Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration November 21, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FMCSA announces its decision to grant an exemption to Navistar, Inc. (Navistar) and two drivers from the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, Mr. Thomas Nickels, Senior Vice President, Engineering Optimization, with MAN Truck & Bus SE (MAN) in Munich, Germany, and Mr. Lukas Walter, Senior Vice President, Engineering Powertrain for MAN, each of whom holds a valid German commercial license. MAN is partnering with Navistar to develop technological advancements in fuel economy and emissions reductions. Mr. Nickels and Mr. Walter need to test drive Navistar vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements in ``real world'' environments and verify results. Navistar believes that the requirements for a German commercial license ensure that operations under the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny North Shore Environmental Construction, Inc.'s (North Shore) application for exemption from the ``14-hour rule'' of the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations for drivers responding to actual and potential environmental emergencies. FMCSA analyzed the exemption application and the public comments and determined that the applicant will not achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the joint request from the American Bakers Association (ABA) and International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) for an exemption from the Federal hours-of-service (HOS) rules for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The requested exemption would have covered rivers engaged in the delivery of baked goods and milk products in anticipation of a natural disaster or emergency, such as extreme weather events, natural disasters, etc. FMCSA analyzed the application and public comments, and determined that drivers operating under the proposed exemption would not achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant the National Waste & Recycling Association's (NWRA) request for exemption from the requirement that short-haul drivers utilizing the records of duty status (RODS) exception return to their normal work-reporting location within 12 hours after coming on duty. The exemption enables all NWRA members' short-haul commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers in the waste and recycling industry to return to their work-reporting location within 14 hours (instead of the current 12 hours) without losing their short-haul status. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and the public comments and has determined that the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions imposed, will achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.