Potential Benefits and Feasibility of Voluntary Compliance; Public Listening Sessions, 14206-14208 [2016-05928]

Download as PDF 14206 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 16, 2016 / Notices him in 2015 and certified that he does not have diabetic retinopathy. He holds a Class A CDL from New York. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES III. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA requests public comment from all interested persons on the exemption petitions described in this notice. We will consider all comments received before the close of business on the closing date indicated in the date section of the notice. FMCSA notes that section 4129 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users requires the Secretary to revise its diabetes exemption program established on September 3, 2003 (68 FR 52441).1 The revision must provide for individual assessment of drivers with diabetes mellitus, and be consistent with the criteria described in section 4018 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 31305). Section 4129 requires: (1) Elimination of the requirement for 3 years of experience operating CMVs while being treated with insulin; and (2) establishment of a specified minimum period of insulin use to demonstrate stable control of diabetes before being allowed to operate a CMV. In response to section 4129, FMCSA made immediate revisions to the diabetes exemption program established by the September 3, 2003 notice. FMCSA discontinued use of the 3-year driving experience and fulfilled the requirements of section 4129 while continuing to ensure that operation of CMVs by drivers with ITDM will achieve the requisite level of safety required of all exemptions granted under 49 U.S.C.. 31136 (e). Section 4129(d) also directed FMCSA to ensure that drivers of CMVs with ITDM are not held to a higher standard than other drivers, with the exception of limited operating, monitoring and medical requirements that are deemed medically necessary. The FMCSA concluded that all of the operating, monitoring and medical requirements set out in the September 3, 2003 notice, except as modified, were in compliance with section 4129(d). Therefore, all of the requirements set out in the September 3, 2003 notice, except as modified by the notice in the Federal Register on November 8, 2005 (70 FR 67777), remain in effect. 1 Section 4129(a) refers to the 2003 notice as a ‘‘final rule.’’ However, the 2003 notice did not issue a ‘‘final rule’’ but did establish the procedures and standards for issuing exemptions for drivers with ITDM. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Mar 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 IV. Submitting Comments You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission. To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert the docket number FMCSA–2015–0343 and click the search button. When the new screen appears, click on the blue ‘‘Comment Now!’’ button on the right hand side of the page. On the new page, enter information required including the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, selfaddressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. FMCSA may issue a final determination at any time after the close of the comment period. V. Viewing Comments and Documents To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this preamble, go to https://www.regulations.gov and in the search box insert the docket number FMCSA–2015–0343 and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, click ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ and you will find all documents and comments related to this notice. Issued on: March 10, 2016. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2016–05897 Filed 3–15–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2015–0124] Potential Benefits and Feasibility of Voluntary Compliance; Public Listening Sessions Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of public listening sessions; request for comments. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00128 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FMCSA announces two public listening sessions, on April 1 and 25, 2016, to solicit information on the potential benefits and feasibility of voluntary compliance and ways to credit carriers and drivers who initiate and establish programs that promote safety beyond the standards established in FMCSA regulations. The recently enacted Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act mandates that the FMCSA Administrator allow recognition for a motor carrier that installs advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs and other standards for use by motor carriers to receive recognition, including credit or an improved Safety Measurement System (SMS) percentile. FMCSA is soliciting comments to develop a process for identifying and reviewing these opportunities to provide credit to those carriers and drivers who go above and beyond the regulatory requirements. The listening sessions are intended to provide interested parties with an opportunity to share their views on this topic with Agency representatives, along with any data or analysis they may have. All comments will be transcribed and placed in the docket referenced above for FMCSA’s consideration. The entire proceedings of both meetings will be webcast. DATES: This docket will remain open indefinitely. The listening sessions will be held on Friday, April 1, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m., Local Time, and on Monday, April 25, 2016, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Local Time. If all interested parties have had the opportunity to comment, the sessions may conclude early. ADDRESSES: The April 1, 2016, listening session will be held at the Mid-America Trucking Show at the Kentucky Expo Center, 938 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY. The April 25, 2016, session will be held at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Spring 2016 Workshop at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL. In addition to attending the session in person, the Agency offers several ways to provide comments, as described below. Internet Address for Live Webcast. FMCSA will post specific information on how to participate via the Internet on the FMCSA Web site at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/calendar in advance of the listening session. You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA–2015–0124 using any of the following methods: SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 16, 2016 / Notices • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12– 140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Fax: 202–493–2251. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about the listening sessions: Ms. Shannon L. Watson, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590 or by telephone at 202–366– 2551. If you need sign language interpretation or any other accessibility accommodation, please contact Ms. Watson by Friday, March 18, 2016, to allow us to arrange for such services. FMCSA cannot guarantee that interpreter services requested on short notice will be provided. For other information about the Beyond Compliance program: Ms. Theresa Rowlett, (202) 366–6406, theresa.rowlett@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Submitting Comments If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (FMCSA–2015–0124), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission. To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, put the docket number, FMCSA–2015–0124, in the keyword box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ When the new screen appears, click on the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ button and type your comment into the text box on the following screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Mar 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period and may draft a notice of proposed rulemaking based on your comments and other information and analysis. Viewing Comments and Documents To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket number, FMCSA–2015–0124, in the keyword box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, click the ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ button and choose the document to review. