Commercial Driver's License Standards: Application for Exemption; Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo), 13947-13948 [E8-5177]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 51 / Friday, March 14, 2008 / Notices The meeting will be held at Honeywell Aerospace, 21111 N. 19th Ave., Presentation Room A, Phoenix, AZ. ADDRESSES: (1) RTCA Secretariat, 1828 L Street, NW., Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036; telephone (202) 833–9339; fax (202) 833–9434; web site https://www.rtca.org.; Mike Kroeger, (E) mike.kroeger@honeywell.com. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pursuant to section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92– 463, 5 U.S.C., Appendix 2), notice is hereby given for a Special Committee 135 meeting. The agenda will include: • March 11–13: • Opening Session (Welcome, Chairman’s Opening Remarks, Introductions). • Approval of Summary from the Fiftieth Meeting, RTCA Paper No. 292SC135–665. • Report on PMC Meeting and Release of DO–160F. • My presentation. • Change Summary. • Status of SC 21–16F. • Discuss & Approve Updated Terms of Reference. • Review Change Proposals for DO– 160G/Ed–14G. • Deferred Comments: 1–59. • New Comments. • Update from Section 16 & 21 Working Groups Meetings. • New/Unfinished Business. • Review & Revise Process & Procedures for Change for DO–160G. • Remove some of the human involvement (chairman and webmaster). • Automate number assignment & log updates. • Closing Plenary Session (Date and Place of Next Meeting). Attendance is open to the interested public but limited to space availability. With the approval of the chairmen, members of the public may present oral statements at the meeting. Persons wishing to present statements or obtain information should contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Members of the public may present a written statement to the committee at any time. rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Issued in Washington, DC, on February 15, 2008. Francisco Estrada C., RTCA Advisory Committee. [FR Doc. E8–4925 Filed 3–13–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–M VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:17 Mar 13, 2008 Jkt 214001 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Cancellation of Environmental Impact Statement; Fort Bend County, TX Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), TxDOT. ACTION: Cancellation of SH 122 EIS. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In Vol. 67, No. 179/Monday, September 16, 2002/Notices, FHWA issued a Notice of Intent to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be prepared for the proposed SH 122 roadway between SH 6 and SH 99 in Fort Bend County, Texas. The project is now cancelled; therefore, no further project activities will occur. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Donald E. Davis, Federal Highway Administration, Texas Division, 300 East 8th Street, Room 826, Austin, Texas 78701, Telephone (512) 536–5960. Issued on: March 7, 2008. Donald E. Davis, District Engineer, FHWA Texas Division. [FR Doc. E8–4994 Filed 3–13–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Environmental Impact Statement; Manatee County, FL Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of Cancellation of Notice of Intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice of cancellation to advise the public that we are no longer lead Federal Agency for preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed highway project in Manatee County, Florida. This is formal cancellation of the Notice of Intent that was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2004. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. George Hadley, Environmental Programs Coordinator, Federal Highway Administration, 545 John Knox Road, Suite 200, Tallahassee, Florida 32303, Telephone (850) 942–9650 extension 3011. The notice of intent to prepare an EIS for a proposed roadway/bridge project on Upper Manatee River Road, from SR 64 to U.S. 301, a distance of approximately 6 miles, is rescinded. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13947 (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Number 20.205, Highway Research, Planning and Construction. The regulations implementing Executive Order 12372 regarding inter-governmental consultation on Federal programs and activities apply to this program.) Issued on: March 5, 2008. George B. Hadley, Environmental Programs Coordinator, Tallahassee, Florida. [FR Doc. E8–4942 Filed 3–13–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–22–M DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2006–25756] Commercial Driver’s License Standards: Application for Exemption; Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) has applied for an exemption from the Federal requirement for a driver of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to hold a commercial drivers license (CDL). Volvo requests that the exemption cover three Swedish field test engineers who will test-drive CMVs for Volvo within the United States. These three Volvo employees all hold a valid Swedish CDL. Volvo states the exemption is needed to support a Volvo field test to meet future clean air standards, to test-drive Volvo prototype vehicles to verify results in ‘‘real world’’ environments, and to deliver the vehicles if necessary in the United States. Volvo believes the knowledge and skills tests and training program that Swedish drivers undergo to obtain a Swedish CDL ensures the exemption would provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by complying with the U.S. requirements for a CDL. