FMCSA has decided to exempt 10 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), allowing them to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce, despite being deaf or hard of hearing. This exemption, based on evidence showing that these drivers maintain a comparable level of safety, is effective from February 1, 2025, and will last for two years. The exempted drivers must follow specific conditions, such as reporting any accidents and maintaining driving records, and they are prohibited from driving passenger buses in interstate commerce. During the exemption period, states cannot enforce conflicting laws or regulations.
Simple Explanation
The government has decided that 10 people who can't hear well, or at all, can drive big trucks between states even though they normally wouldn't pass the hearing test. This is okay because they have shown they drive safely, but they have to follow some special rules and can't drive buses.