[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 110 (Friday, June 8, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31877-31894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-2870]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2007-28055]


Demonstration Project on NAFTA Trucking Provisions

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

ACTION: Notice; supplemental request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The FMCSA announces additional details about the initiation of 
a project to demonstrate the ability of Mexico-domiciled motor carriers 
to operate safely in the United States beyond the commercial zones 
along the U.S.-Mexico border. On May 1, 2007, FMCSA published a notice 
in the Federal Register announcing its plans to initiate the project as 
part of the Agency's implementation of the North American Free Trade 
Agreement (NAFTA) cross-border trucking provisions. In response to 
section 6901(b)(2)(B) of the ``U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans'' Care, 
Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007,'' 
FMCSA provides for public comment certain additional details concerning 
the demonstration project. The FMCSA will carefully consider all 
comments received in response to the May 1, 2007, notice and this 
supplemental notice before further decisions are made concerning the 
implementation of the NAFTA trucking demonstration/pilot project.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 28, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT DMS Docket Number 
FMCSA-2007-28055 by any of the following methods:
     Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site. Please note that 
the web site will not be available for use from June 13 through June 
17, 2007 (72 FR 28092; May 18, 2007). During this period the Department 
of Transportation will be relocating the computers that host the 
electronic dockets. The electronic docket will again be available to 
users beginning on June 18, 2007. While the electronic docket is down 
from June 13 through June 17, interested parties may submit comments by 
fax, mail, or hand delivery, as described below. However, staff will 
not begin to place documents received during this period into the 
electronic docket until the computer goes back on line June 18.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington DC, 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Please note 
that submission of comments via this web site will be affected by the 
relocation of the Department's computers which host its electronic 
docket system.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and 
docket number for this notice. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments and additional information, see the Public Participation 
heading below. Note that all comments received will be posted without 
change to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Docket: For access to the Docket Management System (DMS) to read 
background documents or comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at 
any time or to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington DC, 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The DMS is 
available electronically 24 hours each day, 365 days each year, except 
as noted above.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Public Participation: The DMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 
days each year, except during the relocation period noted above. You 
can get electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under 
the ``help'' section of the DMS Web site. Comments received after the 
comment closing date will be included in the docket, and will be 
considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Milt Schmidt. Telephone (202) 366-
4049; E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On May 1, 2007, FMCSA announced the initiation of a project to 
demonstrate the ability of Mexico-based motor carriers to operate 
safely in the United States beyond the commercial zones along the U.S.-
Mexico border (72 FR 23883). The demonstration project will allow up to 
100 Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate throughout the United 
States for one year. Up to 100 U.S.-domiciled motor carriers will be 
granted reciprocal rights to operate in Mexico for the same period. 
Participating Mexican carriers and drivers must comply with all 
applicable U.S. laws and regulations, including those concerned with 
motor carrier safety, customs, immigration, vehicle emissions, vehicle 
registration and taxation, and fuel taxation. The Agency explained the 
safety performance of the participating carriers will be tracked 
closely by FMCSA and its State partners, a joint U.S.-Mexico monitoring

[[Page 31878]]

group, and an evaluation panel independent of the Department of 
Transportation (DOT). The FMCSA indicated the resulting data will be 
considered carefully before further decisions are made concerning the 
implementation of the NAFTA trucking provisions. The comment period for 
the notice ended on May 31.
    On May 25, 2007, the President signed into law the U.S. Troop 
Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability 
Appropriations Act, 2007 (the Act), (Pub. L. 110-28). Section 6901 of 
the Act requires that certain actions be taken by the Department of 
Transportation (the Department) as a condition of obligating or 
expending appropriated funds to grant authority to Mexico-domiciled 
motor carriers to operate beyond United States municipalities and 
commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border. Section 6901(a) of 
the Act requires that granting of such authority be tested as part of a 
``pilot program.'' The pilot program must comply with section 350 of 
the DOT and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2002 
(Pub. L. 107-87, 115 Stat. 833, at 864) and 49 U.S.C. 31315(c), 
concerning requirements for pilot programs.

Section 6901(a)--Fulfilling the Requirements of Section 350

    Section 350 of the DOT Appropriations Act, 2002 (Pub. L. 107-87), 
prohibited FMCSA from using Federal funds to review or process 
applications from Mexico-domiciled motor carriers to operate beyond the 
border commercial zones until certain conditions and safety 
requirements were met. The requirements of section 350 have been 
reenacted in each subsequent DOT Appropriations Act since 2002. The 
rulemaking requirements of section 350 were met by a series of rules 
published on March 19, 2002 (67 FR 12652, 67 FR 12702, 67 FR 12758, 67 
FR 12776) and a further rule published on May 13, 2002 (67 FR 31978).
    In November 2002, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta 
certified, as required by section 350(c)(2), that authorizing Mexican 
carrier operations beyond the border commercial zones does not pose an 
unacceptable safety risk to the American public. Later that month, the 
President modified the longstanding moratorium to permit Mexico-
domiciled motor carriers to provide cross-border cargo transportation 
beyond the border commercial zones. The Secretary's certification was 
made in response to the June 25, 2002, report of DOT's Office of 
Inspector General (OIG) on the implementation of safety requirements at 
the U.S.-Mexico border. In a January 2005 follow-up report, the OIG 
concluded that FMCSA had sufficient staff, facilities, equipment, and 
procedures in place to substantially meet all eight requirements under 
section 350 the OIG was required to review.
    In consideration of the above OIG reports which are available in 
docket FMCSA-2007-28055, and FMCSA's May 1, 2007, announcement that 
participating carriers will be required to comply with all rules issued 
in response to section 350 (in addition to full compliance with all 
safety regulations applicable to U.S.-domiciled motor carriers), the 
Agency believes the provision in the 2007 supplemental appropriations 
act mandating that the demonstration project satisfy the requirements 
of section 350 has already been satisfied. The Agency requests public 
comment on this issue.

