[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75011-75012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20806]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0178]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Renewal of an Approved 
Information Collection: Road Test Requirement

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 ``Road Test Requirement.'' This ICR estimates 
the information burden incurred by motor carriers associated with the 
road test requirements in two circumstances. The first is when the 
motor carrier hires a new driver. The second is when the road test is 
required for individuals physically qualified under the Agency's 
alternative vision standard for the first time. In each circumstance, 
motor carriers are required to rate the performance of the driver 
during the test on a road test form provided by the motor carrier. If 
the road test is successfully completed, the motor carrier completes a 
certificate of driver's road test and provides a copy to the driver. 
The motor carrier retains the original signed road test form and the 
original, or a copy, of the signed certificate in the driver 
qualification file.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received on or before November 
12, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2024-0178 using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: Dockets Operations, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, 
Ground Floor, Washington, DC, 20590-0001 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone is 
there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826 before 
visiting Dockets Operations.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for instructions on submitting 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Pearlie Robinson, Driver and 
Carrier Operations Division, DOT, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001; 202-366-4225; [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Instructions

    All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number. For 
detailed instructions on submitting comments, see the Public 
Participation heading below. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading 
below.

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2024-0178), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which the comment applies and provide a reason for 
suggestions or recommendations. You may submit your comments and 
material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only 
one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of 
your document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions 
regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2024-0178/document, click on this notice, click 
``Comment,'' and type your comment into the text box on the following 
screen.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing.
    Comments received after the comment closing date will be included 
in the docket and will be considered to the extent practicable.

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, without edit, 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 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

Background

    This ICR supports the DOT strategic goal of safety. Public interest 
in highway safety dictates that employers hire drivers who can safely 
operate CMVs amid the various physical and mental demands of truck and 
bus driving. Subject to some exceptions, Sec.  391.31 requires a motor 
carrier to conduct a road test when the motor carrier hires a new 
driver. The motor carrier is required to rate the performance of the 
driver during the test on a road test form provided by the motor 
carrier. If the road test is successfully completed, the motor carrier 
completes a certificate of driver's road test and provides a copy to 
the driver. The motor carrier retains the original signed road test 
form and the original, or a copy, of the signed certificate in the 
driver qualification file. Motor carriers may maintain the required 
road test form and certificate electronically or via paper copy. The 
information collected by the motor carrier is needed to document the 
motor carrier conducted the road test as required and determined the 
driver can operate a CMV safely. The information also assists Federal 
and State safety investigators in determining that motor carriers 
fulfilled their regulatory requirements when deciding who may drive 
CMVs on their behalf and in assessing the qualifications of drivers.
    The ICR estimates the information-collection burden incurred by 
motor carriers associated with the Sec.  391.31 road test in two 
circumstances. The first is when the road test is required by Sec.  
391.31 (IC-1); the second is when the road test is required as part of 
the alternative vision standard in Sec.  391.44 (IC-2). However, 
individuals are excepted from the road test requirement if they have 3 
years of intrastate or specific excepted interstate CMV driving 
experience with the vision deficiency, hold a valid Federal vision 
exemption, or are medically certified under Sec.  391.64(b). Most of 
the motor

[[Page 75012]]

carrier burden hours and cost for the information collection relates to 
IC-1.

Renewal of This Information Collection

    The current burden estimate associated with this ICR, approved by 
OMB on March 28, 2022, is 273,888 hours. The expiration date of the 
current ICR is March 31, 2025. Through this ICR renewal, the Agency 
requests an increase in the burden hours from 273,888 hours to 584,408 
hours. The increase is the result of an increase in the estimated 
driver population as well as an increase in the expected industry 
growth rate for drivers from 2022 to 2032.
    Title: Road Test Requirements.
    OMB Control Number: 2126-0072.
    Type of Request: Renewal of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Motor carriers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,187,668.
    Estimated Time per Response: 33 minutes.
    Expiration Date: March 31, 2025.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 584,408.
    Definitions: N/A.
    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. The Agency will summarize or include your 
comments in the request for OMB's clearance of this ICR.

    Issued under the authority of 49 CFR 1.87.
Thomas P. Keane,
Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Registration.
[FR Doc. 2024-20806 Filed 9-12-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P