Inspection, Repair and Maintenance; Inspector Qualifications; Application for an Exemption From the American Trucking Associations (ATA), 37208-37209 [2021-14979]

Download as PDF 37208 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 132 / Wednesday, July 14, 2021 / Notices motor vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, even if the vehicle is less than 26,001 pounds. Generally, the driver would be required to possess a Class C CDL with a passenger endorsement (49 CFR 383.91, 383.93). Applicants’ Request The applicants request an exemption from the CDL requirements for a driver operating an empty passenger CMV. The seating capacities of the minibuses transported by the applicants’ drivers may reach 33 passengers or more, including the driver but in all cases the GVWR is less than 26,001 pounds. The applicants state that they have experienced challenges finding CDL drivers and that this situation threatens to leave bus manufactures without sufficient means to move minibuses to distributors and customers. To ensure an equivalent level of safety, the applicant emphasizes that the drivers would transport empty passenger CMVs with a GVW less than 26,001 pounds, would remain subject to the driver qualification standards in 49 CFR part 391, and would still hold a valid operators’ license. IV. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), FMCSA requests public comment from all interested persons on the application for an exemption from 49 CFR part 383. All comments received before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated at the beginning of this notice will be considered and will be available for examination in the docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Comments received after the comment closing date will be filed in the public docket and will be considered to the extent practicable. In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also continue to file, in the public docket, relevant information that becomes available after the comment closing date. Interested persons should continue to examine the public docket for new material. lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2021–14982 Filed 7–13–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:49 Jul 13, 2021 Jkt 253001 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2021–0070] Inspection, Repair and Maintenance; Inspector Qualifications; Application for an Exemption From the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. AGENCY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an application from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) for an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that would allow an individual who completes a training program consistent with a set of Recommended Practices (RPs) developed by ATA’s Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) to be considered a qualified inspector for purposes of the periodic inspection rule, or a qualified brake inspector, for purposes of the brake system inspection, repair and maintenance requirements. DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 13, 2021. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA– 2021–0070 using any of the following methods: • Website: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket site. • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. • Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590–0001. • Hand Delivery or Courier: Bring comments to Docket Operations in Room W12–140 of the West Building Ground Floor, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday–Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or (202) 366–9826 before visiting Docket Operations. Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number for this notice. For detailed instructions on submitting comments and additional information on the exemption process, see the ‘‘Public SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00095 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Participation’’ heading below. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please see the ‘‘Privacy Act’’ heading for further information. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https:// www.regulations.gov or to Docket Operations in Room W12–140, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or (202) 366– 9826 before visiting Docket Operations. 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. Public participation: The https:// www.regulations.gov website is generally available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You may find electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the ‘‘help’’ section of the https://www.regulations.gov website as well as the DOT’s https:// docketsinfo.dot.gov website. If you would like notification that we received your comments, please include a selfaddressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments online. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Luke W. Loy, Vehicle and Roadside Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Safety, MC–PSV, (202) 366–0676, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– 0001. 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–2021–0070), indicate the specific section of this document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for suggestions or E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 132 / Wednesday, July 14, 2021 / Notices lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 comments online, go to www.regulations.gov and put the docket number, ‘‘FMCSA–2021–0070’’ 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, self-addressed 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. II. Legal Basis FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b) to grant exemptions from certain parts of the 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. The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the request. 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)). If the Agency denies the request, it must state the reason for doing so. If the decision is to grant the exemption, the notice must specify the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and the regulatory provision or provisions from which an exemption is granted. The notice must specify the effective period of the exemption (up to 5 years) and explain the terms and VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:49 Jul 13, 2021 Jkt 253001 conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.315(c) and 49 CFR 381.300(b)). III. ATA Application for Exemption The FMCSRs require individuals performing (1) annual inspections of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) under 49 CFR 396.17, or (2) inspections, maintenance, repairs, or service to the brake systems on CMVs under § 396.25, to be properly qualified to perform such inspections. Under §§ 396.19(a)(3)(ii) and 396.25(d)(3)(ii), an individual who has a combination of training or experience totaling at least 1 year as outlined in those sections is considered to be qualified to conduct those inspections. ATA has applied for an exemption to allow an individual who has successfully completed a training program consistent with TMC RPs to be a qualified inspector or qualified brake inspector without having the required 1 year of training or experience. A copy of the application is included in the docket referenced at the beginning of this notice. IV. Request for Comments In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(6), FMCSA requests public comment from all interested persons on ATA’s application for exemption. All comments received before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated at the beginning of this notice will be considered and will be available for examination in the docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Comments received after the comment closing date will be filed in the public docket and will be considered to the extent practicable. In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also continue to file, in the public docket, relevant information that becomes available after the comment closing date. Interested persons should continue to examine the public docket for new material. Larry W. Minor, Associate Administrator for Policy. [FR Doc. 2021–14979 Filed 7–13–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA–2020–0134] Commercial Driver’s License: Tornado Bus Company; Application for Exemption Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 37209 Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. ACTION: FMCSA has received an application from the Tornado Bus Company (Tornado) requesting an exemption for its drivers who currently hold a Mexican Licencia Federal de Conductor from the following provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs); general entry-level driver training (ELDT) requirements; the commercial driver’s license (CDL) knowledge test required to obtain a commercial learner’s permit (CLP); the skills test required for CLP holders to obtain a CDL; and the knowledge and skills test requirements for a CDL passenger endorsement. Tornado specifically requests the exemption for its drivers who have been granted permanent resident status from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and have over two years’ experience driving in the United States and Mexico. FMCSA requests public comment on Tornado’s application for exemption. SUMMARY: Comments must be received on or before August 13, 2021. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket Management System Number FMCSA– 2020–0134 by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, 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: Deliver comments to Docket Operations, 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 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. To be sure someone is there to DATES: E:\FR\FM\14JYN1.SGM 14JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37208-37209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14979]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2021-0070]


