Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
Notice of application for renewal of exemption; request for comments.
FMCSA announces that it has received an application from CRST Expedited (CRST) for a renewal of its exemption from the regulation that requires a commercial learner's permit (CLP) holder to be accompanied by a commercial driver's license (CDL) holder with the proper CDL class and endorsements, seated in the front seat of the vehicle while the CLP holder operates it on public roads or highways. The exemption renewal would allow CLP holders who have passed the skills test but not yet received the CDL document to drive a CRST commercial motor vehicle (CMV) accompanied by a CDL holder who is not necessarily in the passenger seat, provided the driver has documentation of passing the skills test. CRST currently holds an exemption for the period September 23, 2016 through September 24, 2018. FMCSA requests public comment on CRST's application for exemption.
Comments must be received on or before September 10, 2018.
You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Number FMCSA–2015–0480 by any of the following methods:
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• Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments received without change to
Ms. Pearlie Robinson, FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards; Telephone: (202) 366–4225. Email:
FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and related materials.
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (FMCSA–2015–0480), indicate the specific section of this document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for suggestions or recommendations. You may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions regarding your submission.
To submit your comments online, go to
FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant exemptions from certain parts of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the
The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted, and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of the Agency must be published in the
CRST's initial exemption application from the provisions of 49 CFR 383.25(a)(1) was submitted in 2015; a copy is in the docket identified at the beginning of this notice. That 2015 application describes fully the nature of CRST's operations and CMV drivers. The exemption was granted on September 23, 2016 (81 FR 65696). CRST now requests a renewal of the exemption.
The current exemption excuses CRST from the requirement that a driver accompanying a CLP holder must be physically present at all times in the front seat of a CMV, on the condition that the CLP holder has successfully passed an approved CDL skills test. CRST's 2015 application argued that the existing requirement is inefficient and
CRST states that the exemption does not negatively affect safety outcomes. Instead, the exemption allows drivers trained out-of-State to obtain on-the-job experience in CRST's comprehensive training program while avoiding significant delays and skill degradation. The exemption creates immediate economic and safety benefits for both the CLP holders and CRST—drivers earn an income as part of a team operation while improving their driver skills and gaining valuable experience.
CRST indicated in its renewal application that data show that drivers utilizing the exemption demonstrated better safety outcomes than non-exempt drivers. Through the end of 2016, CRST reported zero accidents to FMCSA involving drivers utilizing the exemption.
In the June 12, 2017,
A copy of CRST's application for exemption renewal is available for review in the docket for this notice.