Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration October 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 12 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 operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 13 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew an exemption requested by the Agricultural and Food Transporters Conference (AFTC) of American Trucking Associations (ATA), which will allow certain alternative methods for the securement of agricultural commodities transported in wood and plastic boxes and bins and large fiberglass tubs, as well as hay, straw, and cotton bales that are grouped together into large singular units. FMCSA concludes that renewing the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, is likely to achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be achieved absent the exemption.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew the exemption granted to WestRock from the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations that prohibit drivers from operating property-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) after 14 hours on duty and require 10 hours off duty before resuming driving. The exemption allows WestRock's drivers to transport paper mill products short distances on a public road between its shipping and receiving locations without complying with those HOS limits.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Vision Systems North America, Inc. (VSNA) for a renewal of its exemption allowing motor carriers to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with the company's Smart-Vision high-definition camera monitoring system (Smart-Vision) installed as an alternative to the two rear-vision mirrors required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). VSNA currently holds an exemption for the period January 15, 2020, through January 15, 2025, and requests a five-year renewal of the exemption. FMCSA requests public comment on VSNA's request for exemption.

FMCSA announces that Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (Daimler) has requested a 5-year exemption for six drivers who hold foreign commercial driver's licenses (CDL) from the requirement to hold a CDL issued by a U.S. State when operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Daimler is requesting an exemption so that these drivers can test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements in real-world environments and verify results. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request for an exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for eight 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 receipt of applications from 10 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew the exemption granted to the State of Alaska from the limitations imposed by the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations on the State's ability to issue restricted CDLs. The exemption renewal allows the State to waive specified portions of the CDL skills test for drivers who reside and operate in 14 defined geographic areas that lack the infrastructure to allow completion of the full skills test. Drivers who receive a restricted CDL under the provisions of the renewed exemption are also exempt from the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations. FMCSA concludes that renewing the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, is likely to achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be achieved absent the exemption.