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 14, 2008. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket Management System Number FMCSA– 2006–25756 by any of the following methods: • Web site: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket site. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM 14MRN1 rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES 13948 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 51 / Friday, March 14, 2008 / Notices • Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W–12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 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. ET, 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 www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or to the 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. 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 www.regulations.gov. Public Participation: The 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 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 Section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (Pub. L. VerDate Aug<31>2005 19:17 Mar 13, 2008 Jkt 214001 105–178, 112 Stat. 107, June 9, 1998) amended 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) to provide authority to grant exemptions from motor carrier safety regulations. Under its regulations, FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, including the conducting of any safety analyses. The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the application. The Agency reviews the safety analyses and the public comments, and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of the Agency must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with the reason for denying or, in the alternative, the specific person or class of persons receiving the exemption, and the regulatory provision or provisions from which exemption is granted. The notice must also specify the effective period of the exemption (up to 2 years), and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)). Request for Exemption Volvo has applied for an exemption from the commercial driver’s license (CDL) rules, specifically 49 CFR 383.23 that prescribes licensing requirements for drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate or intrastate commerce. Volvo requests the exemption because its driver-employees are citizens and residents of Sweden, and because they cannot apply for a CDL in any of the United States. A copy of the application is in Docket No. FMCSA–2006–25756. The exemption would allow three drivers to operate CMVs in interstate commerce as part of a team of drivers who will support a Volvo field test to meet future air quality standards, to testdrive Volvo prototype vehicles at its test site and in the vicinity around Phoenix, Arizona, to verify results in ‘‘real world’’ environments, and to deliver the vehicles if necessary in the U.S. The drivers are: Andreas Hamsten, CarlGustaf Theen, and Therese Johansson. Each driver holds a valid Swedish CDL, and as explained by Volvo in previous exemption requests, drivers applying for a Swedish-issued CDL must undergo a training program and pass a knowledge and skills tests. Volvo also stated in prior exemption requests that the knowledge and skills tests and PO 00000 Frm 00122 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 training program that Swedish drivers undergo to obtain a Swedish CDL ensure the exemption provides a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by complying with the U.S. requirement for a CDL. FMCSA has previously determined the process for obtaining a Swedishissued CDL is comparable to, or as effective as the Federal requirements of Part 383, and adequately assesses the driver’s ability to operate CMVs in the U.S. On prior occasions FMCSA has published notices concerning similar Volvo requests. The first notice was the granting of an exemption to Volvo for 11 Swedish CDL drivers permitting them to operate CMVs in the U.S. (71 FR 27780, May 12, 2006). Of these 11 drivers, Volvo requested and received renewal of the exemption for an additional 2 years (73 FR 6552, February 4, 2008). Notices granting an exemption to Volvo for ten Swedish CDL drivers permitting them to operate CMVs in the U.S. were published on April 23, 2007 (72 FR 20166, 20167). Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) and 31136(e), FMCSA requests public comment on Volvo’s application for an exemption from the CDL requirements of 49 CFR 383.23. The Agency will consider all comments received by close of business on April 14, 2008. Comments will be available for examination in the docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The Agency will consider to the extent practicable comments received in the public docket after the closing date of the comment period. Issued on: March 10, 2008. Charles A. Horan III, Acting Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development. [FR Doc. E8–5177 Filed 3–13–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2008–0073] Hours of Service of Drivers: Cummins, Inc. (Cummins) Application for Exemption Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\14MRN1.SGM 14MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 51 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13947-13948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5177]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2006-25756]


