Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration July 13, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 21 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition 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 operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The regulation and the associated advisory criteria published in the Code of Federal Regulations as the ``Instructions for Performing and Recording Physical Examinations'' have resulted in numerous drivers being prohibited from operating CMVs in interstate commerce based on the fact that they have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication, rather than an individual analysis of their circumstances by a qualified medical examiner. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti- seizure medication to operate CMVs for up to 2 years in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the R&R Transportation Group (R&R) for an exemption from the minimum 30- minute rest break requirement of the Agency's hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemption would be available to R&R's drivers engaged in the transportation of materials that by their nature must be attended, such as radioactive materials, pharmaceuticals, and ammunition. The exemption would provide qualified drivers the same regulatory flexibility that the HOS regulations allow drivers transporting explosives, i.e. to use 30 minutes or more of attendance time to meet the HOS rest break requirements, provided they do not perform any other work during the break. FMCSA requests public comment on R&R's application for exemption.