Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Standards; Volvo Trucks North America, Renewal of Exemption, 6552-6553 [E8-1931]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2008 / Notices
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
the next 3 years and the anticipated date
a toll agreement will be executed;
5. A description of the congestion or
air quality problems sought to be
addressed under the program;
6. A description of the performance
goals sought to be achieved under the
program, which should include goals
related to addressing the effects on
travel, traffic, and air quality; the
distribution of benefits and burdens on
users of the facility; the use of
alternative modes of transportation; and
the use of revenues to transportation or
impact mitigation needs;
7. Plans for regular monitoring and
reporting on the achievement of the
project’s performance goals;
8. An identification of the timing on
when the facility will begin tolling
motor vehicles and for how long a
period tolling will be in effect;
9. Description of the type of noncash
technology and standards that will be
applied to automate the tolling
operations; and
10. Description of tolling strategy
considered, for instance, fixed or
variable pricing.
The formal application should be
submitted directly through the State
Department of Transportation to the
appropriate FHWA Division
Administrator. The FHWA Division will
then forward the application to Mr.
Wayne Berman, c/o the Office of
Operations, HOTM, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, or
via e-mail at wayne.berman@dot.gov.
Upon finding that the application
provides relevant information
pertaining to the above listed factors,
the FHWA will determine whether to
accept the application and grant
authority to toll motor vehicles on the
facility. The FHWA’s determination will
based, in part, upon availability of
program slots and competition with
other pending and anticipated project
applications, including projects that
further the objectives of the ‘‘Congestion
Initiative’’ (see https://
www.fightgridlocknow.gov/), such as for
the Corridors of the Future or the Urban
Partnership Initiatives. Any applications
received by the FHWA prior to the
publication of this Notice need only
address the minimum eligibility factors
contained in section 1604(b)(4)(A) & (B)
of SAFETEA–LU. For further questions
about the formal application process,
please contact Mr. Wayne Berman,
Office of Operations at (202) 366–4069.
program participants must develop
performance goals for each project and
publish such goals for public comment.
These performance goals will first be
proposed by the State, public authority,
private entity, or other program
participant in the formal application to
participate in the program. These goals
must include goals related to addressing
the effects on travel, traffic, and air
quality; the distribution of benefits and
burdens on users of the facility; the use
of alternative modes of transportation;
and the use of revenues to
transportation or impact mitigation
needs. The FHWA will review the
performance goals and provide feedback
to the applicant if the FHWA has any
questions or comments. Once satisfied
with the project’s performance goals, the
FHWA will publish these goals in the
Federal Register and solicit public
comment, as required in section
1604(b).
Additionally, section 1604(b)(7) of
SAFETEA–LU requires the Secretary, in
cooperation with the State, public
authority, private entity, and other
program participants, to establish a
program for regular monitoring and
reporting on the achievement of the
performance goals. A description of the
monitoring program should be included
in the project’s application, and should
include a process whereby the State,
public authority, private entity, and
other program participant will report on
the project’s achievement of the
performance goals by March 31 of each
year. In the case where a private entity
has been designated by the State to carry
out the demonstration project, the
private entity shall work with the State
in evaluating the performance goals.
Once the FHWA is satisfied with the
monitoring and reporting program, the
FHWA will publish a description of the
program in the Federal Register and
solicit public comment.
The establishment of the performance
goals and a monitoring program
required by section 1604(b)(7) of
SAFETEA–LU, including the
publication of such goals and
monitoring in the Federal Register and
solicitation of public comment, does not
need to occur prior to the FHWA’s
approval of the State’s application.
Performance Goals and Monitoring
Pursuant to section 1604(b)(7) of
SAFETEA–LU, the Secretary, in
cooperation with the State, public
authority, private entity, and other
Issued on: January 24, 2008.
J. Richard Capka,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8–1932 Filed 2–1–08; 8:45 am]
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Authority: Section 1604(b) of Public Law
109–59; 23 U.S.C. 315; 49 CFR 1.48.
