Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration September 28, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces that it has denied an application for exemption from the requirement that third-party commercial driver's license (CDL) testers maintain a bond in an amount determined by the State that employs them. The bond is intended to be sufficient to pay for re-testing drivers in the event that the third party or its examiners is involved in fraudulent activities related to CDL skills testing. The Division of Motor Vehicles, Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) submitted the application for exemption. FMCSA published ITD's application, reviewed the public comments received, and denied the application because available information did not allow the Agency to conclude that the proposed exemption would achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained absent the exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 37 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 25 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an application for exemption from the International Institute of Towing and Recovery (IITR) (on behalf of the Towing and Recovery Association of America (TRAA) and the towing and recovery industry) to allow commercial motor vehicle operators to secure automobiles, light trucks, and vans using a total of four tiedownstwo fixed and two adjustableinstead of using a minimum of two tiedowns, both of which need to be adjustable. While the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) require each tiedown, or its associated connectors or attachment mechanisms, to be adjustable, IITR believes that the use of four tiedowns instead of the two that are minimally required by the FMCSRs to secure automobiles, light trucks, and vans will maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption even though two of the four tiedowns are not adjustable. IITR is requesting the temporary exemption in advance of petitioning FMCSA to conduct a rulemaking to amend 49 CFR 393.112.

FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt 47 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.