Section 6901(a)--Fulfilling the Requirements of 49 U.S.C. 31315

    Section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(TEA-21) amended 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 concerning the Secretary 
of Transportation's authority to grant waivers from the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for those seeking regulatory relief 
from those requirements. With the enactment of TEA-21, FMCSA may grant 
a waiver or exemption that relieves a person from compliance in whole 
or in part with a regulation if the Agency determines that the waiver 
is in the public interest, and the waiver or exemption would be likely 
to achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level 
that would be achieved by complying with the applicable regulation. 
Section 4007 of TEA-21 also permits FMCSA to conduct pilot programs to 
evaluate alternatives to regulations relating to motor carrier, 
commercial motor vehicle (CMV), and driver safety.\1\
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    \1\ On August 20, 2004, FMSCA published a final rule 
implementing section 4007.
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    In a pilot program, the FMCSA collects specific data for evaluating 
alternatives to the regulations or innovative approaches to safety 
while ensuring that the safety performance goals of the regulations are 
satisfied. A pilot program may not last more than 3 years. The number 
of participants in a pilot program must be large enough to ensure 
statistically valid findings. Pilot programs must include an oversight 
plan to ensure that participants comply with the terms and conditions 
of participation, and procedures to protect the health and safety of 
study participants and the general public. As part of a pilot program, 
temporary regulatory relief from one or more FMCSR may be given to a 
person or class of persons subject to the regulations, or a person or 
class of persons who intend to engage in an activity that would be 
subject to the regulations. During the pilot program, these 
participants would be given an exemption from one or more sections or 
parts of the regulations.
    The FMCSA believes the requirement that the demonstration project 
satisfy the pilot program statutory provision is satisfied through the 
May 1, 2007, notice, and the additional details contained in this 
notice. The Agency notes that during the demonstration project 
participating Mexico-domiciled motor carriers would not be provided 
with relief from any of the rules implementing section 350, or any of 
the safety regulations.

Section 6901(b)(2)(B) of the Act

    Section 6901(b)(2)(B) of the Act provides that FMCSA must request 
public comment on five specific aspects of the demonstration project. 
For the convenience of the reader, these items are listed below. A 
complete copy of section 6901 is included in the docket FMCSA-2007-
28055.
    (1) Comprehensive data and information on the pre-authorization 
safety audits (PASAs) conducted before and after the date of enactment 
of this Act of motor carriers domiciled in Mexico that are granted 
authority to operate beyond the United States municipalities and 
commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border;
    (2) Specific measures to be required to protect the health and 
safety of the public, including enforcement measures and penalties for 
noncompliance;
    (3) Specific measures to be required to ensure compliance with 
section 391.11(b)(2) of title 49, CFR, concerning FMCSA's English 
language proficiency requirement, and section 365.501(b) of title 49, 
CFR, concerning FMCSA's prohibition against Mexico-domiciled drivers 
engaging in the transportation of domestic freight within the U.S.;
    (4) Specific standards to be used to evaluate the pilot program and 
compare any change in the level of motor carrier safety as a result of 
the pilot program; and
    (5) A list of Federal motor carrier safety laws and regulations, 
including the commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements, for which 
the Secretary of Transportation will accept compliance with a 
corresponding Mexican law or regulation as the equivalent to

[[Page 31879]]

compliance with the United States law or regulation, including for each 
law or regulation an analysis as to how the corresponding United States 
and Mexican laws and regulations differ.

FMCSA Approach for Fulfilling the Requirements of Section 6901(b)(2)(B) 
of the Act

Comprehensive Data and Information on Pre-Authorization Safety Audits

    As noted above, section 6901(b)(2)(B)(i) of the Act requires FMCSA 
to publish comprehensive data and information on the PASAs conducted 
before and after the date of enactment of this Act of motor carriers 
domiciled in Mexico that are granted authority to operate beyond the 
United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-
Mexico border. No carriers have yet been granted authority to operate 
beyond the municipalities and commercial zones as part of this 
demonstration project. Consequently, at this time there is no 
requirement to publish data or information from any of the PASAs 
conducted. Nonetheless, FMCSA has chosen to go ahead and publish data 
and information relating to all PASAs conducted to date.
    The FMCSA includes one table in the text of this notice and three 
additional tables at the end of this Federal Register notice. Table 1 
below outlines the specific U.S. and Mexican regulations in the three 
areas where the Mexican regulations or processes are being accepted as 
meeting U.S. requirements.
    Table 2 contains general information on the PASAs the Agency 
completed before the enactment of the Act, and any completed since 
then. Table 3 contains the results of each applicant's PASA, if 
applicable. Table 4 contains data about each applicant's PASA, if 
applicable. The first three columns of tables 2, 3, and 4 are the same 
in each table for the ease of the reader. The information for all three 
tables is in USDOT number order. Applicants who had not been issued a 
presumptive USDOT number as of May 31, 2007 are listed at the end of 
the table. Rows 1 through 107 on each of the three tables applies to 
the same motor carrier applicant. For example, row 6 contains 
information for David Klassen Peters, USDOT Number 556741 on tables 2, 
3, and 4. A narrative description of each column heading contained 
within tables 2, 3, and 4 is provided below:
    A. Column A--Row: Sequential number for ease of reading across 
tables 2, 3, and 4. Row 6 contains all the information for the same 
motor carrier split across the three tables. FMCSA has repeated this 
column on tables 2, 3, and 4.
    B. Column B--Name of Carrier: The legal name of the Mexico-
domiciled motor carrier that applied for authority to operate in the 
United States (U.S.) beyond the municipalities and commercial zones and 
was considered for participation in the cross border demonstration 
project. FMCSA has repeated this column on tables 2, 3, and 4.
    C. Column C--US DOT Number: The identification number presumptively 
assigned to the Mexico-domiciled motor carrier and required to be 
displayed on each side of the power unit. If granted provisional 
operating authority, the Mexico domiciled motor carrier will be 
required to add the suffix ``X'' to the ending of its assigned U.S. DOT 
Number. FMCSA has repeated this column on tables 2, 3, and 4.
    D. Column D--PASA Scheduled: The date the PASA was scheduled to be 
initiated.
    E. Column E--PASA Completed: The date the PASA was completed.
    F. Column F--PASA Results: The results upon completion of the PASA. 
The PASA undergoes a quality assurance review prior to approval. The 
quality assurance process involves a dual review by the FMCSA Division 
Office Supervisor of the Auditor assigned to conduct the PASA and the 
FMCSA Service Center New Entrant Specialist designated for the specific 
FMCSA Division Office. The dual review ensures the successfully 
completed PASA was conducted in accordance with FMCSA policy, 
procedures and guidance. Upon approval the PASA is uploaded into the 
FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS). The PASA 
information and results are then recorded in the Mexico-domiciled motor 
carrier's safety performance record in MCMIS.
    1. ``Passed'' status refers to a motor carrier that has 
successfully completed the PASA and the quality assurance process and 
is listed as approved in MCMIS.
    2. ``Pending'' status refers to a motor carrier that has 
successfully completed a PASA, but the results are pending FMCSA 
approval through the quality assurance review.
    3. ``Failed'' status refers to a motor carrier for which FMCSA was 
unable to verify one or more of the five mandatory elements in Part 
365, Subpart E, Appendix A, Section III; or a motor carrier that has 
inadequate basic safety management controls in three or more factors 
set forth in Part 365, Subpart E, Appendix A, Section IV(f).
    4. ``Withdrew'' status refers to a motor carrier that, after being 
contacted by the Safety Auditor, has chosen to withdraw from 
participating in the cross border demonstration project, or has 
withdrawn its application required to obtain authority to operate 
beyond the municipalities and commercial zones.
    5. ``Unable to contact'' status refers to a motor carrier that the 
assigned FMCSA Safety Auditor has been unable to contact based on the 
information submitted or filed by the motor carrier in its application.
    G. Column G--FMCSA Register: The date the publication notice was 
generated in the FMCSA Register of a successfully completed PASA. The 
FMCSA Register notice advises interested parties that the application 
has been preliminarily granted and that protests to the application 
must be filed within 10 days of the publication date. Protests are 
filed with FMCSA Headquarters in Washington, DC. The FMCSA Register can 
be viewed by going to: http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_html.prc_limain and then selecting ``FMCSA Register'' from the drop-
down box in the upper right corner of the screen. The notice in the 
FMCSA Register lists the following information:
    1. Current registration number (e.g., MX-123456);
    2. Date the notice was filed in the FMCSA Register;
    3. The applicant name and address, and 4.Representative or contact 
information for the applicant.
    H. Column H--Drivers Identified Who Motor Carrier Intends to 
Operate in the United States: The total number of drivers the motor 
carrier intends to operate in the United States.
    I. Column I--Vehicles Identified Which Motor Carrier Intends to 
Operate in the United States: The total number of power units the motor 
carrier intends to operate in the United States.
    J. Column J--Passed Verification 5 Elements (Yes/No): A Mexico-
domiciled motor carrier will not be granted provisional operating 
authority if FMCSA cannot verify all of the following five mandatory 
elements. FMCSA must:
    1. Verify a controlled substances and alcohol testing program 
consistent with 49 CFR part 40.
    2. Verify a system of compliance with hours-of-service rules 
consistent with 49 CFR part 395, including recordkeeping and retention;
    3. Verify proof of financial responsibility consistent with 49 CFR 
part 387;
    4. Verify records of periodic vehicle inspections consistent with 
49 CFR part 396; and

