.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0607-0892.
    Form Number(s): TC-9501 (Light Trucks) and TC-9502 (Heavy Trucks).
    Type of Review: Regular submission, Request for a Reinstatement, 
with Change, of a Previously Approved Collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals and businesses.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 150,000.
    Estimated Time per Response: 65 minutes per vehicle.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 162,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (This is not the cost of 
respondents' time, but the indirect costs respondents may incur for 
such things as purchases of specialized software or hardware needed to 
report, or expenditures for accounting or records maintenance services 
required specifically by the collection.)
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13, United States Code, Sections 131, 182, 
224, and 225.

IV. Request for Comments

    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department/Bureau 
to: (a) Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department, including whether 
the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy 
of our estimate of the time and cost burden for this proposed 
collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Evaluate ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the reporting burden 
on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. We will include, or summarize, each comment in our 
request to OMB to approve this ICR. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly 
available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2021-05231 Filed 3-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P