Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration May 9, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA has placed four additional documents in the public docket of its recent notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) concerning hours of service (HOS) for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The Agency is reopening the comment period on the NPRM to allow for review and discussion of these documents and FMCSA's possible consideration of their findings in the development of the final rule. Comments will only be considered on the four documents listed below.

FMCSA amends the commercial driver's license (CDL) knowledge and skills testing standards and establishes new minimum Federal standards for States to issue the commercial learner's permit (CLP). The rule requires that a CLP holder meet virtually the same requirements as those for a CDL holder, meaning that a driver holding a CLP will be subject to the same driver disqualification penalties that apply to a CDL holder. This final rule also implements section 4019 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), section 4122 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), and section 703 of the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act). It will enhance safety by ensuring that only qualified drivers are allowed to operate commercial motor vehicles on our nation's highways.