[[Page 31880]]

    5. Verify the qualifications of each driver the carrier intends to 
use under such authority, as required by parts 383 and 391, including 
confirming the validity of each driver's Licencia Federal de Conductor.
    K. Column K--If Motor Carrier Failed Pre-Authorization Safety 
Audit, Which Element(s) Failed: If FMCSA could not verify one of the 
five mandatory elements outlined in Part 365, Appendix A, Section III, 
this column will specify which mandatory element(s) could not be 
verified.
    Please note that for columns L through P below and shown on table 3 
at the end of this notice, during the PASA, after verifying the five 
mandatory elements discussed in column J above and also shown on table 
3, FMCSA will gather additional information. The additional information 
FMCSA will gather is to review a motor carrier's compliance with 
``acute and critical'' regulations of the FMCSRs and Hazardous 
Materials Regulations (HMRs). This is nearly identical to new entrant 
audits and compliance reviews of U.S.- and Canada-domiciled motor 
carriers, except for those statutory provisions unique to Mexico-
domiciled motor carriers. Acute regulations are those where 
noncompliance is so severe as to require immediate corrective actions 
by a motor carrier regardless of the overall basic safety management 
controls of the motor carrier. Critical regulations are those where 
noncompliance relates to management and/or operational controls. These 
are indicative of breakdowns in a carrier's management controls. A list 
of acute and critical regulations is included in part 385, Appendix B, 
Section VII.
    Parts of the FMCSRs and HMRs having similar characteristics are 
combined together into six regulatory areas called ``factors.'' The 
regulatory factors are intended to evaluate the adequacy of carrier's 
management controls.
    Factor 5 relates to the transportation of hazardous materials and 
was omitted below, as Mexico-domiciled motor carriers that transport 
hazardous materials are not permitted to participate in the cross 
border demonstration project.
    L. Column L--Passed Phase 1, Factor 1: A ``yes'' in this column 
indicates the carrier has successfully met Factor 1 (listed in Part 
365, Subpart E, Appendix A, Section IV(f)). Factor 1 includes the 
General Requirements outlined in Parts 387 (Minimum Levels of Financial 
Responsibility for Motor Carriers) and 390 (Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations-General).
    M. Column M--Passed Phase 1, Factor 2: A ``yes'' in this column 
indicates the carrier has successfully met Factor 2, which includes the 
Driver Requirements outlined in Parts 382 (Controlled Substances and 
Alcohol Use and Testing), 383 (Commercial Driver's License Standard; 
Requirements and Penalties) and 391 (Qualifications of Drivers and 
Longer Combination Vehicle (LCV) Driver Instructors).
    N. Column N--Passed Phase 1, Factor 3: A ``yes'' in this column 
indicates the carrier has successfully met Factor 3, which includes the 
Operational Requirements outlined in Parts 392 (Driving of Commercial 
Motor Vehicles) and 395 (Hours of Service of Drivers).
    O. Column O--Passed Phase 1, Factor 4: A ``yes'' in this column 
indicates the carrier has successfully met Factor 4, which includes the 
Vehicle Requirements outlined in Parts 393 (Parts and Accessories 
Necessary for Safe Operation) and 396 (Inspection, Repair and 
Maintenance) and vehicle inspection and out-of-service data for the 
last 12 months.
    P. Column P--Passed Phase 1, Factor 6: A ``yes'' in this column 
indicates the carrier has successfully met Factor 6, which includes 
Accident History. This factor is the recordable accident rate per 
million miles traveled during the past 12 months. A recordable 
``accident'' is defined in 49 CFR 390.5, and means an accident 
involving a commercial motor vehicle operating on a public road in 
interstate or intrastate commerce which results in: A fatality; a 
bodily injury to a person who, as a result of the injury, immediately 
received medical treatment away from the scene of the accident; or one 
or more motor vehicles incurring disabling damage as a result of the 
accident requiring the motor vehicle to be transported away from the 
scene by a tow truck or other motor vehicle.

