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

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew the ICR titled "Road Test Requirement." This ICR estimates the information burden incurred by motor carriers associated with the road test requirements in two circumstances. The first is when the motor carrier hires a new driver. The second is when the road test is required for individuals physically qualified under the Agency's alternative vision standard for the first time. In each circumstance, motor carriers are required to rate the performance of the driver during the test on a road test form provided by the motor carrier. If the road test is successfully completed, the motor carrier completes a certificate of driver's road test and provides a copy to the driver. The motor carrier retains the original signed road test form and the original, or a copy, of the signed certificate in the driver qualification file.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 10 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 its decision to deny 3 North LLC's request for a 5-year exemption to enable 3 of its commercial driver's license (CDL) holders under the age of 21, with a "K" restriction for intrastate- only operations, to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in intrastate operations in a State other than their State of domicile. FMCSA analyzed the application and public comments and determined that the exemption would not likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

FMCSA corrects its November 19, 2024, notice of final disposition granting exemptions for 11 individuals from the Agency's requirement 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 expiration date for the exemptions was incorrectly published as November 13, 2024. The correct expiration date is November 13, 2026.

This proposed rule would amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to allow States to waive the hazardous materials (HM) endorsement requirement for holders of Class A commercial driver's licenses (CDL) who transport no more than 1,000 gallons of aviation grade jet fuel in support of seasonal agricultural operations.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to deny an application from Polytech Plastic Molding, Inc. (Polytech, USDOT #1764512) for an exemption to allow it to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) equipped with a module manufactured by Intellistop, Inc. (Intellistop). The Intellistop module is designed to pulse the required rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from a lower-level lighting intensity to a higher-level lighting intensity 4 times in 2 seconds when the brakes are applied and then return the lights to a steady-burning state while the brakes remain engaged. The Agency has determined that Polytech did not demonstrate that it would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved by the regulation.

This notice announces a virtual meeting of the MCSAC, which will take place via videoconference.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew the exemption granted to the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) for a period of two years to permit all commercial driver's license (CDL) applicants seeking a school bus endorsement to forgo the engine compartment portion of the pre-trip vehicle inspection skills testing requirement, known informally as the "under-the-hood" testing requirement. Drivers issued CDLs pursuant to the requested exemption are restricted to intrastate operation of school buses only.