[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42054-42055]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-10538]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2018-0346]


Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program To Allow Persons Ages 
18, 19, and 20 To Operate Commercial Motor Vehicles in Interstate 
Commerce; Revision to Program Requirements

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

ACTION: Notice of revision to pilot program.

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SUMMARY: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which was 
signed into law on November 15, 2021, required FMCSA to establish a 
pilot program that would allow employers to establish an apprenticeship 
program for certain 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old drivers to operate 
commercial vehicles in interstate commerce. FMCSA announced the 
establishment of the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot (SDAP) Program in 
the Federal Register on January 14, 2022, including the requirements 
for motor carriers wishing to participate. This notice revises those 
requirements, as directed by Congress in the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nikki McDavid, Commercial Driver's 
License Division, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, [email protected], 
(202) 366-0831. If you have questions about viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call DOT Dockets Operations, (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    FMCSA announced the SDAP Program in the Federal Register on January 
14, 2022 (87 FR 2477). In that notice, FMCSA included motor carrier 
requirements for participation, including installation and use of 
inward facing cameras. FMCSA also included a requirement that motor 
carriers receive approval as a Registered Apprenticeship Program from 
the Department of Labor (DOL), in accordance with 29 CFR part 29.
    On March 9, 2024, the President signed the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42). Section 422 of that Act 
states that FMCSA may not require motor carriers, wishing to 
participate in the SDAP Program, use inward facing cameras, or require 
them to become Registered Apprenticeships under DOL regulations.

II. Revision

    In accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, FMCSA 
will no longer require that motor carriers wishing to participate in 
the SDAP Program install or use inward facing cameras. Additionally, 
motor carriers will not be required to obtain a Registered 
Apprenticeship number from the Department of Labor before they will be 
allowed to participate in the SDAP Program.

III. Pilot Program Requirements and Procedures

Information Collection Approval

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, FMCSA 
is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) grant 
emergency clearance for a revision to the approved information 
collection titled, ``Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program,'' ICR 
Control Number 2126-0075. The emergency request updates the collection 
to reflect the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, but notes that 
the expected data collection burdens on participants in the pilot 
program are not expected to change from those included in the 
collection that was approved in 2022. FMCSA requested that OMB approve 
the revision by April 15, 2024, to allow the changes to be in place in 
time for the next monthly reports for currently approved motor 
carriers. FMCSA is not requesting that OMB extend the approval of the 
collection beyond the currently approved expiration date of October 31, 
2025.

Announcement of Revision to the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot 
Program

    In accordance with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, FMCSA 
will no longer require motor carriers wishing to participate in the 
SDAP Program install or use inward facing cameras. Additionally, motor 
carriers will not be required to obtain a Registered Apprenticeship 
number from the Department of Labor before they will be

[[Page 42055]]

allowed to participate in the SDAP Program.
    Motor carriers who are already participating in the SDAP Program 
will no longer be required to use inward facing cameras, or to maintain 
their approved Registered Apprenticeship program.
    Motor carriers may, voluntarily, decide to install or use inward 
facing cameras, or become an approved Registered Apprenticeship. They 
may choose to include safety alerts from inward facing cameras as part 
of their monthly data submissions. However, they will not be required 
to do so, even if they choose to use inward facing cameras.

Motor Carrier Applications Available

    FMCSA is accepting applications from motor carriers for the pilot 
program. Links for the application, which has been revised to conform 
with the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, are available on the 
Agency's website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov. FMCSA will, proactively, reach 
out to motor carriers who previously submitted applications but were 
missing Registered Apprenticeship numbers to determine whether the 
motor carriers are still interested in participating in the SDAP 
Program.
    All other motor carrier requirements remain unchanged from the 
notice published on January 14, 2022 (87 FR 2477).

Sue Lawless,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-10538 Filed 5-13-24; 8:45 am]
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