Commercial Driver's License Standards: Application for Exemption; 
Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo)

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

ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) has 
applied for an exemption from the Federal requirement for a driver of 
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to hold a commercial drivers license 
(CDL). Volvo requests that the exemption cover three Swedish field test 
engineers who will test-drive CMVs for Volvo within the United States. 
These three Volvo employees all hold a valid Swedish CDL. Volvo states 
the exemption is needed to support a Volvo field test to meet future 
clean air standards, to test-drive Volvo prototype vehicles to verify 
results in ``real world'' environments, and to deliver the vehicles if 
necessary in the United States. Volvo believes the knowledge and skills 
tests and training program that Swedish drivers undergo to obtain a 
Swedish CDL ensures the exemption would provide a level of safety that 
is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by 
complying with the U.S. requirements for a CDL.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 14, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket 
Management System Number FMCSA-2006-25756 by any of the following 
methods:
     Web site: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.

[[Page 13948]]

     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room W-12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 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. 
ET, 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 www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or to the 
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.
    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 www.regulations.gov.
    Public Participation: The 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 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

    Section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 107, June 9, 1998) amended 49 U.S.C. 31315 
and 31136(e) to provide authority to grant exemptions from motor 
carrier safety regulations. Under its regulations, FMCSA must publish a 
notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 
381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an opportunity to 
inspect the information relevant to the application, including the 
conducting of any safety analyses. The Agency must also provide an 
opportunity for public comment on the application.
    The Agency reviews the safety analyses and the public comments, and 
determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level 
of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be 
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of 
the Agency must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 
381.315(b)) with the reason for denying or, in the alternative, the 
specific person or class of persons receiving the exemption, and the 
regulatory provision or provisions from which exemption is granted. The 
notice must also specify the effective period of the exemption (up to 2 
years), and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The 
exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).

Request for Exemption

    Volvo has applied for an exemption from the commercial driver's 
license (CDL) rules, specifically 49 CFR 383.23 that prescribes 
licensing requirements for drivers operating commercial motor vehicles 
(CMVs) in interstate or intrastate commerce. Volvo requests the 
exemption because its driver-employees are citizens and residents of 
Sweden, and because they cannot apply for a CDL in any of the United 
States. A copy of the application is in Docket No. FMCSA-2006-25756.
    The exemption would allow three drivers to operate CMVs in 
interstate commerce as part of a team of drivers who will support a 
Volvo field test to meet future air quality standards, to test-drive 
Volvo prototype vehicles at its test site and in the vicinity around 
Phoenix, Arizona, to verify results in ``real world'' environments, and 
to deliver the vehicles if necessary in the U.S. The drivers are: 
Andreas Hamsten, Carl-Gustaf Theen, and Therese Johansson.
    Each driver holds a valid Swedish CDL, and as explained by Volvo in 
previous exemption requests, drivers applying for a Swedish-issued CDL 
must undergo a training program and pass a knowledge and skills tests. 
Volvo also stated in prior exemption requests that the knowledge and 
skills tests and training program that Swedish drivers undergo to 
obtain a Swedish CDL ensure the exemption provides a level of safety 
that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by 
complying with the U.S. requirement for a CDL.
    FMCSA has previously determined the process for obtaining a 
Swedish-issued CDL is comparable to, or as effective as the Federal 
requirements of Part 383, and adequately assesses the driver's ability 
to operate CMVs in the U.S. On prior occasions FMCSA has published 
notices concerning similar Volvo requests. The first notice was the 
granting of an exemption to Volvo for 11 Swedish CDL drivers permitting 
them to operate CMVs in the U.S. (71 FR 27780, May 12, 2006). Of these 
11 drivers, Volvo requested and received renewal of the exemption for 
an additional 2 years (73 FR 6552, February 4, 2008). Notices granting 
an exemption to Volvo for ten Swedish CDL drivers permitting them to 
operate CMVs in the U.S. were published on April 23, 2007 (72 FR 20166, 
20167).

Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) and 31136(e), FMCSA 
requests public comment on Volvo's application for an exemption from 
the CDL requirements of 49 CFR 383.23. The Agency will consider all 
comments received by close of business on April 14, 2008. Comments will 
be available for examination in the docket at the location listed under 
the ADDRESSES section of this notice. The Agency will consider to the 
extent practicable comments received in the public docket after the 
closing date of the comment period.

    Issued on: March 10, 2008.
Charles A. Horan III,
Acting Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.
 [FR Doc. E8-5177 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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