The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the Department of Transportation, announced that it is exempting 16 individuals from the hearing requirements normally needed to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) across state lines. These exemptions allow hard of hearing and deaf individuals to legally drive CMVs in interstate commerce and are valid for two years, starting December 24, 2024. The decision was made after determining that these drivers could maintain an equivalent or higher level of safety compared to those meeting the hearing requirements. The conditions of the exemption include specific reporting obligations and a prohibition on driving passenger buses across state lines.
Simple Explanation
The government is letting 16 people who can't hear well drive big trucks across states because they found these drivers can be just as safe as ones who can hear. However, these drivers can't use the trucks to drive people on buses between states.