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA–2006–25756]
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)
Standards; Volvo Trucks North
America, Renewal of Exemption
Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemption;
request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: FMCSA renews Volvo Trucks
North America’s (Volvo) exemption
from the Agency’s requirement for
certain drivers of commercial motor
vehicles (CMVs) to hold a commercial
driver’s license (CDL). Volvo requested
that its exemption for eight Swedish
engineers and technicians be renewed to
enable these individuals to continue test
driving CMVs in the United States for
Volvo. All of the individuals hold a
valid Swedish CDL. FMCSA believes
the knowledge and skills testing and
training program that drivers must
undergo for a Swedish CDL ensures a
level of safety that is equivalent to, or
greater than, the level of safety that
would be obtained by complying with
the U.S. requirement for a CDL.
DATES: This decision is effective
February 4, 2008. Comments must be
received on or before March 5, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Federal Docket
Management System Number FMCSA–
2006–25756 by any of the following
methods:
• Web Site: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on the Federal electronic docket site.
• Fax: 1–202–493–2251.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation,
Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590–
0001.
• Hand Delivery: Ground Floor, Room
W12–140, DOT Building, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: All submissions must
include the Agency name and docket
number. For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on the exemption process,
see the Public Participation heading
below. Note that all comments received
will be posted without change to
https://www.regulations.gov, including
any personal information provided.
Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2008 / Notices
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to https://
www.regulations.gov at any time or to
the ground floor, Room W12–140, DOT
Building, New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search
the electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review DOT’s complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477–78) or you may visit https://
www.regulations.gov.
Public participation: The https://
www.regulations.gov Web site is
generally available 24 hours each day,
365 days each year. You can get
electronic submission and retrieval help
and guidelines under the ‘‘help’’ section
of the https://www.regulations.gov web
site and also at the DOT’s https://
docketsinfo.dot.gov Web site. If you
want us to notify you that we received
your comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope or
postcard or print the acknowledgement
page that appears after submitting
comments online.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Richard Clemente, FMCSA Driver and
Carrier Operations Division; Office of
Bus and Truck Standards and
Operations; Telephone: 202–366–4325.
E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e),
FMCSA may renew an exemption from
the commercial driver’s license (CDL)
requirements in 49 CFR 383.23 for a
maximum 2-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.’’ The
procedures for requesting an exemption
(including renewals) are prescribed in
49 CFR part 381. FMCSA evaluated
Volvo’s application for a renewal on its
merits and decided to grant renewal of
the exemption for eight of Volvo’s
engineers and technicians for a 2-year
period.
Volvo Application for an Exemption
Renewal
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo)
applied for the renewal of an exemption
from the commercial driver’s licensing
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:15 Feb 01, 2008
Jkt 214001
rules, specifically 49 CFR 383.23, which
establishes licensing requirements for
drivers operating commercial motor
vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.
The exemption was originally granted
on May 12, 2006 (71 FR 27780). Volvo
is seeking a renewal of this exemption
because the drivers it employs are
citizens and residents of Sweden, and as
such they cannot apply for a CDL from
a State in the United States. A copy of
the request for a renewal is in the docket
identified at the beginning of this
notice.
The renewal of the exemption will
enable the following drivers to operate
CMVs in the U.S. and continue to
support Volvo’s field tests to meet
future clean air standards, to test drive
prototype vehicles at their test site, and
to deliver the vehicles, if necessary.
These are eight of the eleven drivers
included in the original exemption:
Christer Milding, Jonas Gustafsson,
Sten-Ake Sandberg, Daniel Kanebratt,
Urban Walter, Fredrik Wattwil, Jonas
Nilsson, and Bjorn Nyman.
These drivers are a team of designers,
currently employed by Volvo in
Sweden, who want to continue driving
CMVs in the U.S. to test and evaluate
prototype and production CMVs in
order to design safe and well-tested
vehicles for use on U.S. highways. They
are experienced CMV operators with
valid Swedish-issued CDLs. It is
estimated that each driver would
continue to drive approximately 2,500
miles per year on U.S. roads. Because
each of the drivers was required to
satisfy strict regulations in Sweden to
obtain a CDL, and has extensive CMV
training and experience, Volvo believes
that the renewal of the exemption will
continue to achieve a level of safety
equivalent to the level of safety that
would be obtained absent the
exemption.
