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

FMCSA amends its November 16, 2023, final rule, "Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility," by extending the compliance date for certain provisions from January 16, 2025, to January 16, 2026. FMCSA is taking this action because the Agency determined that only its forthcoming online registration system will be used to accept filings and track notifications, and this functionality will not be added to its legacy systems. As the online registration system is not expected to be available before January 16, 2025, FMCSA extends the compliance date to provide regulated entities time to begin using and familiarizing themselves with the system before compliance is required.

This final rule provides the statutorily prescribed 2025 adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations.

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 that Albert Farley Jr. has requested an exemption from the theory and behind-the-wheel (BTW) instructor requirements contained in the entry-level driver training (ELDT) regulations for himself as a prospective training instructor. Mr. Farley Jr. seeks an exemption from the requirement that instructors have at least two years of driving experience of the same or higher class and/or the same endorsement level as the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to be operated to satisfy the instructor requirements under the ELDT regulations. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request for 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.