    Note: If the Mexico-domiciled motor carrier has successfully met 
all five mandatory elements, but the PASA reveals the motor carrier 
has inadequate basic safety management controls in at least three 
separate factors, the motor carrier will fail the PASA and not be 
granted provisional operating authority.

    Q. Column Q--Number of Vehicles Inspected Which Carrier Intends to 
Operate in the US: The total number of vehicles (power units and 
trailers) the motor carrier intends to operate in the United States 
that received a vehicle inspection during the PASA. During a PASA, 
FMCSA inspected available vehicles that did not display a current 
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decal. This number 
reflects the vehicles that were inspected.
    R. Column R--Number of Vehicles Issued CVSA Decal During PASA Which 
Carrier Intends to Operate in the US: The total number of inspected 
vehicles (power units and trailers) the motor carrier intends to 
operate in the United States that received a CVSA inspection decal as a 
result of an inspection during the PASA.
    S. Column S--Number of Vehicles Displaying Current CVSA Decal 
During PASA Which Carrier Intends to Operate in the US: The total 
number of vehicles (power units and trailers) the motor carrier intends 
to operate in the United States that displayed a current Commercial 
Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decal at the time of the 
PASA.
    T. Column T--Controlled Substances Collection: Refers to the 
applicability and/or country of origin of the controlled substance and 
alcohol collection facility contracted to use/or will be used by a 
motor carrier who has successfully completed the PASA.
    1. ''US'' means the controlled substance and alcohol collection 
facility is based in the United States.
    2. ''MX'' means the controlled substance and alcohol collection 
facility is based in Mexico. Currently there are not any collection 
facilities certified in Mexico to collect controlled substance and 
alcohol specimens in accordance with 49 CFR part 40.
    3. ''Non-CDL'' means that during the PASA, FMCSA verified that the 
motor carrier is not utilizing commercial motor vehicles subject to the 
commercial driver's license requirements as defined in 49 CFR 383.5 
(Definition of Commercial Motor Vehicle).

    Note: Any motor carrier that does not operate commercial motor 
vehicles as defined in Sec.  383.5 is not subject to controlled 
substance and alcohol testing requirements.

    U. Column U--Name of Controlled Substances and Alcohol Collection 
Facility: ``Name of Controlled Substances and Alcohol Collection 
Facility'' is the name and location of the U.S. drug and alcohol 
collection facility for a Mexico-domiciled motor carrier who has 
successfully completed the PASA.

Measures To Protect the Health and Safety of the Public

    The FMCSA has developed an extensive oversight system to protect 
the health and safety of the public and FMCSA will apply it to Mexico-
domiciled motor carriers. These measures are outlined in 49 CFR parts 
350-396 and include providing grants to States for commercial vehicle 
enforcement activities, regulations

[[Page 31881]]

outlining the application procedures, regulations explaining how FMCSA 
will assess safety ratings and civil penalties as well as amounts of 
possible civil penalties, insurance requirements, drug and alcohol 
testing requirements, commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements, 
general operating requirements, driver qualification requirements, 
vehicle parts and maintenance requirements, and hours-of-service 
requirements. These requirements apply to Mexico-domiciled carriers 
operating in this demonstration project, just as they do to any 
commercial motor vehicle, driver, or carrier operating in the United 
States. The description below is limited to the main features of 
FMCSA's system to protect the health and safety of the public during 
this demonstration project, but is not intended to imply that all 
regulations outlined above do not apply at all times.

Application Process

    The process begins with a 28-page application that gathers specific 
information about the carrier, its affiliations, its insurance, its 
safety programs, and its compliance with U.S. laws. In addition to 
providing general information, the carrier must complete up to 35 
safety and compliance certifications and provide information regarding 
its systems for monitoring hours-of-service and accidents and complying 
with DOT drug and alcohol testing requirements.

Pre-Authorization Safety Audits

    The next step in the oversight system is the PASA. Upon completion 
of the application and its review, FMCSA will then schedule a PASA. The 
PASA evaluation process developed by the FMCSA is used to evaluate 
safety management controls and determine if a Mexico-domiciled carrier 
and each driver is able to operate safely in the United States. It also 
identifies motor carriers and drivers that have safety problems and 
need to improve their compliance with the FMCSRs, before FMCSA grants 
the carrier's provisional authority to operate beyond the U.S. 
municipalities and commercial zones on the US-Mexico international 
border.
    The PASA will be conducted at the carrier's principal place of 
business in Mexico in accordance with the procedures in Appendix A to 
Subpart E of Part 365. The carrier will not be granted provisional 
operating authority unless FMCSA can:
    (1) Verify a controlled substances and alcohol testing program 
consistent with DOT requirements in 49 CFR part 40;
    (2) Verify a system of compliance with FMCSA's hours-of-service 
rules in 49 CFR part 395, including recordkeeping and retention;
    (3) Verify proof of financial responsibility;
    (4) Verify records of periodic vehicle inspections; and
    (5) Verify the qualifications of each driver the carrier intends to 
assign to operate under such authority, as required by 49 CFR parts 383 
and 391, including confirming the validity of each driver's Licencia 
Federal de Conductor.
    Upon verification of the five essential elements listed above, 
FMCSA will then:
    (1) Verify performance data and safety management programs;
    (2) Review data concerning the carrier's safety history, and other 
information necessary to determine the carrier's preparedness to comply 
with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, 49 CFR parts 382 
through 399,
    (3) Inspect commercial motor vehicles to be used under provisional 
operating authority, if any of these vehicles do not display a current 
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decal required by 
49 CFR 385.103(d);
    (4) Evaluate the carrier's safety inspection, maintenance, and 
repair facilities or management systems, including verification of 
records of periodic vehicle inspections; and
    (5) Interview carrier officials to review safety management 
controls and evaluate any written safety oversight policies and 
practices.
    In addition to sampling records for compliance, FMCSA will also 
compile a list of vehicles and drivers the carrier intends to use in 
the U.S. and will conduct vehicle inspections of any trucks and 
trailers intended to be used in the U.S. which does not display a 
current CVSA inspection decal. Once all this information is collected 
and/or verified, it will then be evaluated according to the criteria 
set forth in Section IV of Appendix A to Subpart E of part 365. The 
results of the PASA are reviewed at the FMCSA Division Office where the 
auditor is assigned and the respective FMCSA Service Center for that 
Division office. Upon approval by the Division Office and Service 
Center, the PASA is uploaded into FMCSA's information system (MCMIS).

