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

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 12 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 32 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 12 individuals for exemption from the prohibition against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 7 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 14 individuals for exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals to qualify as drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce.

The FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to remove the provision indicating that the Agency will consider a 10- day extension of the 45-day period after which passenger and hazardous materials carriers must cease operation after receiving a proposed unsatisfactory safety rating. The Agency previously discontinued this practice as a matter of policy and now amends the regulation to be consistent with the policy and the statutory language concerning this matter. Although FMCSA will continue to review requests for upgrades of proposed unsatisfactory safety rating for such carriers, the Agency will no longer grant extensions to the 45-day period.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 16 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces that it will hold a public listening session to solicit information, concepts, ideas, and information on hours-of- service (HOS) requirements for drivers of passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Specifically, the Agency would like to know what factors, issues, and data it should consider as it determines preliminarily whether the HOS regulations applicable to these drivers need to be changed to decrease the risk of fatigue-related crashes. The session, which will be held in Santa Barbara, CA, will allow interested persons to present comments, views, and relevant new research that FMCSA should consider in drafting a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). All comments will be transcribed and placed in the docket for FMCSA's consideration. The entire day's proceedings will be webcast.

FMCSA provides notice of the Agency's new policy concerning enforcement of its household goods (HHG) motor carrier and broker regulations. FMCSA may take enforcement action when a HHG motor carrier or broker knowingly and willfully fails, in violation of a contract, to deliver or unload at the destination a shipment of HHG for which charges have been estimated and for which payment has been tendered. A motor carrier or broker found holding a HHG shipment hostage may be subject to suspension of registration for a period of not less than 12 months to not more than 36 months.

FMCSA announces that the CSA Subcommittee of the MCSAC will hold a meeting on TuesdayWednesday, October 16-17, 2012. Established at the August 2012 meeting of the MCSAC in accordance with Task 12-03, the subcommittee will provide the MCSAC with concepts, ideas, and recommendations on the CSA program. The entire subcommittee meeting will be open to the public, with a public comment period to occur during the last one-half hour of each day.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 26 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA has received an application from Trailways companies identified below (``Trailways'') for an exemption from the hours-of- service (HOS) record of duty status provision in 49 CFR 395.8(c) that requires every commercial motor vehicle driver to record his or her duty status for each 24-hour period using methods prescribed in that section. FMCSA considers the request to be on behalf of all regular- route passenger carrier drivers. Trailways requests that these drivers be exempted from the requirement to enter a change in duty status on the daily log for breaks in driving time of 10 minutes or less, for the limited purpose of picking up or setting off passengers, baggage, or small express packages. Such time would not be considered a change of duty status for the purposes of 49 CFR 395.8(c). FMCSA requests public comment on Trailways' application for exemption.

This final rule makes technical corrections throughout title 49 CFR subtitle B, chapter III. The Agency is making minor editorial changes to add revised delegations of authority from the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary), correct errors and omissions, and improve clarity. This rule does not make any substantive changes to the affected parts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 19 individuals from its rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions will enable these individuals 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. FMCSA requests approval to revise an ICR entitled, ``Annual and Quarterly Report of Class I Motor Carriers of Passengers (formerly OMB 2139-0003),'' which the Agency uses to ensure that motor carriers of passengers comply with its financial and operating statistics requirements in chapter III of title 49 CFR part 369 entitled, ``Reports of Motor Carriers.'' The Agency invites public comment on this ICR. On April 20, 2012, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. FMCSA received one comment in response to the above notice. The comment did not address the burden or utility of the ICR.

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. FMCSA requests approval to revise an ICR entitled, ``Quarterly Report of Class I Motor Carriers of Property (formerly OMB 2139-0002),'' which the Agency uses to ensure that motor carriers comply with its financial and operating statistics requirements in chapter III of title 49 CFR part 369 entitled, ``Reports of Motor Carriers.'' FMCSA invites public comment on this ICR. On April 20, 2012, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. In response to the above notice, the Agency received one comment from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA), which requested that these reports no longer be required. FMCSA may consider this request in a future rulemaking regarding this information collection requirement.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 14 individuals for exemption from the prohibition against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 14 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 13 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 35 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 28 individuals for exemption from the prohibition against persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with ITDM 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. FMCSA requests approval to revise an ICR entitled, ``Annual Report of Class I and Class II Motor Carriers of Property (formerly OMB 2139-0004),'' which is used to ensure that motor carriers comply with FMCSA's financial and operating statistics requirements at chapter III of title 49 CFR part 369 entitled, ``Reports of Motor Carriers.'' The agency invites public comment on this ICR. On April 20, 2012, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. One comment was received in responses to the above notice from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc., (NMFTA) in support of continuing this ICR. FMCSA concurs with this comment.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 10 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision requirement in one eye. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these CMV drivers.