[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 57 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15471-15472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5905]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 380, 383, and 384

[Docket No. FMCSA-2007-27748]
RIN 2126-AB06


Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor 
Vehicle Operators: Updated Information and Extension of Comment Period

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

ACTION: Proposed rule; Updated information and extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: In response to a request, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Administration (FMCSA) extends until May 23, 2008, the comment period 
for its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on December 26, 
2007. FMCSA also updates information in the Paperwork Reduction Act 
section in the preamble to the NPRM.

DATES: Please submit comments regarding the NPRM to the docket by May 
23, 2008. Please submit comments regarding updated information under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act by May 23, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You must submit comments, identified by Docket ID Number 
FMCSA-2007-27748, by one of the following methods:
     Electronically: Through the Federal Docket Management 
System (FDMS) at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 
for submitting comments.
     Mail/Courier: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Management Facility, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Ave, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received 
and background material, go to the Federal Docket Management System 
(FDMS) at: http://www.regulations.gov, and search for docket ID Number 
FMCSA-2007-27748. Comments may also be inspected at the U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Management Facility, West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
     Privacy Act: Regardless of the method used for submitting 
comments, all comments or material will be posted without change to the 
FDMS, including personal information. Anyone can search the electronic 
form of all of our dockets in FDMS by the name of the individual 
submitting the document (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement published in the Federal Register on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19476) or you may visit http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Yager, Chief, Driver and 
Carrier Operations Division (MC-PSD), telephone (202) 366-4325 or e-
mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 26, 2007 (72 FR 73226), FMCSA 
published for public comment a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
concerning minimum training requirements for entry-level commercial 
motor vehicle operators. The original comment period for the NPRM 
expires on March 25, 2008. In response to a letter dated February 26, 
2008 from the American Trucking Associations, FMCSA has extended the 
comment period, which now expires on May 23, 2008.
    The FMCSA has updated the NPRM, on page 73241, second column, under 
the headings Respondents, Frequency, and Annual Burden Estimate, so 
that it reads as follows:

    Respondents: The annual number of drivers providing training 
certificates under the current rule, which would remain in effect 
during the 3-year implementation period, is 32,426. The number of 
training institutions (public and private) that would provide 
training under the terms of this proposed rule is uncertain, but 
FMCSA estimates it to be between 200 and 500. The number of State 
licensing agencies is 51. The total of these three groups of 
potential respondents will range between 32,677 and 32,977 during 
the initial 3-year implementation period.
    Frequency: Information would not be collected with any specific 
frequency during the 3-year life of the information collection. The 
initial burdens on training institutions and SDLAs will be limited 
to startup activities.
    ``Annual Burden Estimate: This proposal would result in an 
annual recordkeeping and reporting burden estimated to be 134,990 
hours, calculated as follows:
    Entry-level CDL drivers after the first year under the currently 
approved information collection incur a burden of 5,400 hours, and 
this burden would remain in effect until OMB approval of a pending 
revision of the information collection. In addition, during the 3-
year phase-in period the CDL-training institutions would incur an 
estimated burden of 125,000 hours to revise their processes to 
conform to the requirements of this rule. During the same period, 
State driver-

[[Page 15472]]

licensing agencies would incur a burden of 4,590 hours to modify 
their systems. The total proposed annual burden is 134,990 hours 
(5,400 + 125,000 + 4,590).
    Following the 3-year implementation period, calculation of the 
PRA burden would be revised by FMCSA because the rule would be fully 
operational.
    ``FMCSA has submitted this NPRM and a supporting statement to 
OMB, estimating the paperwork burdens of this proposal. The Agency 
is soliciting comments to--
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed information requirement is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility,
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the 
burden,
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected, and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology. You may submit 
comments on the PRA aspects of this proposed rule directly to OMB. 
The deadline for such submissions is May 23, 2008. You must mail or 
hand-deliver your comments to:
    Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of Transportation, 
Docket Library, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office 
of Management and Budget, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.''

    Issued on: March 19, 2008.
David H. Hugel,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-5905 Filed 3-21-08; 8:45 am]
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