Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 10 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 12 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti- seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for six individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 19 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 15 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to provisionally renew for six months the exemption requested by R.J. Corman Railroad Services (R.J. Corman), Cranemasters, Inc. (Cranemasters), and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Inc. (NRC) from the prohibition against driving a property-carrying commercial motor vehicle (CMV) beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty and driving after accumulating 60 hours of on-duty time in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours of on-duty time in 8 consecutive days. The exemption renewal is applicable to employees of R.J. Corman and Cranemasters operating CMVs in response to unplanned events that occur outside of or extend beyond the subject employees' normal work hours. FMCSA requests public comment on the application for exemption renewal.

FMCSA reopens the comment period for its November 20, 2024, NPRM. FMCSA received a request for a reopening of the comment period from the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC). The Agency finds it is appropriate to reopen the comment period to provide interested parties additional time to submit their responses to the NPRM. Therefore, the Agency reopens the comment period for 30 days.

FMCSA grants a limited 5-year exemption to the American Trucking Associations (ATA) on behalf of motor carriers, intermodal equipment providers (IEPs), and individuals, from the requirements that an individual must complete 1 year of training, experience, or a combination thereof prior to being qualified to conduct annual commercial motor vehicle (CMV) inspections and to conduct brake-related inspection, repair and maintenance tasks on CMVs. The exemption covers individuals who successfully complete a training program that is self- certified by the training provider as consistent with a set of recommended practices (RPs) developed by the ATA's Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) and motor carriers and IEPs who rely on these training programs and individuals to satisfy FMCSA's rules. The Agency has determined that granting the exemption from the requirements for 1 year of training, experience, or a combination thereof for individuals who successfully complete, and educators who provide, a performance- based inspector training program consistent with the TMC RPs, would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulatory requirements.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its final decision to grant a 5-year exemption to Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (Daimler) for six drivers who hold foreign commercial licenses from the requirement to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by a U.S. State when operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). This exemption will permit the six drivers to test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements in "real-world" environments and verify results. FMCSA reviewed the drivers' commercial license records provided by Daimler and believes the requirements for a German commercial license, the work restrictions imposed on Daimler drivers by their nonimmigrant visas, and the terms and conditions set forth below, will ensure that Daimler's operation under this exemption will likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved in the absence of the exemption.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from two individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) by persons with a current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope (transient loss of consciousness), dyspnea (shortness of breath), collapse, or congestive heart failure. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ICDs to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for eight individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 16 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests OMB's renewed approval of the ICR titled "Transportation of Household Goods; Consumer Protection," which applies to household goods motor carriers who are procured by the public (household goods shippers) to transport their household goods. This renewal revises the previous information collection's number of respondents, total respondent hours, and cost burden.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on the application from International Motors, LLC (International), formally known as Navistar, for an exemption from the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations to allow three Swedish commercial license holders to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in the United States.

In a final rule published in the Federal Register on November 18, 2024, FMCSA amended its regulations by making technical corrections throughout the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The final rule included an amendatory instruction to revise a stayed section without first lifting the stay. The final rule also included an amendatory instruction which referenced an incorrect paragraph letter. The Agency corrects these errors.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR titled, "Medical Qualification Requirements," due to updated information for several of the Information Collections (ICs) discussed. This ICR is needed to ensure that drivers, motor carriers, and the States are complying with the physical qualification requirements of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The information collected is used to determine and certify driver medical fitness and must be collected in order for our highways to be safe. On September 17, 2024, FMCSA published a 60-day notice requesting comment on the renewal of this ICR. In response to this notice, no comments were received.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 19 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR titled, "Financial Responsibility Motor Carriers, Freight Forwarders, and Brokers." The purpose of this ICR is to provide registered motor carriers, property brokers, and freight forwarders a means of meeting financial responsibility filing requirements. This ICR sets forth the financial responsibility documentation requirements for motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers as a result of Agency jurisdictional statutes.

FMCSA amends its November 16, 2023, final rule, "Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility," by extending the compliance date for certain provisions from January 16, 2025, to January 16, 2026. FMCSA is taking this action because the Agency determined that only its forthcoming online registration system will be used to accept filings and track notifications, and this functionality will not be added to its legacy systems. As the online registration system is not expected to be available before January 16, 2025, FMCSA extends the compliance date to provide regulated entities time to begin using and familiarizing themselves with the system before compliance is required.

This final rule provides the statutorily prescribed 2025 adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew the ICR titled "Road Test Requirement." This ICR estimates the information burden incurred by motor carriers associated with the road test requirements in two circumstances. The first is when the motor carrier hires a new driver. The second is when the road test is required for individuals physically qualified under the Agency's alternative vision standard for the first time. In each circumstance, motor carriers are required to rate the performance of the driver during the test on a road test form provided by the motor carrier. If the road test is successfully completed, the motor carrier completes a certificate of driver's road test and provides a copy to the driver. The motor carrier retains the original signed road test form and the original, or a copy, of the signed certificate in the driver qualification file.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 10 individuals from the requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The exemptions enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces that Albert Farley Jr. has requested an exemption from the theory and behind-the-wheel (BTW) instructor requirements contained in the entry-level driver training (ELDT) regulations for himself as a prospective training instructor. Mr. Farley Jr. seeks an exemption from the requirement that instructors have at least two years of driving experience of the same or higher class and/or the same endorsement level as the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to be operated to satisfy the instructor requirements under the ELDT regulations. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request for exemption.

FMCSA corrects its November 19, 2024, notice of final disposition granting exemptions for 11 individuals from the Agency's requirement interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers have "no established medical history or clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which is likely to cause loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a CMV." The expiration date for the exemptions was incorrectly published as November 13, 2024. The correct expiration date is November 13, 2026.

This proposed rule would amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to allow States to waive the hazardous materials (HM) endorsement requirement for holders of Class A commercial driver's licenses (CDL) who transport no more than 1,000 gallons of aviation grade jet fuel in support of seasonal agricultural operations.