WASHINGTON The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is warning over-the-road truck and bus operators that many of the onboard recording devices being produced for the commercial vehicle industry fail to meet federal standards.

The FMCSA has no regulatory authority over companies that manufacture onboard recording devices but say truckers and bus operators should be alert before purchasing the devices that replace paper driver logs and perform other functions.

Some of the problems the FMCSA has found include:

"Illegal" devices that allow for driver tampering

Devices that only report information periodically

Devices that fail to perform basic functions.

One FMCSA official told a trucking conference that some manufacturers of onboard recorders are claiming their electronic equipment meets federal standards when, in fact, they do not.

Such claims are premature, said the FMCSA official, since the agency has not yet issued a final ruling on standards for electronic onboard recorders used for hours-of-service compliance.

Automatic onboard recording devices have been around for 20-25 years. Electronic onboard recorders are a new generation of the technology that, so far, has found only modest acceptance in the motorcoach industry.

Currently, manufacturers self-certify their devices, a practice that has come under close scrutiny during FMCSAs standard-setting process for the devices. A key issue being debated is how these devices are to be certified.

One leading trucking expert doesnt think deceptive sales techniques are widespread.

A spokesman for EOBR manufacturer Xata Corp., said he cautions customers about purchasing new technology until FMCSA finalizes its standards. He also recommends that any trip-recording technology purchased be linked to the engine electronic control module. "Anyone buying anything else right now is spending their money foolishly," he said.