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 on the ground floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Privacy Act In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL– 14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. I. Background The trucking and bus industries and the U.S. Department of Transportation have invested in the research, development, and testing of strategies and technologies to reduce truck and bus crashes. In September 2014, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) submitted a request to FMCSA to consider initiating a pilot program to investigate the benefits and feasibility of a voluntary compliance program. Citing research that has been underway for several years, the Agency established an Alternative Compliance team in December 2014, the goal of which was to analyze the concept and gather data to support how it might be developed and implemented. On March 30–31, 2015, the Agency’s Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) deliberated on the potential benefits and feasibility of a voluntary compliance program and ways to credit carriers and drivers who PO 00000 Frm 00129 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 14207 initiate and establish programs that promote safety beyond FMCSA’s regulations. MCSAC completed its deliberations during its June 15–16, 2015, meeting and subsequently submitted its final report on Task 15–1 to the Agency on September 21, 2015. A copy of the report is posted at the MCSAC’s Web site, https:// www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mcsac. On April 23, 2015 (80 FR 22770), the Agency published a notice requesting responses to specific questions and any supporting data the Agency should consider in the potential development of a Beyond Compliance program.1 The notice indicated that Beyond Compliance would include voluntary programs implemented by motor carriers that exceed regulatory requirements and improve the safety of commercial motor vehicles and drivers operating on the Nations’ roadways by reducing the number and severity of crashes. Beyond Compliance would not result in regulatory relief. Section 5222 of the recently enacted the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (Pub. L. 114–94, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1312) (FAST Act) mandates that the FMCSA Administrator allow recognition for a motor carrier that installs advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs and other standards for use by motor carriers to receive recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile. This provision requires the Administrator, after providing notice and comment, to develop a process for identifying and reviewing these opportunities to provide credit to those carriers and drivers who go above and beyond the regulatory requirements. FMCSA held similar listening sessions on January 12, 2016, at the American Bus Association’s (ABA) Marketplace in Louisville, Kentucky, and on January 31, 2016, at the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Expo 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. II. Meeting Participation and Information FMCSA Seeks From the Public The listening session is open to the public. Speakers should try to limit their remarks to 3–5 minutes. No preregistration is required. Attendees may submit material to the FMCSA staff at the session for inclusion in the pubic docket referenced at the beginning of this notice. 1 See https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-0423/pdf/2015-09463.pdf or https:// www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/notices/201509463. E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1 14208 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 51 / Wednesday, March 16, 2016 / Notices Those participating in the webcast will have the opportunity to submit comments online that will be read aloud at the session along with those comments made in the meeting rooms in Louisville and Chicago. FMCSA will docket the transcripts of the webcast, a separate transcription of each listening session prepared by an official court reporter, and all other materials submitted to FMCSA personnel. FMCSA would like to know the views of the public on the concept, with any data or analysis to support it, with regard to 3 basic areas: (1) What voluntary technologies or safety program best practices would be appropriate for beyond compliance; (2) What type of incentives would encourage motor carriers to invest in technologies and best practices programs; and (3) How FMCSA would verify that the voluntary technologies or safety programs are being implemented. Issued on: March 10, 2016. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2016–05928 Filed 3–15–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2014–0111] Hours of Service of Drivers: Application for Renewal of Illumination Fireworks, LLC and ACE Pyro, LLC Exemptions From the 14-Hour Rule During Independence Day Celebrations Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of applications for renewal of exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Illumination Fireworks, LLC and ACE Pyro, LLC (applicants) for a renewal of their exemption from the requirement that drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) must not drive following the 14th hour after coming on duty. The applicants requested the exemption for the period of June 28– July 8, for the next five years (2016– 2020) inclusive. The applicants were previously granted an exemption for drivers of 50 CMVs during the Independence Day period of June 28, 2015–July 8, 2015. The exemption would apply solely to the operation of drivers of 50 CMVs employed by the applicants in conjunction with staging mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:11 Mar 15, 2016 Jkt 238001 fireworks shows celebrating Independence Day during the proposed periods. During these periods, the CMV drivers employed by the applicants would be allowed to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14 hours. These drivers would not be allowed to drive after accumulating a total of 14 hours of on-duty time, following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and would continue to be subject to the 11-hour driving time limit, and the 60- and 70hour on-duty limits. The applicants maintain that the terms and conditions of the limited exemption would ensure a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety achieved without the exemption. DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 15, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA– 2014–0111 using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12–140, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12– 140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments received without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading below. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or visit Room W12–140 on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The on-line FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. If you want acknowledgment that we received your comments, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement page that appears after submitting comments on-line. Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these PO 00000 Frm 00130 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 comments, without edit, including any personal information the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this notice, contact Ms. Pearlie Robinson, FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards; Telephone: 202–366– 4325. Email: MCPSD@dot.gov. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366–9826. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Public Participation and Request for Comments FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and related materials. Submitting Comments If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (FMCSA–2014–0111), indicate the specific section of this document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for suggestions or recommendations. You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions regarding your submission. To submit your comment online, go to www.regulations.gov and put the docket number, ‘‘FMCSA–2014–0111’’ in the ‘‘Keyword’’ box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ When the new screen appears, click on ‘‘Comment Now!’’ button and type your comment into the text box in the following screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, selfaddressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period and may grant or not grant this application based on your comments. Viewing Comments and Documents To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to E:\FR\FM\16MRN1.SGM 16MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 51 (Wednesday, March 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14206-14208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05928]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2015-0124]


