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

FMCSA withdraws its November 3, 2004, SNPRM that proposed requirements for the collection and use of documents to verify the accuracy of driver records of duty status. The FMCSA intends to publish a new notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) at a later date.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt seventeen 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.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announces the availability of Commercial Driver's License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grant funding as authorized by Section 4124 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The program is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for improving States' implementation of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, including expenses for computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel, training, and quality control. Grants to bring States into compliance with the requirements in 49 CFR parts 383 and 384 will receive priority. Grants made under this program may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or buildings. The agency in each State designated as the primary driver licensing agency responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the CDL program is eligible to apply for grant funding. To apply for funding, applicants must register with the grants.gov Web site (https://www.grants.gov/applicants/getregistered.jsp) and submit an application in accordance with instructions provided. Applications for grant funding must be submitted electronically to the FMCSA through the grants.gov Web site.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 27 individuals for exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals to qualify as drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the Federal vision standard.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 19 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 has published an opportunity to apply for FY2008 BEG funding on the grants.gov Web site (https:// www.grants.gov). Section 4110 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (Pub. L. 109- 59) established the BEG program. The program is a discretionary grant program that provides funding for border commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. An entity or a State that shares a land border with another country is eligible to receive grant funding. To apply for funding, applicants must register with the grants.gov Web site (https://www.grants.gov/ applicants/getregistered.jsp) and submit an application in accordance with instructions provided. Applications for grant funding must be submitted electronically to the FMCSA through the grants.gov Web site.

This final rule specifies inflation adjustments to civil penalties for violating the FMCSA regulations. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996. This final rule also makes a technical correction to include a reference to a paragraph created by an earlier rulemaking action.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 19 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standard. 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.

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. This proposed ICR will be used to collect information on recent interstate household goods shippers' (consumers) awareness of the Household Goods (HHG) Consumer Information Program messages and activities. This information collection will establish a baseline assessment of the Program's activities and aid FMCSA in developing future Household Goods education and outreach initiatives by surveying and examining consumer awareness of the ``Protect Your Move'' campaign and other HHG messages.

The FMCSA announces that it has received from Jcrane, Inc. (Jcrane) an application for an exemption from provisions of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations that require an individual who operates a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) of 10,001 or more pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) in interstate commerce to be a minimum of 21 years of age. The exemption would allow Jcrane's employees who are not yet 21 years of age to legally operate a CMV in interstate commerce. Jcrane states that the granting of the exemption would allow the company to better train crane operators and therefore increase overall safety. The FMCSA requests public comment on Jcrane's application for exemption.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 22 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcement and concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be 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 63 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The exemptions will enable these individuals to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce without meeting the prescribed vision standard. 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 previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 23 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcement and concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

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. This information collection notifies the FMCSA of a voluntary request by a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or property broker to amend or revoke its registration of authority granted. On April 3, 2007, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. No comments were received by the agency.

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 proposed ICR will be used to collect information on commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and passenger car drivers' awareness of the Share the Road Safely (STRS) safety messages and activities. This information collection will aid FMCSA in developing future Share the Road Safely initiatives by surveying and examining driver awareness of sharing the road safely by using safety messages and activities.

The FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Bordentown Driver Training, L.L.C., doing business as Smith & Solomon Driver Training (Smith & Solomon), seeking an exemption from the random controlled substances and alcohol testing regulations for student drivers enrolled in its commercial motor vehicle driver training program. Under the exemption, Smith & Solomon's student drivers would not be required to undergo random controlled substances and alcohol testing while enrolled in its 4-week driver-training program. The FMCSA requests public comment on Smith & Solomon's application for exemption.

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. The FMCSA requests approval to revise and extend an information collection (IC) entitled, ``Training Certification for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operators,'' that relates to the prerequisite training requirements for drivers of vehicles for which a commercial driver's license (CDL) is required. On May 23, 2007, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. No comments were received.

This rule establishes initial fees for 2007 and a fee bracket structure for the Unified Carrier Registration Agreement. This action is required under the Uniform Carrier Registration Act of 2005, enacted as Subtitle C of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.

The FMCSA announces its intent to proceed with a project to demonstrate the ability of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate safely in the United States, beyond the commercial zones along the U.S.-Mexico border. On May 1, 2007, FMCSA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its plans to initiate a project as part of the Agency's implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border trucking provisions, and requesting public comment on those plans. On June 8, 2007, FMCSA published a notice in response to section 6901(b)(2)(B) of the ``U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007'' (the 2007 Act) seeking public comment on certain additional details concerning the demonstration project. The FMCSA has reviewed, assessed and evaluated the required safety measures as noted in the previous notice, and considered all the comments received as of July 31, 2007 in response to the May 1 and June 8 notices. Once the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General completes his report to Congress, as required by section 6901(b)(1) of the 2007 Act, and the Agency completes any follow-up actions needed to address any issues that may be raised in the report, FMCSA will proceed with the demonstration project.

FMCSA announces that the MRB will hold its next meeting on October 15, 2007. The meeting will provide the public an opportunity to observe and participate in MRB deliberations about the revision and development of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) medical standards, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 52 individuals for exemptions 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 commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce.

The FMCSA published in the Federal Register on July 24, 2007, a document announcing regulatory guidance concerning its definition of ``accident.'' This notice corrects that document by providing the correct telephone number for the agency contact.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 52 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcement and concluded that granting these exemption renewals will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.