Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Standards; Isuzu Motors America, Inc.'s Exemption Application, 15933 [E7-6141]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 63 / Tuesday, April 3, 2007 / Notices uses the form to seek information concerning the registrant’s docket number, name and address, and the reasons for the revocation request. Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of this revised information collection request, including: (1) The necessity and usefulness of the information collection for the FMCSA to meet its goal in reducing truck crashes; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burdens; (3) ways to enhance the quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) ways to minimize the collection burden without reducing the quality of the collected information. The agency will summarize and/or include your comments in the request for OMB’s clearance of this information collection. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 13902, 13903, 13904 and 13905; and 49 CFR 1.73. Issued on: March 28, 2007. Rose A. McMurray, Chief Safety Officer, Assistant Administrator. [FR Doc. E7–6140 Filed 4–2–07; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2003–14652] Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Standards; Isuzu Motors America, Inc.’s Exemption Application Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of final disposition. ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew Isuzu Motors America, Inc.’s (Isuzu) exemption for 19 of its drivers to enable them to test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States without a commercial driver’s license (CDL) issued by one of the States. Following the renewal one comment to the public docket was received. The Agency has considered the comment and continues to believe the knowledge and skills testing and training program that drivers must undergo to obtain a Japanese CDL ensures that each of these 19 drivers will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption. The Agency therefore declines to rescind or change the terms of the exemption. DATES: This exemption is effective from June 21, 2006 through June 20, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, Driver and Carrier 18:30 Apr 02, 2007 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may grant or renew an exemption from the CDL requirements in 49 CFR 383.23 for a maximum twoyear period if it finds ‘‘such exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption’’ (49 CFR 381.305 (a)). FMCSA evaluated Isuzu’s application on its merits and decided to grant the renewal of the exemption for 19 of Isuzu’s engineers and technicians for a two-year period, effective June 21, 2006 as previously announced in the Federal Register (71 FR 35726, June 21, 2006). Isuzu Application for Renewal of Exemption BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 Operations Division, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and Operations, MC– PSD, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590–0001. Telephone: 202–366–4009. E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov. Jkt 211001 Isuzu applied for renewal of an exemption from the 49 CFR 383.23 requirement that the operator of a CMV obtain a CDL. This section sets forth the standards that States must employ in issuing CDLs to drivers operating in commerce. In the United States, an individual must be a resident of a State in order to qualify for a CDL; 1 the Isuzu drivers for whom this exemption was sought are all residents of Japan. A copy of the Isuzu request for exemption from section 383.23 is in the docket identified at the beginning of this notice. Japanese Drivers The exemption granted in 2006 enables 19 drivers to test-drive in the United States Isuzu CMVs that are assembled, sold or primarily used in the U.S. Collectively, these drivers form a team of mechanics, vehicle test engineers, technicians and other employees. Comments The Agency received one comment in response to its request for public comments on this renewal (71 FR 35726, June 21, 2006). The commenter objected to the renewal based on the Japanese drivers’ potential lack of familiarity with United States highway and traffic conditions, and the operation 1 Although 49 CFR 393.23 indicates that these drivers could obtain a Nonresident CDL, very few States are currently issuing Nonresident CDLs due to security concerns. PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15933 of vehicles with steering wheels on the left side. FMCSA Response FMCSA does not agree with the objection. This is a renewal of a 2-year exemption. These drivers operated in the U.S. during the original exemption period, and Isuzu reported in its application for renewal that none of them received any traffic citations or was involved in any accidents from the time of the original exemption on October 16, 2003, through the date of its application for renewal. FMCSA Decision The FMCSA decision to grant the request to renew the exemption from section 383.23 was based on the merits of the application for exemption and the rigorous knowledge and skills testing of Japanese drivers concerning the safe operation of CMVs. All available evidence indicates that the 19 drivers covered by the exemption continue to operate as safely as they would have by complying with U.S. CDL regulations. Unless these drivers fail to maintain the conditions specified in the June 21, 2006, decision, the exemption will remain in effect through June 20, 2008. Issued on: March 28, 2007. Rose A. McMurray, Chief Safety Officer, Assistant Administrator. [FR Doc. E7–6141 Filed 4–2–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Transit Administration [FTA Docket No. ITA–2007–27772] Notice of Request for the Extension of Currently Approved Information Collection AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT. Notice and request for comments. ACTION: SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval to renew the following information collection: Pre-Award and Post-Delivery Review Requirements. The information to be collected for this program is necessary to certify that pre-award and post-delivery reviews will be conducted when using FTA funds to purchase revenue service vehicles. Comments must be submitted before June 4, 2007. DATES: E:\FR\FM\03APN1.SGM 03APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 3, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 15933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6141]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2003-14652]


Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Standards; Isuzu Motors 
America, Inc.'s Exemption Application

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew Isuzu Motors 
America, Inc.'s (Isuzu) exemption for 19 of its drivers to enable them 
to test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States 
without a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the 
States. Following the renewal one comment to the public docket was 
received. The Agency has considered the comment and continues to 
believe the knowledge and skills testing and training program that 
drivers must undergo to obtain a Japanese CDL ensures that each of 
these 19 drivers will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, 
or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption. 
The Agency therefore declines to rescind or change the terms of the 
exemption.

DATES: This exemption is effective from June 21, 2006 through June 20, 
2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, Driver and 
Carrier Operations Division, Office of Bus and Truck Standards and 
Operations, MC-PSD, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Telephone: 202-366-
4009. E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may grant or renew an 
exemption from the CDL requirements in 49 CFR 383.23 for a maximum two-
year period if it finds ``such exemption would likely achieve a level 
of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would 
be achieved absent such exemption'' (49 CFR 381.305 (a)). FMCSA 
evaluated Isuzu's application on its merits and decided to grant the 
renewal of the exemption for 19 of Isuzu's engineers and technicians 
for a two-year period, effective June 21, 2006 as previously announced 
in the Federal Register (71 FR 35726, June 21, 2006).

Isuzu Application for Renewal of Exemption

    Isuzu applied for renewal of an exemption from the 49 CFR 383.23 
requirement that the operator of a CMV obtain a CDL. This section sets 
forth the standards that States must employ in issuing CDLs to drivers 
operating in commerce. In the United States, an individual must be a 
resident of a State in order to qualify for a CDL; \1\ the Isuzu 
drivers for whom this exemption was sought are all residents of Japan. 
A copy of the Isuzu request for exemption from section 383.23 is in the 
docket identified at the beginning of this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Although 49 CFR 393.23 indicates that these drivers could 
obtain a Nonresident CDL, very few States are currently issuing 
Nonresident CDLs due to security concerns.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese Drivers

    The exemption granted in 2006 enables 19 drivers to test-drive in 
the United States Isuzu CMVs that are assembled, sold or primarily used 
in the U.S.
    Collectively, these drivers form a team of mechanics, vehicle test 
engineers, technicians and other employees.

Comments

    The Agency received one comment in response to its request for 
public comments on this renewal (71 FR 35726, June 21, 2006). The 
commenter objected to the renewal based on the Japanese drivers' 
potential lack of familiarity with United States highway and traffic 
conditions, and the operation of vehicles with steering wheels on the 
left side.

FMCSA Response

    FMCSA does not agree with the objection. This is a renewal of a 2-
year exemption. These drivers operated in the U.S. during the original 
exemption period, and Isuzu reported in its application for renewal 
that none of them received any traffic citations or was involved in any 
accidents from the time of the original exemption on October 16, 2003, 
through the date of its application for renewal.

FMCSA Decision

    The FMCSA decision to grant the request to renew the exemption from 
section 383.23 was based on the merits of the application for exemption 
and the rigorous knowledge and skills testing of Japanese drivers 
concerning the safe operation of CMVs. All available evidence indicates 
that the 19 drivers covered by the exemption continue to operate as 
safely as they would have by complying with U.S. CDL regulations.
    Unless these drivers fail to maintain the conditions specified in 
the June 21, 2006, decision, the exemption will remain in effect 
through June 20, 2008.

    Issued on: March 28, 2007.
Rose A. McMurray,
Chief Safety Officer, Assistant Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E7-6141 Filed 4-2-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P

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