FMCSA Register--Public Comment

    If the carrier has passed the PASA, FMCSA will publish the 
carrier's request for authority in the FMCSA Register. The FMCSA 
Register can be viewed by going to: http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_html.prc_limain and then selecting ``FMCSA Register'' from 
the drop-down box in the upper right corner of the screen. Any member 
of the public may, within ten days of publication in the FMCSA 
Register, protest the carrier's application before the Agency on the 
grounds that the carrier is not fit, willing, or able to provide the 
transportation services for which it has requested approval.\2\ FMCSA 
will consider all protests before determining whether to grant 
provisional operating authority. Under FMCSA regulations, all motor 
carriers receive provisional operating authority for 18 months after 
receiving a USDOT number and are subject to enhanced safety scrutiny 
during the provisional operating period.
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    \2\ See 49 CFR 365.201 through 365.207 on how to oppose requests 
for FMCSA provisional operating authority.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Financial Responsibility and Process Agent Filing Requirements

    If FMCSA grants the carrier's application, it will not issue 
provisional operating authority until:
    (1) An insurance company licensed in the United States files with 
FMCSA verification that the carrier maintains the legally required 
level of public liability insurance coverage; and
    (2) The carrier provides FMCSA with a list of agents for the 
service of legal process for each State in which the carrier will 
operate.

Limitation on Authority

    Carriers that successfully complete the PASA will receive 
provisional operating authority to provide long-haul transportation in 
the U.S. under this demonstration program. However, their authority 
will be limited in several ways compared to U.S.-domiciled carriers. 
They will not be permitted to transport hazardous materials or 
passengers, and they will not be permitted to provide point-to-point 
transportation while operating in the United States.
    In addition, as a condition of participating in the demonstration 
program, Mexico-domiciled motor carriers must sign a form that allows 
FMCSA to revoke their authority.

Cross Border Monitoring

    Any carrier that receives provisional operating authority to 
provide transportation outside the commercial zone will be subject to 
inspection each time it crosses the border. Because these vehicles will 
have a DOT number that ends in an ``X,'' they will be easily 
identifiable to FMCSA, State, or Customs and Border Protection staff. 
All

[[Page 31882]]

commercial motor vehicles used by a Mexican carrier with long-haul 
authority will be required to have current CVSA inspection decals at 
all times when operating in the U.S. The CVSA inspection decal is 
evidence that the vehicle passed a comprehensive 38-point inspection 
within the past 90 days. When crossing the border these trucks will, at 
a minimum, be checked to verify that the driver is properly licensed 
and that the vehicle displays a current CVSA inspection decal. If the 
vehicle lacks a current decal, the driver and vehicle will receive a 
comprehensive inspection and will not be permitted to proceed unless 
both the driver and vehicle pass this inspection.
    License checks will be conducted through the Mexican LFIS 
(Licencias Federales de Conductor Information System) database and the 
FMCSA repository of Mexican driver convictions while in the U.S., known 
as the ``52nd State'' system. Any driver who is not properly licensed 
in the Mexican database will not be allowed to provide transportation 
in the U.S. In addition, any Mexican driver with traffic convictions in 
the U.S. that would have resulted in disqualification from driving a 
commercial motor vehicle under 49 CFR 383.51 will be prohibited from 
providing transportation in the U.S.
    In addition to the check of the CVSA inspection decal and Mexican 
drivers' licenses described above, all vehicles used by a carrier with 
long-haul authority will be subject to more comprehensive driver 
inspections, walk-around inspections, or full vehicle inspections. 
During 2006, FMCSA and its State partners performed over 210,000 
inspections of Mexican vehicles entering the U.S.

On-Going Monitoring

    The FMCSA will be providing on-going performance monitoring of 
carriers participating in the demonstration project. Monitoring will 
include checking the carrier's compliance during cross-border and 
roadside inspections as well as any vehicle crashes that occur in the 
United States. The FMCSA will conduct a compliance review if the 
carrier is flagged as high-risk in FMCSA's SafeStat \3\ system. In 
addition, 49 CFR 385.105 sets forth certain violations and conditions 
that, if discovered, will prompt FMCSA to conduct a compliance review 
or require the carrier to provide written response demonstrating 
corrective action. These conditions include:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ SafeStat (short for Motor Carrier Safety Status Measurement 
System) is an automated, data driven analysis system designed by 
FMCSA. For more information, see http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/safestat/disclaimer.asp?RedirectedURL=/safestat/safestatmain.asp.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Using a driver not possessing or operating with a valid 
Licencia Federal de Conductor (an invalid Licencia Federal de Conductor 
includes one that is falsified, revoked, expired or missing a required 
endorsement),
     Operating vehicles that have been placed out of service 
for violations of the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service 
Criteria without making repairs,
     Using a driver who tests positive for controlled 
substances or alcohol or who refuses to submit to testing,
     Operating within the U.S. without valid insurance, or
     Having a driver or vehicle out-of-service rate of more 
than 50 percent based on at least three inspections occurring within a 
consecutive 90-day period.