Potential Benefits and Feasibility of Voluntary Compliance; 
Public Listening Sessions

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

ACTION: Notice of public listening sessions; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces two public listening sessions, on April 1 and 
25, 2016, to solicit information on the potential benefits and 
feasibility of voluntary compliance and ways to credit carriers and 
drivers who initiate and establish programs that promote safety beyond 
the standards established in FMCSA regulations. The recently enacted 
Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act mandates that the 
FMCSA Administrator allow recognition for a motor carrier that installs 
advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, fleet 
safety management tools, technologies, and programs and other standards 
for use by motor carriers to receive recognition, including credit or 
an improved Safety Measurement System (SMS) percentile. FMCSA is 
soliciting comments to develop a process for identifying and reviewing 
these opportunities to provide credit to those carriers and drivers who 
go above and beyond the regulatory requirements. The listening sessions 
are intended to provide interested parties with an opportunity to share 
their views on this topic with Agency representatives, along with any 
data or analysis they may have. All comments will be transcribed and 
placed in the docket referenced above for FMCSA's consideration. The 
entire proceedings of both meetings will be webcast.

DATES: This docket will remain open indefinitely.
    The listening sessions will be held on Friday, April 1, 2016, from 
10:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m., Local Time, and on Monday, 
April 25, 2016, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 
p.m., Local Time. If all interested parties have had the opportunity to 
comment, the sessions may conclude early.

ADDRESSES: The April 1, 2016, listening session will be held at the 
Mid-America Trucking Show at the Kentucky Expo Center, 938 Phillips 
Lane, Louisville, KY. The April 25, 2016, session will be held at the 
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Spring 2016 Workshop at the Sheraton 
Grand Chicago, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL. In addition to 
attending the session in person, the Agency offers several ways to 
provide comments, as described below.
    Internet Address for Live Webcast. FMCSA will post specific 
information on how to participate via the Internet on the FMCSA Web 
site at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/calendar in advance of the listening session.
    You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-2015-0124 
using any of the following methods:

