Hours of Service of Drivers, 45940-45941 [2019-18978]

Download as PDF 45940 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2019 / Proposed Rules issues raised by MCC and ABA, or that otherwise may be relevant to this proceeding. Issued on: August 26, 2019. Raymond P. Martinez, Administrator. [FR Doc. 2019–18949 Filed 8–30–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 49 CFR Part 395 [Docket No. FMCSA–2018–0248] RIN 2126–AC19 Hours of Service of Drivers Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of public listening session. AGENCY: The FMCSA announces that it will hold a public listening session concerning potential changes to its hours-of-service rules for truck drivers. On August 22, 2019, FMCSA published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on proposed changes to its hours-of-service (HOS) requirements to provide greater flexibility for drivers who are subject to the HOS rules without adversely affecting safety. The listening session will allow interested persons to present comments, views, and relevant research on topics mentioned above. All comments will be transcribed and placed in the rulemaking docket for the FMCSA’s consideration. The session will be webcast to allow interested parties to participate remotely. DATES: The listening session will be held on September 17, 2019. The listening session will begin at 1:00 p.m. local time and end at 3 p.m., or earlier, if all participants wishing to express their views have done so. ADDRESSES: The listening session will be held at the U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA–2018–0248 using any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// 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. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:08 Aug 30, 2019 Jkt 247001 • 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. • Submissions Containing Confidential Business Information (CBI): Mr. Brian Dahlin, Chief, Regulatory Analysis Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting comments, including collection of information comments for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For special accommodations for any of these HOS listening sessions, such as sign language interpretation, contact Shannon L. Watson, Senior Policy Advisor, (202) 385–2395 or at FMCSAregs@dot.gov to allow us to arrange for such services. For information concerning the hours-ofservice rules, contact Ms. La Tonya Mimms, Chief, Driver and Carrier Operations Division, (202) 366–4325, mcpsd@dot.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Public Participation and Request for Comments A. Submitting Comments If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this NPRM (Docket No. FMCSA–2018– 0248), indicate the specific section of this document to which each section 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–2018–0248, 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. PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 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, self-addressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period for the ANPRM. Late comments will be considered to the extent practicable. Confidential Business Information Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your submission contains commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to the listening session, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark any page of your submission that constitutes CBI as ‘‘PROPIN’’ to indicate it contains proprietary information. FMCSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM and associated listening sessions. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Brian Dahlin, Chief, Regulatory Analysis Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Any commentary that FMCSA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period for the NPRM. B. 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–2018–0248, 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. E:\FR\FM\03SEP1.SGM 03SEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 170 / Tuesday, September 3, 2019 / Proposed Rules C. 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. khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS On August 14, 2019, FMCSA issued an NPRM concerning amendments to its hours-of-service (HOS) requirements to provide greater flexibility for drivers who are subject to the HOS rules without adversely affecting safety. First, the Agency proposed to change the short-haul exception to the record of duty status (RODS) requirement available to certain commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers by lengthening the drivers’ maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles (115.08 statute miles) to 150 air miles (172.6 statute miles). Second, the Agency proposed to modify the adverse driving conditions exception by extending by 2 hours the maximum window during which driving is permitted. Third, the Agency proposed to increase flexibility for the 30-minute break rule by requiring a break after 8 hours of driving time (instead of on-duty time), and allowing the requirement to be satisfied by an on-duty break from driving, rather than requiring an off-duty break. Fourth, the Agency proposed to modify the sleeper-berth exception to allow drivers to split their required 10-hours off duty into two periods: One period of at least 7 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth and the other period of not less than 2 consecutive hours, either off duty or in the sleeper berth. Neither period would count against the driver’s 14-hour driving window. Fifth, the Agency proposed to allow one off-duty break of at least 30 minutes, but not more than 3 hours, that would pause a truck driver’s 14-hour driving window, provided the driver takes 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the end of the work shift. The NPRM also posed questions about other HOS-related topics the Agency is considering as part of this rulemaking. The listening sessions will provide interested persons the opportunity to share their views on these topics with representatives of the Agency. 17:08 Aug 30, 2019 Issued on: August 27, 2019. Alan Hanson, Deputy Administrator. [FR Doc. 2019–18978 Filed 8–30–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P II. Background VerDate Sep<11>2014 III. Meeting Participation The listening sessions are open to the public. Speakers’ remarks will be limited to 10 minutes each. The public may submit material to the FMCSA staff at each session for inclusion in the public docket, FMCSA–2018–0248. Jkt 247001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 635 RIN 0648–XG955 Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Amendment 12 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Notice of availability; notice of intent; request for comments. AGENCY: NMFS announces the availability of a scoping document and its intent to initiate an amendment to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP). Given recent revisions to the National Standard guidelines and recent NMFS policy directives, which aim to improve and streamline fishery management procedures to enhance their utility for managers and the public, NMFS has determined it is necessary to: Reassess current HMS FMP objectives to reflect the changing needs of the HMS fisheries, and potentially adopt revised FMP objectives; review stock status determination criteria (SDC) for internationally-managed HMS and adopt such criteria, rather than continue to apply domestic criteria, which at times differ; review the standardized bycatch reporting methodology (SBRM) for certain HMS fisheries and update, if necessary; consider triggers for initiating allocation reviews for quota-managed HMS stocks and adopt such triggers, if appropriate; and consider revising the publication date of the annual HMS Stock Assessment and Fishery Evaluation (SAFE) Report and adopt such revision. The goal of the scoping document is to examine potential options and modify domestic HMS fishery management measures to be SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 45941 consistent with the national standards guidelines and recent NMFS policy directives, and to request additional information and input from consulting parties and the public prior to development of Amendment 12 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic HMS FMP. DATES: One webinar will be held on October 9, 2019. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for webinar date and instructions. NMFS requests receipt of any comments on the scoping document by November 4, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the scoping document, identified by NOAA–NMFS–2019–0096, by any of the following methods: • Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to www.regulations.gov/ #!docketDetail;D=NOAA-NMFS-20190096, click the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ icon, complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments. • Mail: Submit written comments to Rick Pearson, NMFS/SF1, 263 13th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701. Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period, may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the public record and generally will be posted for public viewing on www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous comments (enter ‘‘N/ A’’ in the required fields if you wish to remain anonymous). Copies of the scoping document and supporting documents are available from the HMS Management Division website at: https:// www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/ amendment-12-2006-consolidated-hmsfishery-management-plan-msaguidelines-and-national or constituents can contact Rick Pearson by phone at 727–824–5399 or Sarah McLaughlin at 978–281–9260 for hard copies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Pearson at 727–824–5399 or Sarah McLaughlin at 978–281–9260. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act) requires that any FMP or FMP amendment be consistent with ten National Standards. E:\FR\FM\03SEP1.SGM 03SEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45940-45941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-18978]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 395

