Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration October 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FMCSA is soliciting nominations for interested persons to serve on the MCSAC. Composed of motor carrier safety stakeholders from the safety advocacy, safety enforcement, industry, and labor sectors, MCSAC is charged with providing advice and recommendations to the FMCSA Administrator and Secretary of Transportation on the needs, objectives, plans, approaches, content, and accomplishments of Federal motor carrier safety programs and Federal motor carrier safety regulations. Nominations will be accepted electronically only.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from five 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 deny applications from 36 individuals who requested an exemption from the vision standard in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a CMV in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the Small Business in Transportation Coalition's (SBTC) request for an exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) requirements for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers traveling with domestic animals in interstate commerce. Additionally, FMCSA denies SBTC's request for an exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) requirements to allow these drivers to drive up to 13 hours during a work shift and to operate within a 16- hour window within which all driving tasks would be completed. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and public comments and has determined that it cannot ensure that granting the requested exemptions would achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemptions.

FMCSA announces that it will host a listening session pertaining to property carrier brokers. FMCSA would like to hear from members of the public on their views on the regulation of property carrier brokers in general, and on three pending petitions concerning specific property carrier broker regulation issues. This meeting does not pertain to broker or freight forwarder minimum financial responsibility matters. The session will be held via videoconference and will be accessible to the public for its entirety. Individuals with diverse experience and perspectives are encouraged to attend.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant the Nauto, Inc. (Nauto) application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow its multi-sensor device to be mounted lower in the windshield on commercial motor vehicles (CMV) than is currently permitted. The Agency has determined that lower placement of the multi-sensor device would not have an adverse impact on safety and that adherence to the terms and conditions of the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety provided by the regulation.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 44 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirements in one eye.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant National Tank Truck Carriers Inc.'s (NTTC) application for a limited 5-year exemption to allow motor carriers operating tank trailers to install a red or amber brake- activated pulsating lamp in the upper center position or in an upper dual outboard position on the rear of the trailers, in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). The Agency has determined that granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety provided by the regulation.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 42 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirements in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from five individuals treated with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) 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.