Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to grant requests from four individuals for exemptions from the regulatory requirement 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 regulation and the associated advisory criteria published in the Code of Federal Regulations as the ``Instructions for Performing and Recording Physical Examinations'' have resulted in numerous drivers being prohibited from operating CMVs in interstate commerce based on the fact that they have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication, rather than an individual analysis of their circumstances by a qualified medical examiner. The Agency concluded that granting exemptions for these CMV drivers will provide a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without the exemptions. FMCSA grants exemptions that will allow these four individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce for a 2-year period. The exemptions preempt State laws and regulations and may be renewed.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 71 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 and invites public comment. The FMCSA requests approval to revise an existing ICR titled, ``Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery,'' due to an increase in the annual cost to respondents. This ICR will allow for ongoing, collaborative and actionable communication between FMCSA and its customers and stakeholders. It will also allow feedback to contribute directly to the improvement of program management.

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 of a new ICR titled, ``Motorcoach Passenger Survey: Motorcoach Safety and Pre-Trip Safety Awareness and Emergency Preparedness Information (OMB Control Number 2126-XXXX),'' to assess the current levels of voluntary compliance by motorcoach operators and to obtain passenger opinions of the implementation of pre-trip safety awareness and emergency preparedness information. On May 15, 2013, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice allowing for a 60-day comment period on the ICR. The Agency received no comments on the notice. In addition, on October 18, 2011, FMCSA published an initial emergency request and 30-day notice, and received no comments.

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 its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 25 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 the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee's (MCSAC) Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) subcommittees will meet from April 29-30, 2014, in Arlington, VA. The CSA subcommittee will meet to discuss ideas, concepts, and suggestions on FMCSA's CSA program with the intent of preparing a letter report for submission to the full MCSAC in May 2014. The meeting is open to the public and there will be a public comment period at the end of each day. Times and Dates: The meeting will be held TuesdayWednesday, April 29-30, 2014, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (E.D.T.). The meeting will be held at the Federal Highway Administration's National Highway Institute, 1310 N. Courthouse Road, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201. An agenda for the meeting will be made available in advance of the meeting at https://mcsac.fmcsa.dot.gov.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), after consultation with representatives of the governors of the affected States, rescinds certain covered emergency exemptions. The exemptions originally took effect automatically upon declaration of an emergency by various governors or FMCSA, and were extended by FMCSA after consultation with representatives of the governors. The President signed the ``Home Heating Emergency Assistance Through Transportation Act of 2014'' (HHEATT Act, or ``the Act'') on March 21, 2014. The Act extends until May 31, 2014, all ``covered emergency exemptions'' created between February 5, 2014, and March 21, 2014, to provide regulatory relief to commercial motor vehicle operators directly supporting the delivery of propane and other home heating fuels. In accordance with the Act, FMCSA has consulted with representatives of each of the governors to determine whether emergency circumstances still exist and has determined that certain covered emergency exemptions created under the HHEATT Act are no longer necessary and should be rescinded.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (Virginia DMV) for a limited exemption from the Agency's commercial driver's license (CDL) regulation. Section 383.77(b)(1) allows a State to waive the CDL skills test described in 49 CFR 383.113 for applicants regularly employed or previously employed within the last 90 days in a military position requiring operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). Virginia DMV proposes that it be allowed to extend the 90-day timeline to one year following the driver's separation from military service. Virginia DMV believes the 90-day timeframe is too short to take advantage of the waiver for many of the qualified discharged veterans reentering and settling into civilian life. FMCSA requests public comment on Virginia DMV's application for exemption. In addition, because the issues concerning the Virginia DMV request could be applicable in each of the States, FMCSA requests public comment whether the exemption, if granted, should cover all State Driver's Licensing Agencies (SDLAs).