Compliance Reviews

    The FMCSA may conduct a compliance review on a motor carrier for a 
variety of reasons including but not limited to:
     The carrier is identified as being ``high-risk'' based on 
FMCSA's SafeStat system,
     The carrier is the subject of a non-frivolous complaint,
     FMCSA discovers one or more of 11 violations during a pre-
authorization safety audit that requires a compliance review.
    Carriers participating in the demonstration project will be subject 
to compliance reviews for the above conditions, as would any other 
carrier operating in the U.S.
    The compliance review is an in-depth examination of a carrier's 
safety management practices. During the compliance review the FMCSA 
investigator will look at the carrier's compliance with all applicable 
regulations including driver qualifications, hours of service, drug and 
alcohol testing, insurance, maintenance, and operating authority. The 
compliance review will result in a safety rating based on five factors 
\4\ as outlined in Appendix B to Part 385.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ While there are 6 factors considered in determining a motor 
carrier's safety rating, only 5 will be applicable to carriers 
operating in the demonstration project because transportation of 
hazardous materials will not be authorized.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Penalties

    Any Mexico-domiciled carrier operating as part of this 
demonstration program will immediately be subject to suspension and 
revocation of its registration if it receives an Unsatisfactory safety 
rating. Any Mexico-domiciled carrier that receives a Conditional safety 
rating as a result of a compliance review will have its authority 
revoked unless it can demonstrate corrective action within 30 days. In 
addition, any carrier in the demonstration project will have its 
authority suspended if it fails to maintain insurance on file with 
FMCSA. Any vehicles found operating in the United States by a carrier 
without active operating authority will be placed out of service.
    In addition to loss of authority for less than satisfactory safety 
ratings or absence of insurance, drivers and carriers participating in 
the demonstration project, like all commercial motor vehicle drivers 
and motor carriers operating in the U.S., are subject to civil 
penalties for violations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations. The amounts of the civil penalties are laid out in 
Appendices A and B to 49 CFR Part 386 and include:
     Up to $2,100 per violation for operating a vehicle after 
being placed out of service (driver),
     Up to $16,000 per violation for requiring or permitting a 
driver to operate a vehicle after being placed out of service 
(carrier),
     Up to $550 per day for each recordkeeping violation, up to 
$5,500,
     Up to $5,500 for knowingly falsifying documents,
     Up to $11,000 for each non-recordkeeping violation \5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Violations of the English proficiency and cabotage rules are 
both non-recordkeeping violations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Up to $3,750 for each violation of the CDL regulations,
     Up to $16,000 for each violation of financial 
responsibility (insurance) regulations.
    Finally, FMCSA has the authority under 49 U.S.C. 521(b)(5) to shut 
down any vehicle, driver, or carrier operation, whether U.S., Canadian, 
or Mexican, whose regulatory violations are so serious that they 
constitute an imminent hazard.

Measures to Ensure Compliance with 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) and 365.501(b)

English proficiency

    Section 391.11(b)(2) requires drivers operating commercial motor 
vehicles, as defined in 49 CFR 390.5, in interstate commerce to be able 
to ``read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with 
the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in 
the English language, to respond to official inquiries, and to

[[Page 31883]]

make entries on reports and records.'' CVSA recently adopted English 
proficiency as a part of its North American Standard Out-of-Service 
criteria; CVSA gave the States guidance on this matter.
    FMCSA and its State partners will check each driver and vehicle 
entering the U.S. as part of this demonstration project. During that 
check, which will include verification of a current CVSA decal on the 
vehicle and the driver's Mexican CDL, inspectors will interact with the 
driver in English. If there appears to be a communication problem, the 
driver will be directed to a secondary inspection site where a full 
driver inspection will be conducted. If this inspection results in a 
finding the driver does not speak sufficient English to satisfy the 
regulation, the violation will be cited on the inspection report and 
the driver will be placed out-of-service. English proficiency will also 
be evaluated during any other vehicle inspections occurring in the U.S. 
and will likewise result in an out-of-service order if the driver can 
not meet the requirements of this section.

Prohibition Against Point-to-Point Transportation Services Within the 
U.S.

    Section 365.501(b) requires that ``a Mexico-domiciled carrier may 
not provide point-to-point transportation services, including express 
delivery services, within the United States for goods other than 
international cargo.'' The transportation of domestic freight between 
points in the United States is known as ``cabotage.''
    The provisional operating authority granted to a Mexican domiciled 
motor carrier to operate beyond the commercial zone is limited to the 
transportation of international freight. Therefore, a carrier providing 
point-to-point transportation services in the U.S. is operating beyond 
the scope of its operating authority and is in violation of 49 CFR 
392.9a(a). Commercial vehicles found to be operating beyond the scope 
of the carrier's provisional operating authority will be placed out of 
service, and the motor carrier may be subject to penalties.
    The FMCSA has trained all State truck inspectors in the enforcement 
of operating authority restrictions and conducted significant outreach 
to the law enforcement community to ensure they are aware of these 
provisions and that they will examine MX trucks to determine if they 
are violating these restrictions. Additionally, we have and will 
continue to provide training to State and local law enforcement 
agencies on conducting roadside vehicle/driver traffic stops and 
detecting cabotage violations during stops of commercial motor vehicles 
for traffic violations. This training, aimed at law enforcement agents 
who are not full-time truck inspectors, but may encounter a Mexican 
truck during a traffic stop, is being conducted in association with the 
International Association of Chiefs of Police.
    The FMCSA's training on enforcement of operating authority has been 
successful. In 2006 the Southern border States (California, Arizona, 
New Mexico, and Texas) discovered 2,328 instances (from 951,229 
inspections) where a Mexico-domiciled carrier was found to be operating 
outside the scope of its operating authority. While these carriers may 
have been operating outside the scope of their authority for reasons 
other than cabotage (i.e., operating beyond the commercial zones or 
having not received authority), this data shows State and Federal 
enforcement personnel are enforcing this regulation.
    The Agency will also use records like logbooks and associated 
supporting documents, such as bills of lading, during compliance 
reviews to determine if a Mexican carrier has operated beyond the scope 
of its authority by engaging in cabotage.