[Docket No. FMCSA-2018-0248]
RIN 2126-AC19


Hours of Service of Drivers

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

ACTION: Notice of public listening session.

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

SUMMARY: The FMCSA announces that it will hold a public listening 
session concerning potential changes to its hours-of-service rules for 
truck drivers. On August 22, 2019, FMCSA published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on proposed changes to its hours-of-
service (HOS) requirements to provide greater flexibility for drivers 
who are subject to the HOS rules without adversely affecting safety. 
The listening session will allow interested persons to present 
comments, views, and relevant research on topics mentioned above. All 
comments will be transcribed and placed in the rulemaking docket for 
the FMCSA's consideration. The session will be webcast to allow 
interested parties to participate remotely.

DATES: The listening session will be held on September 17, 2019. The 
listening session will begin at 1:00 p.m. local time and end at 3 p.m., 
or earlier, if all participants wishing to express their views have 
done so.

ADDRESSES: The listening session will be held at the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-2018-0248 
using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://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, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Submissions Containing Confidential Business Information 
(CBI): Mr. Brian Dahlin, Chief, Regulatory Analysis Division, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting 
comments, including collection of information comments for the Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For special accommodations for any of 
these HOS listening sessions, such as sign language interpretation, 
contact Shannon L. Watson, Senior Policy Advisor, (202) 385-2395 or at 
[email protected] to allow us to arrange for such services. For 
information concerning the hours-of-service rules, contact Ms. La Tonya 
Mimms, Chief, Driver and Carrier Operations Division, (202) 366-4325, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
NPRM (Docket No. FMCSA-2018-0248), indicate the specific section of 
this document to which each section 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-2018-0248, 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.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period for the ANPRM. Late comments will be considered to the 
extent practicable.
Confidential Business Information
    Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial 
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by 
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), 
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your submission contains 
commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as 
private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or 
responsive to the listening session, it is important that you clearly 
designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark any page of your 
submission that constitutes CBI as ``PROPIN'' to indicate it contains 
proprietary information. FMCSA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM and associated listening sessions. Submissions 
containing CBI should be sent to Brian Dahlin, Chief, Regulatory 
Analysis Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Any 
commentary that FMCSA receives which is not specifically designated as 
CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period for the NPRM.

B. 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-2018-0248, 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.

[[Page 45941]]

C. 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.

II. Background

    On August 14, 2019, FMCSA issued an NPRM concerning amendments to 
its hours-of-service (HOS) requirements to provide greater flexibility 
for drivers who are subject to the HOS rules without adversely 
affecting safety. First, the Agency proposed to change the short-haul 
exception to the record of duty status (RODS) requirement available to 
certain commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers by lengthening the 
drivers' maximum on-duty period from 12 to 14 hours and extending the 
distance limit within which the driver may operate from 100 air miles 
(115.08 statute miles) to 150 air miles (172.6 statute miles). Second, 
the Agency proposed to modify the adverse driving conditions exception 
by extending by 2 hours the maximum window during which driving is 
permitted. Third, the Agency proposed to increase flexibility for the 
30-minute break rule by requiring a break after 8 hours of driving time 
(instead of on-duty time), and allowing the requirement to be satisfied 
by an on-duty break from driving, rather than requiring an off-duty 
break. Fourth, the Agency proposed to modify the sleeper-berth 
exception to allow drivers to split their required 10-hours off duty 
into two periods: One period of at least 7 consecutive hours in the 
sleeper berth and the other period of not less than 2 consecutive 
hours, either off duty or in the sleeper berth. Neither period would 
count against the driver's 14-hour driving window. Fifth, the Agency 
proposed to allow one off-duty break of at least 30 minutes, but not 
more than 3 hours, that would pause a truck driver's 14-hour driving 
window, provided the driver takes 10 consecutive hours off-duty at the 
end of the work shift. The NPRM also posed questions about other HOS-
related topics the Agency is considering as part of this rulemaking.
    The listening sessions will provide interested persons the 
opportunity to share their views on these topics with representatives 
of the Agency.

III. Meeting Participation

    The listening sessions are open to the public. Speakers' remarks 
will be limited to 10 minutes each. The public may submit material to 
the FMCSA staff at each session for inclusion in the public docket, 
FMCSA-2018-0248.

    Issued on: August 27, 2019.
Alan Hanson,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-18978 Filed 8-30-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.