[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16711-16712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05585]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0223]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of a Currently 
Approved Collection Request: Unified Registration System, FMCSA 
Registration/Updates

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FMCSA 
announces its plan to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) 
described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its 
review and approval and invites public comment. FMCSA requests approval 
to renew the ICR titled ``Unified Registration System, FMCSA 
Registration/Updates,'' OMB Control No. 2126-0051. This ICR applies to 
new registrants seeking initial operating authority from FMCSA. New 
registrants seeking operating authority must use online Form MCSA-1, 
accessible via the Unified Registration System (URS).

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before April 19, 
2023.

[[Page 16712]]


ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jeff Secrist, Office of 
Registration, Chief, Registration, Licensing, and Insurance Division, 
DOT, FMCSA, West Building 6th Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001; 202-385-2367; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Unified Registration System, FMCSA 
Registration/Updates.
    OMB Control Number: 2126-0051.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved ICR.
    Respondents: Carrier compliance officer or equivalent from 
transportation entities subject to FMCSA's licensing, registration, and 
certification regulations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 283,857 (94,619 annualized).
    Estimated Time per Response: 1.34 hours.
    Expiration Date: April 30, 2023.
    Frequency of Response: One-time information collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 380,368 (126,789 annualized).

Background

    FMCSA registers for-hire motor carriers of regulated commodities 
and of passengers, under 49 U.S.C. 13902(a); surface freight 
forwarders, under 49 U.S.C. 13903; property brokers, under 49 U.S.C. 
13904; and certain Mexico-domiciled motor carriers, under 49 U.S.C. 
13902(c). These motor carriers may conduct transportation services in 
the United States only if they are registered with FMCSA. Each 
registration is effective from the date specified and remains in effect 
for such period as the Secretary of Transportation determines by 
regulations.
    The final rule titled ``Unified Registration System,'' (78 FR 
52608) dated August 23, 2013, implemented statutory provisions for an 
online registration system for entities that are subject to FMCSA's 
licensing, registration, and certification regulations. URS streamlines 
the registration process and serves as a clearinghouse and repository 
of information on motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, 
intermodal equipment providers, hazardous materials safety permit 
applicants, and cargo tank facilities required to register with FMCSA. 
When developing URS, FMCSA planned that the OP-1 series of forms 
(except for OP-1(MX)) would ultimately be folded into one overarching 
form (MCSA-1), which would be used by all motor carriers seeking 
authority.
    FMCSA began a phased rollout of URS in 2015. The first phase, which 
became effective on December 12, 2015, impacts only first-time 
applicants seeking an FMCSA-issued registration. FMCSA had planned 
subsequent rollout phases for existing registrants; however, there have 
been substantial delays, and subsequent phases have not been rolled out 
to date.
    On January 17, 2017, FMCSA issued a final rule titled ``Unified 
Registration System; Suspension of Effectiveness,'' which indefinitely 
suspended URS effectiveness dates for existing registrants only (82 FR 
5292). Pursuant to this final rule, FMCSA is still accepting forms OP-
1, OP-1(P), OP-1(FF), and OP-1(NNA) for existing registrants wishing to 
apply for additional authorities. Separately, FMCSA requires Form OP-
1(MX) for Mexico-domiciled carriers that wish to operate beyond the 
U.S. municipalities on the U.S.-Mexico border and their commercial 
zones.
    As described above, only first-time applicants seeking an FMCSA-
issued registration must apply for authority via URS, using Form MCSA-
1. Under URS, all forms described in the current ICR, except OP-1(MX), 
are folded into Form MCSA-1. Information collection activities 
associated with the OP-1 series of forms are covered under a different 
ICR, titled ``Licensing Applications for Motor Carrier Operating 
Authority,'' OMB Control No. 2126-0016.
    Form MCSA-1 requests information to identify the applicant, the 
nature and scope of its proposed operations, safety-related details, 
and information regarding the drivers and vehicles it plans to use in 
U.S. operations. FMCSA and the States use registration information 
collected via Form MCSA-1 to track motor carriers, freight forwarders, 
brokers, and other entities they regulate. Registering motor carriers 
is essential to being able to identify carriers so that their safety 
performance can be tracked and evaluated. The data make it possible to 
link individual trucks to the responsible motor carrier, thus 
implementing the mandate under 49 U.S.C. 31136(a)(1); that is, ensuring 
that CMVs are maintained and operated safely. In general, registration 
information collected via Form MCSA-1 informs prioritization of the 
Agency's activities and aids in assessing and statistically analyzing 
the safety outcomes of those activities.
    The current information collection supports the DOT Strategic Goal 
of Safety. It streamlines registration processes and ensures that FMCSA 
can more efficiently track motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, 
and other entities regulated by the Agency.
    PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including: (1) whether the proposed 
collection is necessary for the performance of FMCSA's functions; (2) 
the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for FMCSA to enhance the 
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) 
ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of 
the collected information.
    Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87.

Thomas P. Keane,
Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Registration.
[FR Doc. 2023-05585 Filed 3-17-23; 8:45 am]
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