Specific Standards to be Used to Evaluate the Pilot Program

    The Secretary has appointed a panel of three transportation experts 
to assess the safety performance of Mexico-domiciled carriers operating 
beyond the border commercial zone in the United States. The team is 
Mortimer L. Downey III, former Deputy Secretary of Transportation, 
Kenneth M. Mead, former DOT Inspector General, and James T. Kolbe, 
former U.S. Congressman from Arizona. The FMCSA has entered into a 
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Research and Innovative 
Technology Administration's Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) to 
provide independent management of the project.
    The evaluation will provide an assessment of whether the safety 
performance of Mexico-domiciled carriers operating beyond the border 
commercial zone in the U.S. differs from the performance exhibited by 
U.S.-domiciled carriers. Specifically, the evaluation will focus on 
answering the following five key safety questions:
     Are the available crash data for Mexico-domiciled carriers 
participating in the project statistically different from comparable 
U.S.-domiciled carriers?
     Do Mexico-licensed commercial drivers pose a greater risk 
to the traveling public than U.S. CDL holders in terms of demonstrated 
unsafe driving practices, such as speeding, improper lane changes, 
controlled substances use/alcohol misuse?
     Are the trucks operated by Mexico-domiciled motor carriers 
maintained at levels similar to those of U.S.-domiciled carriers, or do 
they have higher out-of-service rates?
     In the course of conducting PASAs, did FMCSA detect 
violations of the 11 critical safety regulations in any greater 
proportion than found in new entrant audits of U.S.-domiciled carriers?
     What other safety problems are being experienced by 
enforcement personnel and others in the course of implementing the 
demonstration project?

Crash Rate (Recordable Crashes Per Million Miles)

    Consistent with the New Entrant Safety Assurance Process, the 
evaluation will consider whether the crash rate of a participating 
carrier is indicative of a carrier with inadequate basic safety 
management controls.

Driver Behavior (Violations for Unsafe Driving Practices)

    The evaluation will assess the number of moving violations, such as 
excessive speed and unsafe lane changes, and for violations of 
regulations relating to licenses, hours of service, and controlled 
substances use/alcohol misuse, compared to the national average for 
U.S.-domiciled driver.

Violation/Driver Safety Compliance (Number of Out-of-Service Orders)

    The evaluation will assess the number of times a motor carrier's 
drivers or vehicles are placed out of service for violations of the 
FMCSRs or compatible State laws and regulations, compared to the 
average for U.S. carriers.

Carrier Safety Compliance (Number of Pre-Authorization Safety Audit 
Violations)

    Using carrier PASA data, the evaluation will assess the number of 
carriers that had violations of 11 critical safety regulations, 
compared to the average found for U.S. carriers. The FMCSA has 
determined that a violation of any of the following 11 critical 
regulations is so significant that it merits failure of the safety 
audit:
    1. Failing to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substances 
testing program.
    2. Using a driver who has refused to submit to an alcohol or 
controlled substances test required under 49 CFR part 382.

[[Page 31884]]

    3. Using a driver known to have tested positive for a controlled 
substance.
    4. Knowingly allowing, requiring, permitting, or authorizing an 
employee with a CDL which is suspended, revoked, or canceled by a State 
or who is disqualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle.
    5. Knowingly allowing, requiring, permitting, or authorizing a 
driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle while the driver is 
disqualified.
    6. Operating a commercial motor vehicle without having in effect 
the required minimum levels of financial responsibility.
    7. Using a disqualified driver.
    8. Using a physically unqualified driver.
    9. Failing to require a driver to make a record of duty status.
    10. Requiring or permitting the operation of a commercial motor 
vehicle declared ``out of service'' before repairs are made.
    11. Using a commercial motor vehicle that has not been periodically 
inspected.

Carrier Safety Compliance (Number of Post-Authorization Safety Audit 
Violations)

    The evaluation will consider the number of violations of critical 
safety regulations found when a safety audit is triggered by operating 
violations, compared to the average found for U.S. carriers. Following 
the PASA, few carriers are expected to be cited for violations. 
However, under 49 CFR 385.105, violations of six regulations, 
identified through roadside inspections or any other established means, 
may subject the Mexico-domiciled carrier to an expedited safety audit, 
compliance review, or submission of evidence of correcting the 
deficiency. The six violations include:
    1. Using a driver without a valid license.
    2. Using a vehicle that has been placed out of service without 
completing the required repairs.
    3.Involvement in, due to an act or omission of the carrier, a 
hazardous materials incident within the U.S.
    4.Using a driver who tests positive for controlled substances or 
alcohol or refuses to submit to required tests.
    5.Operating in the U.S. without the required minimum levels of 
financial responsibility.
    6.Having a driver or vehicle out-of-service rate of 50 percent or 
more, based on at least three inspections occurring within a 90 
consecutive-day period.

List of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Laws and Regulations for Which 
FMCSA Will Accept Compliance With a Corresponding Mexican Law or 
Regulation

    The Secretary of Transportation will accept only three areas of 
Mexican regulations as being equivalent to United States regulations. 
The first area is the regulations governing Mexican Commercial Driver's 
Licenses (CDL). The U.S. acceptance of a Mexican CDL, known as the 
Licencia Federal de Conductor, dates back to November 21, 1991, when 
the Federal Highway Administrator determined that the Mexican CDLs are 
equivalent to the standards of the U.S. regulations. Mexico will 
disqualify a driver's CDL for safety infractions or testing positive 
for the use of drugs. However, since Mexico's disqualification 
standards are not identical to U.S. standards, FMCSA, working with the 
States, has developed a system to monitor the performance of Mexican 
drivers while in the U.S. and take steps to disqualify these drivers if 
they incur violations that would result in a U.S. driver's license 
being suspended. Therefore, the U.S. is not relying solely on Mexico's 
disqualification standards, but is imposing its own standards in 
addition to any disqualifications that may be taken by the Mexican 
government.
    Second, the Secretary of Transportation will also consider that 
physical examinations conducted by Mexican doctors and drug testing 
specimens collected by Mexican collection facilities are equivalent to 
examinations and test specimens conducted or collected in the United 
States. In Mexico, in order to obtain the Licencia Federal de Conductor 
a driver must meet the requirements established by the Ley de Caminos, 
Puentes y Autotransporte Federal (LCPAF or Roads, Bridges and Federal 
Motor Carrier Transportation Act) Article 36, and Reglamento de 
Autotransporte Federal y Servicios Auxiliares (RAFSA, or Federal Motor 
Carrier Transportation Act) Article 89, which state a Mexican driver 
must pass the medical exam performed by Mexico's Secretariat of 
Communications and Transportation (SCT), Directorship General of 
Protection and Prevention Medicine in Transportation (DGPMPT). This is 
the same medical exam performed on applicants in all modes of 
transportation (airline pilots, merchant mariners, and locomotive 
operators). It is conducted by government doctors instead of the 
private physicians performing the examination on U.S. drivers.
    Third, controlled substances testing in Mexico is also conducted by 
personnel from Mexico's SCT. The U.S. DOT and SCT have a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) under which Mexico has agreed to collect drug 
testing specimens using U.S. specimen collection procedures and U.S. 
collection forms. The U.S. DOT has translated its drug testing 
collection forms into Spanish as part of this MOU. While to date all 
Mexican carriers that have undergone a PASA from the FMCSA are sending 
their drivers to U.S. collection facilities, the Secretary of 
Transportation would accept a drug test using a specimen collected in 
Mexico using our forms and procedures.
    Table 1 below outlines the specific U.S. and Mexican regulations in 
the three areas where the Mexican regulations or processes are being 
accepted as meeting U.S. requirements.