Method To Ensure an Equivalent or
Greater Level of Safety
Drivers applying to obtain a Swedish
CDL must take both a knowledge test
and skills test before a license to operate
CMVs is issued. This process is
considered comparable to, or as
effective as, the requirements of 49 CFR
part 383 and adequately assesses the
driver’s ability to operate CMVs in the
U.S.
Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C.
31315(b)(4) and 31136(e), FMCSA
requests public comments on the
renewal of Volvo’s exemption from the
requirements of 49 CFR 383.23. The
Agency requests that interested parties
with specific data concerning the safety
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6553
records of the drivers listed in this
notice submit comments by March 5,
2008. FMCSA will review all comments
received by this date and determine
whether the renewal of the exemption is
consistent with the requirements of 49
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e). Comments
received after the comment closing date
will be filed in the public docket and
will be considered to the extent
practicable, but FMCSA may make its
final decision at any time after the close
of the comment period.
FMCSA believes the requirements for
a renewal of an exemption under 49
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) can be
satisfied by initially granting the
renewal and then requesting and
subsequently evaluating comments
submitted by interested parties. As
indicated above, the Agency previously
published a notice of final disposition
announcing its decision to exempt these
eight Volvo drivers from the CDL
requirement in 49 CFR 383.23. The
decision to renew the exemption for
these drivers was based on the merits of
each driver’s demonstrated knowledge
and skills about the safe operation of
CMVs, and only after careful
consideration of the comments
submitted in response to the February 9,
2006 original notice. The notice of
application for exemption indicated that
detailed information about the
qualifications and experience of each of
the drivers was provided in Volvo’s
application and that a copy of the
application is in the docket referenced
at the beginning of this notice.
Interested parties or organizations
possessing information that would
otherwise show that any or all of these
drivers are not currently achieving the
requisite statutory level of safety should
immediately notify FMCSA. The
Agency will evaluate any adverse
information submitted and, if safety is
being compromised or if the
continuation of the exemption is not
consistent with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4)
and 31136(e), FMCSA will take
immediate steps to revoke the
exemption of the driver(s) in question.
Issued on: January 28, 2008.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and
Program Development.
[FR Doc. E8–1931 Filed 2–1–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6552-6553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1931]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2006-25756]
Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Standards; Volvo Trucks North
America, Renewal of Exemption
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of renewal of exemption; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: FMCSA renews Volvo Trucks North America's (Volvo) exemption
from the Agency's requirement for certain drivers of commercial motor
vehicles (CMVs) to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL). Volvo
requested that its exemption for eight Swedish engineers and
technicians be renewed to enable these individuals to continue test
driving CMVs in the United States for Volvo. All of the individuals
hold a valid Swedish CDL. FMCSA believes the knowledge and skills
testing and training program that drivers must undergo for a Swedish
CDL ensures a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than,
the level of safety that would be obtained by complying with the U.S.
requirement for a CDL.
DATES: This decision is effective February 4, 2008. Comments must be
received on or before March 5, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket
Management System Number FMCSA-2006-25756 by any of the following
methods:
Web Site: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket
site.
Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington,
DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Ground Floor, Room W12-140, DOT Building,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and
docket number. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and
additional information on the exemption process, see the Public
Participation heading below. Note that all comments received will be
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
[[Page 6553]]
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov at any time or to
the ground floor, Room W12-140, DOT Building, New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit https://
www.regulations.gov.
Public participation: The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is
generally available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You can get
electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the
``help'' section of the https://www.regulations.gov web site and also at
the DOT's https://docketsinfo.dot.gov Web site. If you want us to notify
you that we received your comments, please include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page that
appears after submitting comments online.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Clemente, FMCSA Driver and
Carrier Operations Division; Office of Bus and Truck Standards and
Operations; Telephone: 202-366-4325. E-mail: MCPSD@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Under 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA may renew an exemption
from the commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements in 49 CFR
383.23 for a maximum 2-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.'' The
procedures for requesting an exemption (including renewals) are
prescribed in 49 CFR part 381. FMCSA evaluated Volvo's application for
a renewal on its merits and decided to grant renewal of the exemption
for eight of Volvo's engineers and technicians for a 2-year period.
