[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69605-69606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20304]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2006-24925]


Establishment of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Advisory 
Committee

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Request for applications for membership.

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SUMMARY: The FMCSA announces establishment of the Commercial Driver's 
License (CDL) Advisory Committee. Section 4135 of the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires creation of a ``task force'' to study 
and address current impediments and foreseeable challenges to the CDL 
Program's effectiveness and measures needed to realize the full safety 
potential of the Program. The FMCSA is chartering an advisory committee 
under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to satisfy this 
SAFETEA-LU requirement. This Notice provides background and details 
about the purpose and functions of the CDL Advisory Committee, in 
accordance with FACA, and discusses the issues the CDL Advisory 
Committee will study and address. The Secretary of Transportation will 
appoint to the CDL Advisory Committee 15 individuals, representing 
stakeholders. The CDL Advisory Committee will begin work by the end of 
calendar year 2006.

DATES: Applications must be received by January 2, 2007. FMCSA will 
periodically call for applications, as necessary.

[[Page 69606]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Lloyd Goldsmith, Office of State 
Programs, CDL Division, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590-0001. Telephone: (202) 366-2964. E-mail: [email protected]. 
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Congress found that one of the leading factors operating against 
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety is the possession of multiple 
licenses by commercial drivers. Drivers with multiple licenses spread 
their traffic violations over a number of licenses to maintain a ``good 
driver'' rating regardless of the number of violations they may have 
acquired in one or more States. In response to States' concerns, the 
Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act (CMVSA) of 1986 (49 U.S.C. 
31311(a)) directed the Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish, 
through the CDL Program, Federal minimum standards for licensing, 
testing, qualification, and classification of commercial drivers. The 
goal of CMVSA was to improve highway safety by ensuring that drivers of 
large trucks and buses were qualified to operate those vehicles and 
removing unsafe and unqualified drivers from the highways. CMVSA 
retained the State's right to issue a driver's license but established 
minimum national standards which States must meet when licensing CMV 
drivers.
    The established standards are based on CMVSA and were designed to: 
Prohibit commercial drivers from possessing more than one commercial 
license; require that commercial drivers pass meaningful written and 
driving tests; require special qualifications for hazardous materials 
drivers; and establish disqualifications and penalties for drivers 
convicted of the traffic violations specified in 49 CFR 383.51. States 
that fail to comply with the requirements imposed by DOT are subject to 
withholding of a percentage of their highway funds. To enable the 
States to fully implement the provisions of CMVSA, Congress required 
DOT to create a national Commercial Driver's License Information System 
(CDLIS) to enable States to communicate and exchange driver license 
information.
    FMCSA provides grant funds to States to support CDL Program 
activities. CMVSA authorized DOT, working in partnership with the 
States, to help implement the CDL Program by expending $60 million in 
order to meet the goals established by Congress. These funds were to be 
used to develop the knowledge and skills tests; create a CDLIS 
telecommunications network connecting all State Departments of Motor 
Vehicles (DMVs); create national computer software to support each 
State in sharing information among the DMVs; implement the testing and 
licensing procedures of each State; and implement in each State an 
information system that would support the Program. Congress has 
provided additional funding to continue to improve the Program, and to 
implement new program initiatives and systems enhancements mandated by 
subsequent legislation.
    FMCSA conducts compliance reviews to ensure that States comply with 
the provisions of section 12009(a) of CMVSA.

CDL Advisory Committee

    Section 4135 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 
109-59, August 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1736) directed the Secretary of 
Transportation to establish a ``task force'' to study and address 
current impediments and foreseeable challenges to the CDL Program's 
effectiveness. The FMCSA is chartering an advisory committee under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) to satisfy this SAFETEA-LU 
requirement.
    The CDL Advisory Committee will examine a number or issues, 
including the following:
    (1) State enforcement practices;
    (2) Operational procedures to detect and deter fraud;
    (3) Needed improvements for seamless information sharing between 
states;
    (4) Effective methods for accurately sharing electronic data 
between States;
    (5) Adequate proof of citizenship;
    (6) Updated technology; and
    (7) Timely notification from judicial bodies concerning traffic and 
criminal convictions of CDL holders.

Request for Applications

    FMCSA seeks applications for membership on the CDL Advisory 
Committee from interested persons who have education, training or 
experience in CDL issues. Specifically we seek applications from the 
following: State motor vehicle administrators, organizations 
representing government agencies or officials, members of the Judicial 
Conference, representatives of the trucking industry, representatives 
of labor organizations, safety advocates, and other significant 
stakeholders. To be eligible for appointment, members must be able to 
attend three to four meetings each year in the Washington, DC area and 
spend approximately five hours per month providing additional 
consultation. Interested individuals should have a commitment to 
transportation safety. For application information, please contact Mr. 
Lloyd Goldsmith at (202) 366-2964, or via e-mail at 
[email protected].

Conclusion

    The Department and the Agency are committed to making our Nation's 
highways safer by implementing and enforcing commercial driver's 
license program effectiveness measures.

    Issued on: November 27, 2006.
John H. Hill,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E6-20304 Filed 11-30-06; 8:45 am]
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