Hours of Service of Drivers: PTS Worldwide, Inc.; Application for Exemption, 55376-55378 [2019-22502]

Download as PDF 55376 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 16, 2019 / Notices This standard was adopted in 1970 and was revised in 1971 to allow drivers to be qualified under this standard while wearing a hearing aid, 35 FR 6458, 6463 (April 22, 1970) and 36 FR 12857 (July 3, 1971). On February 1, 2013, FMCSA announced in a Notice of Final Disposition titled, ‘‘Qualification of Drivers; Application for Exemptions; National Association of the Deaf,’’ (78 FR 7479), its decision to grant requests from 40 individuals for exemptions from the Agency’s physical qualification standard concerning hearing for interstate CMV drivers. Since that time the Agency has published additional notices granting requests from hard of hearing and deaf individuals for exemptions from the Agency’s physical qualification standard concerning hearing for interstate CMV drivers. III. Qualifications of Applicants Ms. Mathis, 37, holds an operator’s license in Tennessee. Mr. McClain, 53, holds a class A CDL in New York. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Mr. McGowan, 42, holds a class A CDL in West Virginia. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Alan Mitchell Mr. Mitchell, 70, holds a class A CDL in New York. Ronald Misner Mr. Misner, 57, holds a class A CDL in California. Matthew Moore Mr. Moore, 34, holds a class A CDL in Texas. Mr. Roberts, 29, holds an operator’s license in Tennessee. Gilbert L. Swagger, Jr. Teddy R. Tice Mr. Tice, 50, holds a class A CDL in New York. Ryan Arrington Mr. Arrington, 34, holds an operator’s license in Minnesota. Cameron Thomas Jeffrey A. Barbuto Mr. Barbuto, 38, holds an operator’s license in New Hampshire. Mr. Thomas, 33, holds an operator’s license in Iowa. Dain Covington Mr. Covington, 31, holds an operator’s license in Virginia. Mr. Turner, 52, holds an operator’s license in Tennessee. Tymekia L. Crawford Ms. Crawford, 26, holds an operator’s license in Texas. Mr. Ward, 28, holds an operator’s license in North Carolina. Brian J. Davlin Mr. Davlin, 50, holds a class A CDL in Nevada. Mr. Wessels, 28, holds an operator’s license in Missouri. John Fazio Mr. Fazio, 37, holds a class A CDL in Ohio. Mr. Williams, 58, holds an operator’s license in Maryland. Alvin Grasty Mr. Grasty, 54, holds a class A CDL in Pennsylvania. Thomas E. Wray Derek Hawkins Mr. Hawkins, 37, holds an operator’s license in New Hampshire. IV. Request for Comments Edward Wessels Joseph Williams Mr. Wray, 50, holds an operator’s license in North Carolina. Shane Kennedy Mr. Kennedy, 71, holds a class A CDL in Florida. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 15, 2019 Jkt 250001 Tyler Turner Jerry Ward Emil A. Iontchev Mr. Iontchev, 38, holds a class A CDL in Illinois. In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), 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 under the DATES section of the notice. PO 00000 Frm 00103 Fmt 4703 [Docket No. FMCSA–2019–0184] Hours of Service of Drivers: PTS Worldwide, Inc.; Application for Exemption Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from PTS Worldwide, Inc. (PTS) (USDOT 1835654) for an exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) requirement that drivers utilizing the sleeper-berth (S/B) exception obtain a period of at least 8 consecutive hours in the S/B, plus an additional 2 hours either in the S/B, off duty, or any combination thereof. PTS transports highly sensitive cargo for the Department of Defense (DOD) and proposes that its team drivers be permitted to obtain 10 hours in the S/ B in two periods, neither less than 4 hours long. This would allow the driver to split the required 10 hours into segments of 4⁄6, 5⁄5, or 6⁄4 hours. FMCSA requests public comment on PTS’s application for exemption. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 15, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Number FMCSA–2019–0184 by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. See the Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further information. • 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. E.T., 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 SUMMARY: Abdiwahab S. Olow Mr. Swagger, 66, holds a class A CDL in Texas. Carlos Arellano Mr. Arellano, 32, holds an operator’s license in California. BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P Danny W. McGowan Timothy Roberts Byron S. Allen Mr. Allen, 30, holds an operator’s license in Florida. Issued on: October 4, 2019. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2019–22501 Filed 10–15–19; 8:45 am] Billy Joe McClain Mr. Olow, 31, holds an operator’s license in Minnesota. Jeremy T. Albright Mr. Albright, 31, holds an operator’s license in California. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Lacey Mathis Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM 16OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 16, 2019 / Notices 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. 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Clemente, 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. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Submitting Comments If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (FMCSA–2019–0184), 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–2019–0184’’ 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 15, 2019 Jkt 250001 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. II. Legal Basis FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant exemptions from certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). 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 any safety analyses that have been conducted and provide an opportunity for public comment on the request. The Agency performs a review of safety analyses and public comments submitted 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 Agency will publish its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with the reasons for denying or granting the application and, if granted, the name of the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and the regulatory provision from which the exemption is granted. The notice must specify the effective period (up to 5 years) and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)). III. Request for Exemption The Agency’s HOS rules (49 CFR part 395) generally require operators of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) transporting property to obtain 10 consecutive hours off duty before they can drive again after they accumulate the maximum 11 hours of driving or reach the end of the 14-hour duty period, whichever comes first (49 CFR 395.3). However, drivers whose CMV is equipped with a qualifying sleeper berth (S/B) may accumulate the equivalent of 10 consecutive hours off duty in two separate periods, one of at least 8 (but less than 10) consecutive hours in the S/ B, and another of at least 2 consecutive hours off duty, whether in the S/B, off duty, or any combination thereof. It does not matter which of these two periods comes first. When the driver has obtained the two qualifying periods, the PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55377 S/B rule provides the driver more onduty and driving time. PTS transports sensitive Department of Defense (DOD) property, including ammunition and explosives, in interstate commerce. For security reasons, this transportation requires a team of two drivers. PTS seeks by exemption to allow its team drivers to split the equivalent of 10 hours off duty into two S/B periods, neither less than 4 hours long. This would allow splits of 4⁄6, 5⁄5, or 6⁄4 hours. This request is limited to team operations and is in no way a request to apply any such exemption to solo driver operations. PTS states that its team drivers travel over 1,100 miles per 24 hours, and average 60 hours on duty per week. After 5 weeks on the road, PTS drivers receive a week off duty at home. PTS asserts that due to the nature of its business, these drivers would be more alert if allowed to take shorter rest periods in the S/B. It believes that the shorter period would allow PTS drivers to obtain nighttime hours in the S/B and thereby minimize driver fatigue. PTS states that its vehicle and driver safety record is better than the national average and that it has one of the best safety, security, and service records of all DOD arms and ammunition transporters. All power units are equipped, and any new power units will be equipped, with on-board electronic recorders to track driving and on-duty time, and all power units are governed to 70 miles per hour. IV. Method To Ensure an Equivalent or Greater Level of Safety To ensure an equivalent level of safety, PTS offers to split 10 off-duty hours into two periods, neither less than 4 hours long. This would allow splits of 4⁄6, 5⁄5, or 6⁄4 hours. In addition, the PTS request would be limited to team driver operations. PTS’ exemption application references a study concerning the effects on sleep that found sleeper berth flexibility to be a better choice than consolidated daytime sleep when consolidated nighttime sleep is not possible. PTS referenced additional studies that identified sleeper berth flexibility as a contributor to normalizing sleeping patterns and reducing fatigue. PTS requests the exemption be granted for the maximum allowable period (5 years). A copy of PTS’s application for exemption is available for review in the docket for this notice. E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM 16OCN1 55378 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 200 / Wednesday, October 16, 2019 / Notices Issued on: October 9, 2019. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2019–22502 Filed 10–15–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Agency Information Collection Activities: Information Collection Revision; Comment Request; Regulation C—Home Mortgage Disclosure Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Treasury. ACTION: Notice and request for comment. AGENCY: The OCC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and respondents are not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OCC is soliciting comment concerning the revision of the information collection titled ‘‘Regulation C—Home Mortgage Disclosure.’’ SUMMARY: Comments must be submitted on or before December 16, 2019. ADDRESSES: Commenters are encouraged to submit comments by email, if possible. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Email: prainfo@occ.treas.gov. • Mail: Chief Counsel’s Office, Attention: Comment Processing, 1557– 0345, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E– 218, Washington, DC 20219. • Hand Delivery/Courier: 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E–218, Washington, DC 20219. • Fax: (571) 465–4326. Instructions: You must include ‘‘OCC’’ as the agency name and 1557– 0345, in your comment. In general, the OCC will publish comments on www.reginfo.gov without change, including any business or personal information provided, such as name and address information, email addresses, or phone numbers. Comments received, including attachments and other supporting materials, are part of the khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:10 Oct 15, 2019 Jkt 250001 public record and subject to public disclosure. Do not include any information in your comment or supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure. You may review comments and other related materials that pertain to this information collection beginning on the date of publication of the second notice for this collection 1 by any of the following methods: • Viewing Comments Electronically: Go to www.reginfo.gov. Click on the ‘‘Information Collection Review’’ tab. Underneath the ‘‘Currently under Review’’ section heading, from the dropdown menu, select ‘‘Department of Treasury’’ and then click ‘‘submit.’’ This information collection can be located by searching by OMB control number ‘‘Regulation C—Home Mortgage Disclosure.’’ Upon finding the appropriate information collection, click on the related ‘‘ICR Reference Number.’’ On the next screen, select ‘‘View Supporting Statement and Other Documents’’ and then click on the link to any comment listed at the bottom of the screen. • For assistance in navigating www.reginfo.gov, please contact the Regulatory Information Service Center at (202) 482–7340. • Viewing Comments Personally: You may personally inspect comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC. For security reasons, the OCC requires that visitors make an appointment to inspect comments. You may do so by calling (202) 649–6700 or, for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, TTY, (202) 649–5597. Upon arrival, visitors will be required to present valid government-issued photo identification and submit to security screening in order to inspect comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shaquita Merritt, OCC Clearance Officer, (202) 649–5490 or, for persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, TTY, (202) 649–5597, Chief Counsel’s Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20219. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), federal agencies must obtain approval from the OMB for each collection of information that they conduct or sponsor. ‘‘Collection of information’’ is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) to include agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of title 44 requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, the OCC is publishing this notice. Title: Regulation C—Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. OMB Control Nos.: 1557–0345. Type of Review: Regular review. Description: Regulation C,2 which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act 3 (HMDA) enacted in 1975, requires certain depository and non-depository institutions that make certain mortgage loans to collect, report, and disclose data about originations and purchases of mortgage loans, as well as loan applications that do not result in originations. HMDA generates loan data that can be used to: (1) Help determine whether financial institutions are serving the housing needs of their communities; (2) assist public officials in distributing public-sector investments so as to attract private investment to areas where it is needed; and (3) assist in identifying possible discriminatory lending patterns and enforcing anti-discrimination statutes. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 4 (the Dodd-Frank Act) transferred the authority to administer HMDA, including rulemaking authority, from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and transferred supervisory and enforcement authority for HMDA for depository institutions over $10 billion in consolidated assets from the Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, OCC, and National Credit Union Administration to the CFPB. On May 13, 2019, the CFPB issued a proposed rule to amend Regulation C to adjust the coverage thresholds.5 The proposal sets out two alternatives to increasing the closed-end institutional and transitional coverage threshold—to either 50 or 100 closed-end mortgage loans in each of the preceding two calendar years. In addition, the temporary threshold of 500 open-end lines of credit for open-end institutional and transactional coverage would extend to January 1, 2022. After the temporary extension expires, the open2 12 1 Following the close of this notice’s 60-day comment period, the OCC will publish a second notice with a 30-day comment period. PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 CFR part 1003. U.S.C. 2801–2811. 4 Public Law 111–203, July 21, 2010. 5 84 FR 20972. 3 12 E:\FR\FM\16OCN1.SGM 16OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55376-55378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22502]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2019-0184]