Volvo Application for an Exemption Renewal
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) applied for the renewal of an
exemption from the commercial driver's licensing rules, specifically 49
CFR 383.23, which establishes licensing requirements for drivers
operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The
exemption was originally granted on May 12, 2006 (71 FR 27780). Volvo
is seeking a renewal of this exemption because the drivers it employs
are citizens and residents of Sweden, and as such they cannot apply for
a CDL from a State in the United States. A copy of the request for a
renewal is in the docket identified at the beginning of this notice.
The renewal of the exemption will enable the following drivers to
operate CMVs in the U.S. and continue to support Volvo's field tests to
meet future clean air standards, to test drive prototype vehicles at
their test site, and to deliver the vehicles, if necessary. These are
eight of the eleven drivers included in the original exemption:
Christer Milding, Jonas Gustafsson, Sten-Ake Sandberg, Daniel
Kanebratt, Urban Walter, Fredrik Wattwil, Jonas Nilsson, and Bjorn
Nyman.
These drivers are a team of designers, currently employed by Volvo
in Sweden, who want to continue driving CMVs in the U.S. to test and
evaluate prototype and production CMVs in order to design safe and
well-tested vehicles for use on U.S. highways. They are experienced CMV
operators with valid Swedish-issued CDLs. It is estimated that each
driver would continue to drive approximately 2,500 miles per year on
U.S. roads. Because each of the drivers was required to satisfy strict
regulations in Sweden to obtain a CDL, and has extensive CMV training
and experience, Volvo believes that the renewal of the exemption will
continue to achieve a level of safety equivalent to the level of safety
that would be obtained absent the exemption.
Method To Ensure an Equivalent or Greater Level of Safety
Drivers applying to obtain a Swedish CDL must take both a knowledge
test and skills test before a license to operate CMVs is issued. This
process is considered comparable to, or as effective as, the
requirements of 49 CFR part 383 and adequately assesses the driver's
ability to operate CMVs in the U.S.
Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) and 31136(e), FMCSA
requests public comments on the renewal of Volvo's exemption from the
requirements of 49 CFR 383.23. The Agency requests that interested
parties with specific data concerning the safety records of the drivers
listed in this notice submit comments by March 5, 2008. FMCSA will
review all comments received by this date and determine whether the
renewal of the exemption is consistent with the requirements of 49
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e). Comments received after the comment closing
date will be filed in the public docket and will be considered to the
extent practicable, but FMCSA may make its final decision at any time
after the close of the comment period.
FMCSA believes the requirements for a renewal of an exemption under
49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) can be satisfied by initially granting the
renewal and then requesting and subsequently evaluating comments
submitted by interested parties. As indicated above, the Agency
previously published a notice of final disposition announcing its
decision to exempt these eight Volvo drivers from the CDL requirement
in 49 CFR 383.23. The decision to renew the exemption for these drivers
was based on the merits of each driver's demonstrated knowledge and
skills about the safe operation of CMVs, and only after careful
consideration of the comments submitted in response to the February 9,
2006 original notice. The notice of application for exemption indicated
that detailed information about the qualifications and experience of
each of the drivers was provided in Volvo's application and that a copy
of the application is in the docket referenced at the beginning of this
notice.
Interested parties or organizations possessing information that
would otherwise show that any or all of these drivers are not currently
achieving the requisite statutory level of safety should immediately
notify FMCSA. The Agency will evaluate any adverse information
submitted and, if safety is being compromised or if the continuation of
the exemption is not consistent with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) and
31136(e), FMCSA will take immediate steps to revoke the exemption of
the driver(s) in question.
Issued on: January 28, 2008.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E8-1931 Filed 2-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
