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

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) requesting a renewal of an approved information collection for review and approval. This ICR applies to: Existing registrants (i.e., entities that already have a USDOT number and/or operating authority) that are subject to FMCSA's licensing, registration, and certification regulations that wish to apply for additional authorities; and Mexico- domiciled carriers that wish to operate beyond the U.S. municipalities on the U.S.-Mexico border and their commercial zones. Existing registrants seeking additional authorities must use forms OP-1, OP- 1(P), OP-1(FF), and OP-1(NNA), to apply for such authority. Mexico- domiciled carriers seeking the authority described above must apply for such authority using Form OP-1(MX).

FMCSA proposes amendments to its Hazardous Materials Safety Permits (HMSPs) regulations to incorporate by reference the updated Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) handbook containing inspection procedures and Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC) for inspections of shipments of transuranic waste and highway route- controlled quantities (HRCQs) of radioactive material (RAM). The OOSC provide enforcement personnel nationwide, including FMCSA's State partners, with uniform enforcement tolerances for inspections. Currently, the regulations reference the April 1, 2023, edition of the handbook. Through this notice, FMCSA proposes to incorporate by reference the April 1, 2024, edition.

FMCSA announces a virtual public meeting to engage stakeholdersincluding motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, insurance companies, financial institutions, process agents, blanket companies, and third-party service providersto hear more on their perspectives on improving the registration experience with FMCSA. This is the second instance of FMCSA's Registration Modernization Stakeholder Day; the first meeting was held in person at FMCSA headquarters on January 17, 2024.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny applications from 14 individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting 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 operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) from operating 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. FMCSA requests approval for a new ICR titled "FMCSA Registration System (FRS)". FMCSA is replacing its Unified Registration System (URS), with a new, online registration system, which will be named the "FMCSA Registration System" (FRS). The new system will allow all persons required to register under the Agency's commercial or safety jurisdiction to do so online. Specifically, this new ICR will apply to: new registrants applying for safety and/or operating authority registration for the first time from FMCSA; existing registrants (i.e., entities that already have a USDOT number and/or operating authority) that are subject to FMCSA's registration and certification regulations that wish to apply for additional authorities; Mexico-domiciled carriers that wish to operate beyond the U.S. municipalities on the U.S.-Mexico border and their commercial zones; registrants seeking to process name changes, address changes, and reinstatements of operating authority for motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers; registrants which are requesting to voluntarily suspend their safety and/or operating authority registration with FMCSA; and motor carriers, brokers and freight forwarders that must designate an agent on whom service of notices in proceedings before the Secretary may be made. It will also apply to designated agents and those entities providing proof of financial responsibility requirements, such as insurance companies and bond agents.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 14 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 announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 11 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 renew exemptions for 18 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue 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 review and approval. In order to work continuously to ensure that our programs are effective and meet our customers' needs, FMCSA requests approval to renew an ICR titled, "Generic Clearance of Customer Satisfaction Surveys." This ICR allows FMCSA to continue collecting feedback on our service delivery. By feedback, we mean information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions but are not statistical surveys that yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study.

FMCSA announces its decision to deny the applications from two individuals treated with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) 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 (transient loss of consciousness), dyspnea (shortness of breath), collapse, or congestive heart failure.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for six 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 extends the comment period for its February 16, 2024, notice requesting information from the public, including commercial motor vehicle drivers, to assist the Agency's Truck Leasing Task Force in reviewing such leases to identify terms and conditions that may be unfair to drivers. FMCSA extends the comment period until April 2, 2024.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for nine individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Arbert Ibraimi to be exempt from the requirement that drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) use an electronic logging device (ELD) to record their hours of service (HOS). The applicant requests to use paper logs instead of an ELD for 12 months and asserts that because he is a new business operating as an owner-operator he cannot afford an ELD. FMCSA requests public comment on the applicant's request 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 information collected will be used to help ensure that motor carriers of passengers and property maintain the statutorily mandated levels of financial responsibility to operate on public highways. On October 3, 2023, FMCSA published a notice in the Federal Register with a 60-day comment period to announce its intention to submit this ICR to OMB for renewal. FMCSA received no comments in response to the published notice.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 13 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.

In a notice of provisional renewal of exemption published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2024, FMCSA announced its decision to provisionally renew an exemption requested jointly by the Automobile Carriers Conference of the American Trucking Associations and the Auto Haulers Association of America to relieve motor carriers operating stinger-steered automobile transporter equipment from the requirement to place warning flags on projecting loads of new and used motor vehicles. The provisional exemption renewal contained an error in the Summary section regarding the term of the provisional exemption. The Agency corrects this error.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions for 16 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to incorporate by reference the most recent edition of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Inc. (AAMVA) Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) State Procedures Manual (SPM), Version c.0. This would require all State driver's licensing agencies (SDLAs) to use this edition of the manual to provide guidance on the information systems procedures of the commercial driver's license (CDL) program. Such information includes, but is not limited to, CDL standards, State compliance with CDL programs, qualifications of drivers, and credentials and security threats assessments.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 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.

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 notice invites comments on a proposed information collection titled Impact of Driver Detention Time on Safety and Operations. This research study will collect data on commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver detention time representative of the major segments of the motor carrier industry, analyze that data to determine the frequency and severity of detention time, and assess the utility of existing intelligent transportation systems (ITS) solutions to measure detention time. Approximately 80 carriers and 2,500 CMV drivers will provide data in the study. The study will provide a better understanding of the impact of driver detention time on driver safety and CMV operations and inform strategies that may be used to mitigate driver detention time. The number of public comments received in response to the 60-day FR notice was 171.

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 the ICR titled, ``Application for Certificate of Registration for Foreign Motor Carriers and Foreign Motor Private Carriers,'' OMB Control No. 2126-0019. Foreign (Mexico-based) for-hire and private motor carriers are required to file an application Form OP-2 if they wish to register to transport property within municipalities in the United States on the U.S.-Mexico international border or within the commercial zones of such municipalities. The Certificate of Registration only permits the holder to operate in the United States within these areas. A holder of a Certificate of Registration who operates a vehicle beyond these areas is subject to applicable penalties and out-of-service orders.

FMCSA announces its final decision to grant the exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) requirements requested by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) for all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers providing transportation to or from a theatrical or television motion picture production site. This renewal of the exemption allows drivers to complete paper records of duty status (RODS) instead of using an ELD. FMCSA announced its decision to provisionally renew MPA's exemption on November 3, 2022, pending a review of any comments received in response to that notice. After reviewing the four comments submitted to the docket, which are discussed in this notice, the Agency believes that drivers who qualify for the exemption will likely maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be achieved by complying with the ELD requirements.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.