Hours of Service of Drivers: PTS Worldwide, Inc.; Application for 
Exemption

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

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

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

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from PTS 
Worldwide, Inc. (PTS) (USDOT 1835654) for an exemption from the hours-
of-service (HOS) requirement that drivers utilizing the sleeper-berth 
(S/B) exception obtain a period of at least 8 consecutive hours in the 
S/B, plus an additional 2 hours either in the S/B, off duty, or any 
combination thereof. PTS transports highly sensitive cargo for the 
Department of Defense (DOD) and proposes that its team drivers be 
permitted to obtain 10 hours in the S/B in two periods, neither less 
than 4 hours long. This would allow the driver to split the required 10 
hours into segments of \4/6\, \5/5\, or \6/4\ hours. FMCSA requests 
public comment on PTS's application for exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Number FMCSA-2019-0184 by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. See the 
Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further 
information.
     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. 
E.T., 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

[[Page 55377]]

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.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Richard Clemente, FMCSA Driver and 
Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle 
Safety Standards; Telephone: (202) 366-4325; Email: [email protected]. 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-2019-0184), 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-2019-0184'' 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 
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.

II. Legal Basis

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant 
exemptions from certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations 
(FMCSRs). 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 any safety analyses that have been conducted and 
provide an opportunity for public comment on the request.
    The Agency performs a review of safety analyses and public comments 
submitted 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 
Agency will publish its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 
381.315(b)) with the reasons for denying or granting the application 
and, if granted, the name of the person or class of persons receiving 
the exemption and the regulatory provision from which the exemption is 
granted. The notice must specify the effective period (up to 5 years) 
and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The exemption 
may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).

III. Request for Exemption

    The Agency's HOS rules (49 CFR part 395) generally require 
operators of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) transporting property to 
obtain 10 consecutive hours off duty before they can drive again after 
they accumulate the maximum 11 hours of driving or reach the end of the 
14-hour duty period, whichever comes first (49 CFR 395.3). However, 
drivers whose CMV is equipped with a qualifying sleeper berth (S/B) may 
accumulate the equivalent of 10 consecutive hours off duty in two 
separate periods, one of at least 8 (but less than 10) consecutive 
hours in the S/B, and another of at least 2 consecutive hours off duty, 
whether in the S/B, off duty, or any combination thereof. It does not 
matter which of these two periods comes first. When the driver has 
obtained the two qualifying periods, the S/B rule provides the driver 
more on-duty and driving time.
    PTS transports sensitive Department of Defense (DOD) property, 
including ammunition and explosives, in interstate commerce. For 
security reasons, this transportation requires a team of two drivers. 
PTS seeks by exemption to allow its team drivers to split the 
equivalent of 10 hours off duty into two S/B periods, neither less than 
4 hours long. This would allow splits of \4/6\, \5/5\, or \6/4\ hours. 
This request is limited to team operations and is in no way a request 
to apply any such exemption to solo driver operations.
    PTS states that its team drivers travel over 1,100 miles per 24 
hours, and average 60 hours on duty per week. After 5 weeks on the 
road, PTS drivers receive a week off duty at home. PTS asserts that due 
to the nature of its business, these drivers would be more alert if 
allowed to take shorter rest periods in the S/B. It believes that the 
shorter period would allow PTS drivers to obtain nighttime hours in the 
S/B and thereby minimize driver fatigue. PTS states that its vehicle 
and driver safety record is better than the national average and that 
it has one of the best safety, security, and service records of all DOD 
arms and ammunition transporters. All power units are equipped, and any 
new power units will be equipped, with on-board electronic recorders to 
track driving and on-duty time, and all power units are governed to 70 
miles per hour.

IV. Method To Ensure an Equivalent or Greater Level of Safety

    To ensure an equivalent level of safety, PTS offers to split 10 
off-duty hours into two periods, neither less than 4 hours long. This 
would allow splits of \4/6\, \5/5\, or \6/4\ hours. In addition, the 
PTS request would be limited to team driver operations. PTS' exemption 
application references a study concerning the effects on sleep that 
found sleeper berth flexibility to be a better choice than consolidated 
daytime sleep when consolidated nighttime sleep is not possible. PTS 
referenced additional studies that identified sleeper berth flexibility 
as a contributor to normalizing sleeping patterns and reducing fatigue. 
PTS requests the exemption be granted for the maximum allowable period 
(5 years). A copy of PTS's application for exemption is available for 
review in the docket for this notice.


[[Page 55378]]


    Issued on: October 9, 2019.
Larry W. Minor,
 Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-22502 Filed 10-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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