[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48703-48704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12530]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0003]


Safety Fitness Determinations; Public Listening Session

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

ACTION: Notice of public listening session.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it will host a listening session 
pertaining to development of an updated methodology to determine when a 
motor carrier is not fit to operate commercial motor vehicles in or 
affecting interstate commerce. Specifically, the Agency would like to 
hear from members of the public on issues of concern relating to the 
current Safety Fitness Determination (SFD), including, for example, the 
three-tiered rating system (Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, Conditional) 
versus changing to a proposed single rating only when a carrier is 
found to be Unfit; utilizing inspection data and FMCSA's Safety 
Measurement System (SMS); incorporating driver behavior into SFD 
ratings; and revising the list of safety violations used to calculate 
the rating, and adjusting the weights allocated to particular 
violations including increasing the weight for unsafe driving 
violations. This FMCSA-hosted listening session will be open to all 
interested persons and will take place concurrently with the Texas 
Trucking Show in Houston, TX. All comments will be transcribed and 
placed in the public docket for the regulatory action. Individuals with 
diverse experiences and perspectives are encouraged to attend. In a 
separate notice, FMCSA will formally announce and provide separate 
registration information for two related virtual-only listening 
sessions on the same topics to be held in June and July, 2024.

DATES: The public listening session will be held on Saturday, June 29, 
2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. CT. The session will be held in 
person. The listening session may end early if all participants wishing 
to express their views have done so.
    Public Comment: The in-person session will allow members of the 
public to make brief statements to the panel. FMCSA will accept written 
comments to the docket through August 7, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the NRG Center, 1 NRG Parkway, 
Houston, TX 77054, in the Seminar Area next to the Trucking Exhibition. 
Please arrive early to allow time to check in and arrive at the room. 
Attendees do not need to preregister for the listening session but are 
required to register for the Texas Trucking Show using this link: 
https://texastruckingshow.com/register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stacy Ropp, (609) 661-2062, 
[email protected].
    Services for Individuals with Disabilities: FMCSA is committed to 
providing equal access to the listening session. For accommodations for 
persons with disabilities, please email [email protected] at least 
2 weeks in advance of the meeting to allow time to make appropriate 
arrangements.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    FMCSA encourages participation in the session and providing of 
comments. Members of the public may submit written comments to the 
public dockets for this action using any of the following methods:

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2022-0003). You may submit your comments and material 
online or by mail or hand delivery, but please use only one of these 
methods. FMCSA recommends that you include

[[Page 48704]]

your name, email address, or a phone number in the body of your 
document.
    To submit your comment online, go to www.regulations.gov. Insert 
the docket number (FMCSA-2022-0003) in the keyword box and click 
``Search.'' Choose the document you want to comment on and click the 
``Comment'' button. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period for this notice, as described in the DATES section.

B. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, go to www.regulations.gov and insert the docket 
number (FMCSA-2022-0003) in the keyword box and click ``Search.'' 
Choose this notice and click ``Browse Comments.'' If you have questions 
on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Dockets 
Operations at (202) 366-9826. Business hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also 
submit or view docket entries in person or by mail: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. To be sure someone is there to help you, 
please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before visiting Dockets 
Operations.

C. Privacy Act

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT posts these 
comments, including any personal information the commenter provides, to 
www.regulations.gov, as described in the system of records notice (DOT/
ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices. The comments 
are posted without edits and are searchable by the name of the 
submitter.

II. Background

    FMCSA believes it is in the public interest to host a public 
listening session to receive additional comments on matters within 
FMCSA's jurisdiction, including its SFD process. Accordingly, FMCSA is 
announcing this listening session, being held at 1:00 p.m. on June 29, 
2024, in Houston, TX, concurrently with the 2024 Texas Trucking Show. 
The listening session will be held in the Seminar Area next to the 
Trucking Exhibition. You may view a floorplan of the event at https://texastruckingshow.com/floorplan. FMCSA will also publish another notice 
formally announcing, and providing separate registration information 
for, two related virtual-only listening sessions on the same topics to 
be held in June and July, 2024.
    FMCSA's listening session is open to the public. Registration with 
the Texas Trucking Show is required to attend FMCSA's listening 
session. Registration is free and may be completed online at https://texastruckingshow.com/register.
    FMCSA is currently contemplating changes to its SFD process. To 
that end, the Agency published an ANPRM soliciting public input on the 
potential use of the SMS methodology to issue SFDs (88 FR 59489, Aug. 
29, 2023). This public listening session is intended to gain additional 
feedback on issues of concern relating to the current SFD, including, 
for example:
     Continuing the current SFD three-tiered rating system 
(Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory, Conditional) versus changing to a 
proposed single rating, issued only when a carrier is found to be 
Unfit;
     Utilizing inspection data and FMCSA's SMS;
     Incorporating driver behavior into SFD ratings; and
     Revising the list of safety violations used to calculate 
the rating, and adjusting the weights allocated to particular 
violations, including increasing the weight for 49 CFR 392.2 (unsafe 
driving) violations.

III. Meeting Participation

    The listening session is open to the public. Speakers' remarks will 
be limited to 3 minutes each.

Sue Lawless,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-12530 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P