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

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.

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 review and approval. FMCSA is replacing its Unified Registration System (URS), with a new, online registration system, which will be named the "FMCSA Registration System" (FRS). The new system will allow all persons required to register under the Agency's commercial or safety jurisdiction to do so online.

FMCSA amends its Hazardous Materials Safety Permits (HMSPs) regulations to incorporate by reference the updated Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) handbook containing inspection procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC) for inspections of shipments of transuranic waste and highway route-controlled quantities (HRCQs) of radioactive material (RAM). The OOSC provide enforcement personnel nationwide, including FMCSA's State partners, with uniform enforcement tolerances for inspections. Currently, the regulations reference the April 1, 2023, edition of the handbook. Through this final rule, FMCSA incorporates by reference the April 1, 2024, edition.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will be reviewing its existing guidance documents to evaluate their continued necessity and determine whether they should be updated or eliminated. As part of this review, FMCSA invites the public to identify and provide input on existing guidance documents that are good candidates for revision or rescission.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 10 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 13 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.

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. The purpose of this ICR, titled, "Financial Responsibility Motor Carriers, Freight Forwarders, and Brokers," is to provide registered motor carriers, property brokers, and freight forwarders a means of meeting financial responsibility filing requirements. This ICR sets forth the financial responsibility documentation requirements for motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers as a result of Agency jurisdictional statutes. The revision of three forms (BMC-36, BMC-84, and BMC-85) contained in this ICR is necessary due to the implementation of the Broker and Freight Forwarder Financial Responsibility Final Rule.

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 review and approval. Foreign (Mexico-based) for-hire and private motor carriers are required to file an application Form OP-2 if they wish to register to transport property within municipalities in the United States on the U.S.-Mexico international border or within the commercial zones of such municipalities. The Certificate of Registration only permits the holder to operate in the United States within these areas. A holder of a Certificate of Registration who operates a vehicle beyond these areas is subject to applicable penalties and out-of-service orders.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 11 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 34 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 11 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 denial of Reiman Corp.'s (Reiman) request for an exemption from certain hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. Reiman's drivers transport latex embedded cement for use at highway construction sites. Reiman requests that it be allowed to operate under the same HOS exemption provided for "specially trained drivers of commercial motor vehicles that are specially constructed to service oil wells." FMCSA analyzed the application and public comment and determined that Reiman did not demonstrate how the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operations under such exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved in the absence of the exemption.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from McKee Foods Transportation, LLC (MFT) for a renewal of its exemption from the hours-of-service regulation pertaining to the use of a sleeper berth. The exemption renewal would allow MFT team drivers to continue taking the equivalent of 10 consecutive hours off duty by splitting sleeper berth time into two periods totaling 10 hours, provided neither of the two periods is less than three hours. MFT currently holds an exemption for the period April 20, 2020, through April 20, 2025. If granted, the renewal of the exemption would be in effect for a period of five years. FMCSA requests public comment on MFT's application for renewal of its exemption.

FMCSA extends the comment period for its June 11, 2024, notice requesting public comment on 3 North LLC's application for a 5-year exemption to enable 3 of its commercial driver's license (CDL) holders under the age 21, with the requisite "K" restriction for intrastate- only operations, to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMV) in intrastate operations in a State other than their State of domicile. FMCSA extends the comment period until July 25, 2024, because the application was not available for public review.

FMCSA denies the application from Clym Environmental Services LLC (Clym) requesting an exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations to allow its drivers up to 14 hours of drive time within the work shift or, in the alternative, up to 12 hours. Clym indicated that, due to the nature of its operations, complying with the 11-hour driving time limit in the HOS regulations places a strain on the company's drivers and its overall operating costs. FMCSA analyzed the application 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.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant an application from JM Bozeman Enterprises, Inc. (Bozeman, USDOT #612506) 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 granting the exemption to Bozeman would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved by the regulation.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its decision to grant an application from DJS Fundraising, Inc. (DJS, USDOT #612506) 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 granting the exemption to DJS would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved by the regulation.

FMCSA announces its decision to provisionally renew Groendyke Transport, Inc.'s (Groendyke) exemption to allow the use of an amber brake-activated pulsating lamp on the rear of its trailers in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). The exemption is renewed for 6 months, unless revoked earlier.

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

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 16 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting 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 operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating CMVs in interstate commerce.

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 that it has received an application from the State of Alaska for a renewal of its exemption from the limitations imposed by the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations on the State's ability to issue restricted CDLs. The exemption renewal would allow 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 current exemption would also be exempt from the Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) regulations. The State of Alaska currently holds an exemption for the period December 28, 2022, through December 30, 2024, and requests a five-year renewal of the exemption. FMCSA requests public comment on Alaska's request for exemption.

FMCSA announces its final decision to renew the U.S. Custom Harvesters, Inc. (USCHI) exemption from the intrastate restriction ("K") on commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) for custom harvester drivers operating in interstate commerce for a two-year period, with additional terms and conditions. FMCSA's regulations currently provide an exception to the minimum age requirements for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) engaged in custom harvesting operations in interstate commerce. However, under the Agency's CDL regulations, States may impose an intrastate-only (or "K") restriction for these drivers. On October 11, 2023, FMCSA announced its decision to provisionally renew USCHI's exemption for two years, pending a review of any comments received in response to that notice. After reviewing the four comments submitted to the docket, which are discussed later in this notice, the Agency believes that drivers who qualify for the exemption will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be achieved by complying with the "K" restriction.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) 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 an ICR titled, "Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program." This ICR was previously approved under emergency procedures on April 4, 2024, and expires on September 30, 2024. The ICR is necessary for FMCSA to continue data collection under a pilot program which seeks to determine the safety impacts of allowing 18- to 20-year- old commercial driver's license (CDL) holders to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The ICR covers data collected on drivers and carriers participating in the pilot program.

FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to incorporate by reference the most recent edition of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Inc.'s (AAMVA's) Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) State Procedures Manual (SPM), version c.0. This rule will require all State driver's licensing agencies (SDLAs) to use this edition of the manual to follow standard administrative practices required by the States, and other jurisdictions using the SPM when participating in CDLIS. Version c.0 of the CDLIS SPM provides users with instructions on the processes and procedures for using the information system.