FMCSA announces that 4 individuals have applied for a medical exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). In accordance with the statutory requirements concerning applications for exemptions, FMCSA requests public comments on these requests. The statute and implementing regulations concerning exemptions require that exemptions must provide an equivalent or greater level of safety than if they were not granted. If the Agency determines the exemptions would satisfy the statutory requirements and decides to grant theses requests after reviewing the public comments submitted in response to this notice, the exemptions would enable 4 individuals 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 6 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 59 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 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 Daimler Trucks North America (Daimler) has requested an exemption for one commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver from the Federal requirement to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. Daimler requests that the exemption cover a project engineer who will test drive CMVs for Daimler within the United States. This driver holds a valid German CDL and wants to test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements for these systems in ``real world'' environments, and verify results. Daimler believes the requirements for a German CDL ensure that the same level of safety is met or exceeded as if this driver had a U.S. State-issued CDL.

FMCSA announces that it is reinstating the informal hearing procedure authorized under the Rules of Practice for Motor Carrier, Intermodal Equipment Provider, Broker, Freight Forwarder, and Hazardous Materials Proceedings (Rules of Practice), codified at 49 CFR part 386. On June 7, 2010, the Agency stated that it would not entertain new requests for informal hearings pending a reevaluation of the procedure, based on concerns about the neutrality of Agency Hearing Officers. After conducting numerous informal hearings (involving cases that were pending at the time the 2010 notice was published) with an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel's Section of Adjudications serving as Hearing Officer, the Agency believes informal hearings should remain an option for administrative adjudication of contested civil penalty claims and will again permit respondents in enforcement cases to request this option. Prior to June 7, 2010, FMCSA had made informal hearings available only to respondents located within its Eastern and Midwestern Service Centers. The Agency removes this geographical limitation and will make informal hearings available to all respondents, regardless of where they are domiciled.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (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 FMCSA requests approval to reinstate an ICR titled, ``Motor Carrier Safety Grants Programs,'' (formerly Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP)). The information required consists of grant application preparation, quarterly reports and electronic data documenting the results of driver/vehicle inspections performed by the States. The FMCSA previously requested and received OMB approval to use the existing Forms in this ICR to also collect the same information required by its MCSAP grants: MCSAP Basis/Incentive (MCG), Border Enforcement Grant (BEG), New Entrant (MNE) Grant, and High Priority (MHP) Grant, the Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI) Grant, Commercial Driver License Information System (CDLIS) Grant, and Performance and Registration Information System Management (PRISM) Grant programs are covered by this ICR. The FMCSA now requests to include the following grant programs in this information collection: Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN), Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant (CMVOST), and Safety Data Improvement Program (SaDIP). In addition, the name of this ICR is being changed to: ``Motor Carrier Safety Grants Programs,'' to more accurately describe the purpose of this ICR.

FMCSA amends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) by revising the definition of ``gross combination weight rating'' (or GCWR) to clarify the applicability of the Agency's safety regulations for single-unit trucks (vehicles other than truck tractors) when they are towing trailers, and the GCWR information is not included on the vehicle manufacturer's certification label.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 40 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 17 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 13 individuals for an exemption from the prohibition against persons with a clinical diagnosis of epilepsy or any other condition which 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. The regulation and the associated advisory criteria published in the Code of Federal Regulations as the ``Instructions for Performing and Recording Physical Examinations'' have resulted in numerous drivers being prohibited from operating CMVs in interstate commerce based on the fact that they have had one or more seizures and are taking anti- seizure medication, rather than an individual analysis of their circumstances by a qualified medical examiner. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs for 2 years 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 approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to revise the ICR entitled ``Training Certification for Drivers of Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs),'' due to a change in the estimated number of annual responses. This ICR relates to Agency requirements for driver certification to operate LCVs that motor carriers must satisfy before permitting their drivers to operate LCVs. Motor carriers, upon inquiry by authorized Federal, State or local officials, must produce an LCV driver-training certificate for each of their LCV drivers.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 46 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.

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 21 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.