[[Page 14207]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West 
Building, Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For information about the listening sessions: Ms. Shannon L. 
Watson, Senior Policy Advisor, Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590 or by 
telephone at 202-366-2551.
    If you need sign language interpretation or any other accessibility 
accommodation, please contact Ms. Watson by Friday, March 18, 2016, to 
allow us to arrange for such services. FMCSA cannot guarantee that 
interpreter services requested on short notice will be provided.
    For other information about the Beyond Compliance program: Ms. 
Theresa Rowlett, (202) 366-6406, theresa.rowlett@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2015-0124), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material 
online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of 
these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing 
address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your 
document so that FMCSA can contact you if there are questions regarding 
your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, 
put the docket number, FMCSA-2015-0124, in the keyword box, and click 
``Search.'' When the new screen appears, click on the ``Comment Now!'' 
button and type your comment into the text box on the following screen. 
Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on 
behalf of a third party and then submit.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    We will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period and may draft a notice of proposed rulemaking based on 
your comments and other information and analysis.

Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this 
preamble as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket number, FMCSA-2015-0124, in the 
keyword box, and click ``Search.'' Next, click the ``Open Docket 
Folder'' button and choose the document to review. If you do not have 
access to the Internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the 
Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the 
DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these 
comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

I. Background

    The trucking and bus industries and the U.S. Department of 
Transportation have invested in the research, development, and testing 
of strategies and technologies to reduce truck and bus crashes. In 
September 2014, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) submitted 
a request to FMCSA to consider initiating a pilot program to 
investigate the benefits and feasibility of a voluntary compliance 
program. Citing research that has been underway for several years, the 
Agency established an Alternative Compliance team in December 2014, the 
goal of which was to analyze the concept and gather data to support how 
it might be developed and implemented.
    On March 30-31, 2015, the Agency's Motor Carrier Safety Advisory 
Committee (MCSAC) deliberated on the potential benefits and feasibility 
of a voluntary compliance program and ways to credit carriers and 
drivers who initiate and establish programs that promote safety beyond 
FMCSA's regulations. MCSAC completed its deliberations during its June 
15-16, 2015, meeting and subsequently submitted its final report on 
Task 15-1 to the Agency on September 21, 2015. A copy of the report is 
posted at the MCSAC's Web site, https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mcsac.
    On April 23, 2015 (80 FR 22770), the Agency published a notice 
requesting responses to specific questions and any supporting data the 
Agency should consider in the potential development of a Beyond 
Compliance program.\1\ The notice indicated that Beyond Compliance 
would include voluntary programs implemented by motor carriers that 
exceed regulatory requirements and improve the safety of commercial 
motor vehicles and drivers operating on the Nations' roadways by 
reducing the number and severity of crashes. Beyond Compliance would 
not result in regulatory relief.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-04-23/pdf/2015-09463.pdf or https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/notices/2015-09463.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Section 5222 of the recently enacted the Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation Act (Pub. L. 114-94, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1312) (FAST 
Act) mandates that the FMCSA Administrator allow recognition for a 
motor carrier that installs advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver 
fitness measures, fleet safety management tools, technologies, and 
programs and other standards for use by motor carriers to receive 
recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile. This 
provision requires the Administrator, after providing notice and 
comment, to develop a process for identifying and reviewing these 
opportunities to provide credit to those carriers and drivers who go 
above and beyond the regulatory requirements.
    FMCSA held similar listening sessions on January 12, 2016, at the 
American Bus Association's (ABA) Marketplace in Louisville, Kentucky, 
and on January 31, 2016, at the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) 
Expo 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.

II. Meeting Participation and Information FMCSA Seeks From the Public

    The listening session is open to the public. Speakers should try to 
limit their remarks to 3-5 minutes. No preregistration is required. 
Attendees may submit material to the FMCSA staff at the session for 
inclusion in the pubic docket referenced at the beginning of this 
notice.

[[Page 14208]]

    Those participating in the webcast will have the opportunity to 
submit comments online that will be read aloud at the session along 
with those comments made in the meeting rooms in Louisville and 
Chicago. FMCSA will docket the transcripts of the webcast, a separate 
transcription of each listening session prepared by an official court 
reporter, and all other materials submitted to FMCSA personnel.
    FMCSA would like to know the views of the public on the concept, 
with any data or analysis to support it, with regard to 3 basic areas: 
(1) What voluntary technologies or safety program best practices would 
be appropriate for beyond compliance; (2) What type of incentives would 
encourage motor carriers to invest in technologies and best practices 
programs; and (3) How FMCSA would verify that the voluntary 
technologies or safety programs are being implemented.

    Issued on: March 10, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-05928 Filed 3-15-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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