                                 Table 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Description             United States            Mexico
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drug and Alcohol Testing         49 CFR     Requires
 Procedures--Random Testing.     Part 382.          random drug testing
                                                    by motor carrier at
                                                    a
                                                   50 percent rate.
                                                    Reglamento
                                                    del Servicio de
                                                    Medicina Preventiva
                                                    del Transporte.
                                                    Government
                                                    conducts random drug
                                                    testing at
                                                    terminals, ports of
                                                    entry, and specific
                                                    areas along
                                                    corridors.

[[Page 31885]]

 
Drug and Alcohol Testing        49 CFR Part 40...   Reglamento
 Procedures--Collection of                  del Servicio de
 Samples.                        Collection of      Medicina Preventiva
                                 procedures         del Transporte.
                                 outlined and       DGPMPT-IT-02-
                                 detailed           01; DGPMPT-PE-02-F-
                                 description of     01.
                                 the custody..     -DGPMPT-PE-02
                                                    .
                                                    DGPMPT-IT-02-
                                                    01 thru 08.
                                                    Collection
                                                    procedures have been
                                                    ISO certified.
                                                    The U.S. and
                                                    Mexico have a
                                                    Memorandum of
                                                    Understanding that
                                                    Mexico will, when
                                                    collecting samples
                                                    to satisfy U.S. drug
                                                    testing regulations,
                                                    use U.S. collection
                                                    procedures and
                                                    forms. These forms
                                                    have been translated
                                                    into Spanish and
                                                    provided to Mexico.
Drug and Alcohol Testing         49 CFR    Reglamento del
 Procedures--Laboratory          Part 40.           Servicio de Medicina
 Testing.                                   Preventiva del
                                 Laboratories       Transporte.
                                 approved by the    DGPMPT-PE-01-
                                 U.S. Department    IE-01.
                                 of Health and      Regulations
                                 Human Services..   and procedures are
                                                    equivalent to U.S.
                                                    standards.
                                                    Laboratory
                                                    is not certified due
                                                    to lack of proper
                                                    equipment and other
                                                    procedural
                                                    requirements.
Commercial Driver's License--    49 CFR     Ley de
 Issuance.                       Part 383.          Caminos, Puentes y
                                 Outlines   Autotransporte
                                 the knowledge,     Federal.
                                 skills and         Articlos 89
                                 testing            y 90, Reglamento de
                                 procedures         Autotransportes
                                 required to        Federal y Servicio
                                 obtain a           Auxilares.
                                 commercial         Driver must
                                 driver's           provide proof of
                                 license..          medical
                                                    qualification, proof
                                                    of address, and
                                                    training(both skills
                                                    and knowledge).
                                                    Must be
                                                    renewed every 2
                                                    years.
Commercial Driver's License--    49 CFR     Ley de
 Disqualifications.              Part 383.          Caminos, Puentes y
                                 Outlines   Autotransporte
                                 CDL                Federal.
                                 disqualification   Reglamento
                                 s for major and    del Servicio de
                                 serious traffic    Medicina Preventiva
                                 violations..       del Transporte.
                                                    Provides for
                                                    the disqualification
                                                    of drivers for major
                                                    and serious traffic
                                                    violations.
                                                    License can
                                                    be canceled by a
                                                    judge.
                                                    License can
                                                    be canceled for
                                                    three speeding
                                                    violations in a one
                                                    year period.
                                                    License can
                                                    be canceled for
                                                    leaving the scene of
                                                    an accident without
                                                    notifyingthe closest
                                                    authority or
                                                    abandoning the
                                                    vehicle.
                                                    License can
                                                    be canceled for
                                                    altering the
                                                    license.
                                                    License can
                                                    be canceled for
                                                    failing to a drug
                                                    test.
                                                    License
                                                    cannot be obtained
                                                    after failing a drug
                                                    test without proof
                                                    of success
                                                    completion of a
                                                    rehabilitation
                                                    program.
                                                    License can
                                                    be suspended for
                                                    failing to provide
                                                    accurate information
                                                    on application.
                                                    Cancellation
                                                    is valid for 10
                                                    years--cannot obtain
                                                    a license for 10
                                                    years.
Medical Standards.............   49 CFR    Reglamento del
                                 Part 391.          Servicio de Medicina
                                 US--       Preventiva del
                                 Requires a         Transporte.
                                 comprehensive     MX--Requires a
                                 physical and       comprehensive
                                 psychological      physical and
                                 examination..      psychological
                                 Medical    examination.
                                 examination is     Medical
                                 not part of the    Medical examination
                                 CDL issuance       is a pre-requisite
                                 process..          to obtaining a
                                                    Licencia de Federal
                                                    de Conductor.
                                                    Medical
                                                    examination may be
                                                    required while the
                                                    driver is ``in
                                                    operation'' (on
                                                    duty) to determine
                                                    if the driver is
                                                    still qualified to
                                                    drive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Request for Comments

    In accordance with the Act, FMCSA requests public comment from all 
interested persons on the Agency's plan for fulfilling the requirements 
of sections 6901(a) and 6901(b)(2)(B)(i) through (v). All comments 
received before the close of business on June 28, 2007 will be 
considered and will be available for examination in the docket at the 
location listed under the address section of this notice. Comments 
received after the comment closing date will be filed in the public 
docket and will be considered to the extent practicable. In addition to 
late comments, the FMCSA will also continue to file, in the public 
docket, relevant information that becomes available after the comment 
closing date. Interested persons should continue to examine the public 
docket for new material.

    Issued: June 5, 2007.
John H. Hill,
Administrator.
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P

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[FR Doc. 07-2870 Filed 6-6-07; 9:09 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-C