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

FMCSA requests public comment on the request from International Motors, LLC (International), formally known as Navistar, to renew an exemption from the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations for one of its commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemption would allow Mr. Erik Holma, manager of Drivability Control Systems for Scania AB, to test drive various International vehicles on U.S. roads. FMCSA requests public comment on International's application for an exemption.

In an NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 30, 2025, FMCSA proposed to remove references to liquid-burning flares from the warning device requirements in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. This proposed revision would remove outdated language referring to warning devices that FMCSA believes are no longer used. The NPRM contained an error in the docket number, errors in the ADDRESSES section, and errors in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FMCSA proposes to revise the requirements for tires on commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to clarify that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) do not require tire load restriction markings on their sidewalls. This change would eliminate confusion and clarify the scope of FMCSA's authority regarding the requirements for tires in the FMCSRs.

FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to revise the term "medical treatment" for the purpose of accident reporting to incorporate revised regulatory guidance issued by the Agency regarding medical treatment away from the accident scene.

FMCSA proposes to add an exception for portable conveyors used in aggregate industry operations, and manufactured before 2010, from the requirements that each commercial motor vehicle (CMV) be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels, provided certain conditions are satisfied. This proposal is in response to a petition for rulemaking from the Michigan Aggregates Association (MAA). The proposed change would provide relief from a regulatory requirement for certain portable conveyors without impacting safety.

FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations (FMCSRs) to allow dual-status military technicians to qualify for the exception for certain military personnel from commercial driver license (CDL) standards. This rulemaking responds to a petition for rulemaking submitted by James D. Welch.

FMCSA proposes to revise the requirement that motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers sign and return a completed roadside inspection form to the issuing State agency. FMCSA is aware that not all issuing State agencies require the return of these reports, and that requiring motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers to submit these reports to a State that does not require, or even request, the return of the form, creates an unnecessary burden. Through this proposed change, completed forms will only be returned to those States that request them. This action is in response to a petition for rulemaking from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

FMCSA proposes to amend the regulations related to driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) at railroad grade crossings. Currently, drivers of certain CMVs (e.g., buses transporting passengers and CMVs transporting certain hazardous materials) are required to stop before crossing a railroad track unless an exception applies, such as when the crossing is controlled by a functioning highway traffic signal transmitting a green indication. The Agency proposes to add a similar exception for a railroad grade crossing equipped with an active warning device that is not in an activated state (e.g., flashing lights or crossing gates down, indicating the arrival of a train).

FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to rescind the in-vehicle electronic logging device (ELD) operator's manual requirement for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). FMCSA currently maintains a list of the ELD vendors who have self-certified their products including submission of the operator's manual. Additionally, drivers are required to understand the operation of the ELD on the vehicle. There is no readily apparent benefit to continuing to require that the users' manual be in the CMV. This proposal would eliminate an unintended regulatory burden on motor carriers without compromising safety.

FMCSA repeals the for-hire motor carrier routing regulations which concern servicing municipalities and unincorporated communities. These regulations are unlawful because they exceed FMCSA's statutory authority following the transfer of rules from the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 1995, which were carried over to FMCSA in 2000.

FMCSA proposes to remove the requirement for commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to be equipped with at least one spare fuse for each type and size of fuse needed for the parts and accessories of the CMV. This proposed change would remove an unnecessary requirement from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to rescind the requirement that the rear impact guard be permanently marked or labeled with a certification from the impact guard manufacturer as required by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). The certification label or marking provides motor carriers purchasing new trailers or new impact guards to replace damaged devices with a means to determine whether the equipment is certified as meeting the FMVSS. However, the labeling or marking requirement has proven problematic for motor carriers when the label or marking becomes illegible or wears off during the service life of the trailer or guard. This proposal would eliminate an unintended regulatory burden on motor carriers without compromising safety, as this NPRM would not affect the applicable FMVSS. The proposal would also rescind a guidance document pertaining to illegible, incomplete, or missing rear impact guard certification labels.

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, "Lease and Interchange of Vehicles." This ICR will enable FMCSA to document the burden associated with the for-hire truck leasing regulations and passenger carrier regulations. These regulations require certain for-hire property carriers and certain for- hire and private passenger carriers to have a formal lease when leasing equipment from other motor carriers.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew the exemption granted to DISA Entertainment Compliance Solutions (DECS), formerly known as Motion Picture Compliance Solutions, from the requirement that an employer must not employ a driver who is subject to drug and alcohol testing to perform safety-sensitive functions prior to conducting a full query of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse). The exemption renewal allows DECS members that employ commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to conduct a limited query of the Clearinghouse before hiring a driver for a project. If the limited query indicates that information about the driver exists in the Clearinghouse, the driver is not permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions unless and until a full query subsequently shows that the driver is not prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and the public comments and has determined that the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, is likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved in the absence of the exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant an exemption to International Motors, LLC (International), formally known as Navistar, Inc., for three Swedish commercial driver's license holders, Johan Astrom, Kristoffer Lindve, and Martin Uppman, (collectively, "the drivers") from the Federal requirement to hold a State-issued commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate commercial motor vehicles in the United States.

FMCSA announces that the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI) has requested a renewal of the exemption from the "K" intrastate restriction on commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) held by custom harvester drivers under the age of 21 operating in interstate commerce. FMCSA's regulations currently provide an exception to the minimum age requirements for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) controlled and operated by a person engaged in interstate custom harvesting. However, under the Agency's CDL regulations, States must include an intrastate-only (or "K") restriction for these drivers. FMCSA requests public comment on USCHI's application to renew its exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the applications of two individuals treated with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce 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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 23 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 receipt of applications from 35 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition that is likely to cause a loss of consciousness or any loss of ability to control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would 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 17 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 deny Albert Farley, Jr.'s request for 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 sought 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. This exemption would have allowed Mr. Farley to serve as an ELDT instructor for students seeking Class A CDLs without having the required two years of experience driving Class A CDLs. FMCSA analyzed the application and public comments and determined that granting the exemption would not likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew the exemption granted to International Motors, LLC (International), formerly known as Navistar, Inc.,\1\ from the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations for one of its commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemption allows Mr. Thomas Nickels, Senior Vice President of the Cabin and Chassis R&D Group for International's parent company, TRATON SE, to test drive various International test fleet vehicles on roads of the United States.

FMCSA requests public comment on the APA's application for exemptions from certain hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. Previous similar exemptions expired on July 8, 2024. The exemptions would allow drivers to exclude off-duty and sleeper berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14-hour limit and to use paper records of duty status (RODS) in lieu of an electronic logging device (ELD) during the designated period of June 28 through July 8 (Independence Day period). The requests are for the transportation of pyrotechnics during the Independence Day period of every year from 2025 through 2029.

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. FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR titled, "Commercial Driver Licensing and Test Standards." This ICR is needed to ensure that drivers, motor carriers, and the States are complying with notification and recordkeeping requirements for information related to testing, licensing, violations, convictions, and disqualifications and that the information is accurate, complete, transmitted, and recorded within certain time periods as required by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA or the Act), as amended.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant an application from Coffeyville Resources Crude Transportation, USDOT #1236378, (Coffeyville) for an exemption to allow it to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with a module manufactured by Intellistop, Inc. (Intellistop). The Intellistop module is designed to pulse the required rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from a lower-level lighting intensity to a higher-level lighting intensity 4 times in 2 seconds when the brakes are applied and then return the lights to a steady- burning state while the brakes remain engaged. FMCSA has determined that granting the exemption to Coffeyville would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved by the regulation.