Search Results for agency_names:"Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration"

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) decided to allow three drivers to bypass a vision requirement for interstate commercial driving. These drivers have vision limitations in one eye due to issues like amblyopia and cataracts; however, they have demonstrated safe driving abilities despite these limitations. Each exemption will last for two years, and conditions include annual medical exams to ensure continued qualification. The three drivers benefiting from this exemption are Terence L. Broadwater, Shannon L. Cagle, and Frank L. Crenshaw.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has decided to provisionally renew an exemption for R.J. Corman Railroad Services, Cranemasters, Inc., and the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association, Inc., which allows certain employees to drive commercial motor vehicles beyond the typical Hours of Service (HOS) limits during emergency responses. This six-month exemption permits employees to drive beyond the typical 14-hour on-duty limit and extends the 60- or 70-hour limits by six more hours to manage unplanned events such as derailments and storms. FMCSA encourages public comments on this decision by April 9, 2025. The renewal has specific terms to ensure safety, including mandatory training for drivers and using escort vehicles.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a provisional six-month renewal of an exemption for Navistar, Inc.'s driver, Thomas Nickels, from the commercial driver's license (CDL) regulations in the U.S. This exemption allows Mr. Nickels to drive Navistar's test vehicles in the U.S. without a state-issued CDL, as he holds a valid German commercial license. Mr. Nickels is testing new truck technologies to ensure they meet real-world conditions. Public comments are requested, and FMCSA may extend the exemption to five years after reviewing these comments.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is planning to renew its Information Collection Request on "Waiver and Exemption Requirements," under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This renewal will increase the estimated burden from 97 hours to 119 hours over the next three years, due to an expected rise in waiver and exemption applications. The FMCSA is inviting public comments on the necessity and accuracy of this information collection, as well as suggestions for improving its quality and reducing the burden on applicants. Comments are due by February 4, 2025, and can be submitted through multiple methods, including online and mail.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is considering an application from DISA Entertainment Compliance Solutions (DECS) to renew its exemption from the rule that requires a full query of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before hiring commercial drivers. Instead, DECS would perform a limited query first, which only checks if there is information about the driver in the system without revealing specific details. If something is flagged, a full query is necessary before the driver can be hired for jobs at entertainment production sites. Public comments on this renewal application are requested by April 24, 2025.

Albert Farley Jr. has asked the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for an exemption from certain training requirements to become a commercial driving instructor. Specifically, he wants to bypass the rule that instructors need at least two years of driving experience with the same type of vehicle they're teaching about. He argues that there's a strong demand for Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders in his area, and fulfilling the current requirements would be a financial burden and leave a gap at his workplace. The FMCSA is seeking public comments on whether to approve his request.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking public comments on its plan to renew an information collection request. This request is related to compliance with commercial driver licensing and testing standards, involving drivers and state licensing agencies, to ensure accurate recordkeeping of testing, licensing, and violations as stated in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986. Comments on the renewal, which does not include proposed changes from a previously discussed rule, need to be submitted by May 16, 2025. The FMCSA is particularly interested in feedback on the necessity of the data collection, its burden estimates, and ways to improve the information's quality and minimize the burden.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has denied Waymo LLC and Aurora Operations, Inc.'s application for an exemption from certain safety regulations related to Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) operated by Level 4 Automated Driving Systems. The companies sought to use "Cab-Mounted Warning Beacons" as an alternative to the traditional warning devices required when a CMV is stopped on the highway. Although public comments showed some support, the FMCSA decided that the proposed beacons did not demonstrate an equivalent or greater level of safety. The application was too vague and lacked necessary details and data to justify a nationwide exemption for all autonomous CMV operators.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has decided to exempt 20 individuals from the hearing requirement to drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. This exemption means that people who are hard of hearing or deaf can legally drive CMVs across state lines until January 22, 2023, provided they meet specific conditions, such as reporting crashes and keeping a copy of the exemption while driving. The decision was based on an assessment that shows these drivers can maintain a safety level equivalent to or greater than that of drivers without such exemptions.

The Department of Transportation issued a final rule that updates the penalties for violations of certain DOT regulations to account for inflation, as required by legislation from 2015. These updates affect various areas such as air and motor vehicle safety, hazardous materials transportation, and railroad operations. The changes include adjustments in the minimum and maximum fines that can be imposed for different types of violations. The rule was implemented immediately and did not include a notice and comment period, as per the stipulations of the legislation enabling these adjustments.