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

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 126 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirements in one eye.

In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, this final rule provides the 2019 inflation adjustment to civil penalty amounts that may be imposed for violations of certain DOT regulations.

The FMCSA proposes to allow driver applicants to take the commercial driver's license (CDL) general and specialized knowledge tests in a State (the testing State) other than the applicant's State of domicile. Under this proposed rule, a State would not be required to offer the knowledge tests to out-of-State applicants. However, if the testing State elects to offer the knowledge tests to these applicants, it would transmit the results to the State of domicile, which would be required to accept the results. Because this proposal would not change the existing standards for administration of the knowledge tests, the Agency concludes it would have no detrimental impact on safety.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant WestRock's request for renewal of its exemption from the hours-of-service (HOS) regulations that prohibit drivers from operating property-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) after the 14th hour after coming on duty and require 10 hours off-duty before driving. FMCSA renews this limited exemption for WestRock's shipping department employees and occasional substitute commercial driver's license (CDL) holders who transport paper mill products short distances between its shipping and receiving locations on a public road. The exemption is restricted to a specific route in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This exemption will allow these individuals to occasionally work up to 16 consecutive hours and be allowed to return to work with less than the mandatory 10 consecutive hours off duty. The Agency previously determined that the CMV operations of WestRock's drivers under this exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the 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 its review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR entitled ``Designation of Agents, Motor Carriers, Brokers and Freight Forwarders,'' which is used to provide registered motor carriers, property brokers, and freight forwarders a means of meeting process agent requirements.

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. This request, titled ``Crime Prevention for Truckers,'' will allow for a study to understand the prevalence, seriousness, and nature of the problem of harassment and assaults against minority and female truckers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) extends the comment period for its May 15, 2019 notice concerning a possible pilot program to allow non-military drivers aged 18, 19, and 20 to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. FMCSA received a request for an extension to the comment period from the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The Agency believes it is appropriate to extend the comment period to provide interested parties additional time to submit their responses to the notice. Therefore, the Agency extends the deadline for the submission of comments from July 15, 2019, to August 14, 2019.

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.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for three 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.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from ten individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against 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 control a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) to drive in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals who have had one or more seizures and are taking anti-seizure medication to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA proposes to allow States to permit a third party skills test examiner to administer the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) skills test to applicants to whom the examiner has also provided skills training. Under this proposal, States would have the option to permit this practice, which is currently prohibited under FMCSA rules. The Agency believes that allowing States to permit this practice could alleviate CDL skill testing delays and reduce inconvenience and cost for third party testers and CDL applicants, without negatively impacting safety.

FMCSA proposes to incorporate by reference the current policy and practices for FMCSA employees, State or local government employees, and contractors to obtain and maintain certifications for conducting driver or vehicle inspections, safety audits, or investigations. The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) requires FMCSA to incorporate by reference in its regulations the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) ``Operational Policy 4: Inspector Training and Certification.'' The CVSA policy is currently Attachment A to FMCSA's ``Certification Policy for Employees Who Perform Inspections, Investigations, and Safety Audits.'' This proposed rule, if adopted, also would replace an interim final rule (IFR) in place since 2002 that referenced the certification procedures published on the FMCSA website. FMCSA proposes to replace selected provisions of the IFR by incorporating by reference the FMCSA policy. No changes would be made to the certification policy or procedures currently followed by individuals to obtain and maintain certification to conduct driver or vehicle inspections, safety audits, or investigations. Other provisions of the IFR would be republished without change.

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. FMCSA requests approval to revise an ICR titled ``Training Certification for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle Operators,'' which will now be used to register providers of entry-level driver training and to provide State Drivers' Licensing Agencies with information on individuals who have completed said training. If approved, this revision would obviate the need for FMCSA to seek renewal on the ICR.

FMCSA has received an application from Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) asking the agency to extend the hours-of-service (HOS) exemption for agricultural operations to drivers transporting turfgrass sod for its business operations. FMCSA requests public comment on TPI's application for exemption.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application for exemption from United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS) from two provisions in the entry-level driver training (ELDT) final rule published on December 8, 2016. These provisions are the following: (1) The requirement that a driver training instructor have two years' experience and have held a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) for two years as set forth in the definitions of behind-the-wheel (BTW) instructor and theory instructor; and (2) the requirement to register each training location for a unique Training Provider Registry (TPR) number. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request for exemption.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from ten individuals for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt nine 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 its decision to exempt 12 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. They are unable to meet the vision requirement in one eye for various reasons. The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

FMCSA requests information on existing or potential sources of data to better understand driver detention times during the loading and unloading of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and the potential impact of such delays on roadway safety. A recent study by the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Office of Inspector General found that better data are needed to fully understand the issues associated with driver detention.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from seven individuals treated with Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce by persons with a current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive heart failure.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 74 individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirements in one eye.

FMCSA announces its decision to grant the application of RJR Transportation, Inc. (RJR) for an exemption to increase the 100 air- mile radius in ``short-haul operations'' to 150 air miles for its drivers. RJR requested the exemption for all its operators of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to enable the drivers not exceeding the 150 air-mile radius to utilize time records instead of a record of duty status (RODS) for that day. FMCSA has analyzed the exemption application and the public comments and has determined that the exemption, subject to the terms and conditions imposed, will likely achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved absent such exemption.

FMCSA requests public comment about Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) that may need to be amended, revised, or eliminated to facilitate the safe introduction of automated driving systems (ADS) equipped commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) onto our Nation's roadways. In approaching the task of adapting its regulations to accommodate automated vehicle technologies, FMCSA is considering changes to its rules to account for significant differences between human operators and ADS.

FMCSA announces a meeting of its Medical Review Board (MRB).

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from three individuals for an exemption from the prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) against operation of a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) by persons with a current clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary insufficiency, thrombosis, or any other cardiovascular disease of a variety known to be accompanied by syncope, dyspnea, collapse, or congestive heart failure. If granted, the exemptions would enable these individuals with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.