Inspection, Repair and Maintenance; Inspector Qualifications; 
Application for an Exemption From the American Trucking Associations 
(ATA)

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

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

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

SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
requests public comment on an application from the American Trucking 
Associations (ATA) for an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that would allow an individual who 
completes a training program consistent with a set of Recommended 
Practices (RPs) developed by ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council 
(TMC) to be considered a qualified inspector for purposes of the 
periodic inspection rule, or a qualified brake inspector, for purposes 
of the brake system inspection, repair and maintenance requirements.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2021-0070 using any of the 
following methods:
     Website: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket 
site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30; U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W12-140, 
West Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Bring comments to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 
DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday-Friday, except Federal 
holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 
366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Docket Operations.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and 
docket number for this notice. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments and additional information on the exemption process, see the 
``Public Participation'' heading below. Note that all comments received 
will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided. Please see the ``Privacy Act'' 
heading for further information.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov or to Docket 
Operations in Room W12-140, U.S. Department of Transportation, West 
Building Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 
366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Docket Operations.
    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.
    Public participation: The https://www.regulations.gov website is 
generally available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You may find 
electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the 
``help'' section of the https://www.regulations.gov website as well as 
the DOT's https://docketsinfo.dot.gov website. If you would like 
notification that we received your comments, please include a self-
addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgment 
page that appears after submitting comments online.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Luke W. Loy, Vehicle and Roadside 
Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Safety, MC-
PSV, (202) 366-0676, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

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-2021-0070), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for 
suggestions or

[[Page 37209]]

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 comments online, go to www.regulations.gov and put 
the docket number, ``FMCSA-2021-0070'' 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 and may grant or not grant this application 
based on your comments.

II. Legal Basis

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b) to grant exemptions 
from certain parts of the 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. 
The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the 
request. 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)). If the Agency denies the request, it must state the reason 
for doing so. If the decision is to grant the exemption, the notice 
must specify the person or class of persons receiving the exemption and 
the regulatory provision or provisions from which an exemption is 
granted. The notice must specify the effective period of the exemption 
(up to 5 years) and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. 
The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.315(c) and 49 CFR 381.300(b)).

III. ATA Application for Exemption

    The FMCSRs require individuals performing (1) annual inspections of 
commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) under 49 CFR 396.17, or (2) 
inspections, maintenance, repairs, or service to the brake systems on 
CMVs under Sec.  396.25, to be properly qualified to perform such 
inspections. Under Sec. Sec.  396.19(a)(3)(ii) and 396.25(d)(3)(ii), an 
individual who has a combination of training or experience totaling at 
least 1 year as outlined in those sections is considered to be 
qualified to conduct those inspections. ATA has applied for an 
exemption to allow an individual who has successfully completed a 
training program consistent with TMC RPs to be a qualified inspector or 
qualified brake inspector without having the required 1 year of 
training or experience. A copy of the application is included in the 
docket referenced at the beginning of this notice.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(6), FMCSA requests public 
comment from all interested persons on ATA's application for exemption. 
All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
closing date indicated at the beginning of this notice will be 
considered and will be available for examination in the docket at the 
location listed under the Addresses section of this notice. Comments 
received after the comment closing date will be filed in the public 
docket and will be considered to the extent practicable. In addition to 
late comments, FMCSA will also continue to file, in the public docket, 
relevant information that becomes available after the comment closing 
date. Interested persons should continue to examine the public docket 
for new material.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2021-14979 Filed 7-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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