[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 103 (Friday, May 30, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22942-22946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-09704]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Part 393

[Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0107]
RIN 2126-AC81


Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Certification 
and Labeling Requirements for Rear Impact Protection Guards

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: FMCSA proposes to amend the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations (FMCSRs) to rescind the requirement that the rear impact 
guard be permanently marked or labeled with a certification from the 
impact guard manufacturer as required by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration's (NHTSA) applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (FMVSS). The certification label or marking provides motor 
carriers purchasing new trailers or new impact guards to replace 
damaged devices with a means to determine whether the equipment is 
certified as meeting the FMVSS. However, the labeling or marking 
requirement has proven problematic for motor carriers when the label or 
marking becomes illegible or wears off during the service life of the 
trailer or guard. This proposal would eliminate an unintended 
regulatory burden on motor carriers without compromising safety, as 
this NPRM would not affect the applicable FMVSS. The proposal would 
also rescind a guidance document pertaining to illegible, incomplete, 
or missing rear impact guard certification labels.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 29, 2025.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2025-0107 using any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0107/document. 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., 
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: (202) 493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Sutula, Chief, Vehicle and 
Roadside Operations Division, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001; (202) 366-9209; [email protected]. If you 
have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call 
Dockets Operations at (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
NPRM (FMCSA-2025-0107), indicate the specific section of this document 
to which your comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion 
or recommendation. 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 FMCSA 
can contact you if there are questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0107/document, click on this NPRM, 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.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period.
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. 
If your comments responsive to the NPRM contain commercial or financial 
information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually 
treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to the NPRM, it is 
important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. 
Please mark each page of your submission that constitutes CBI as 
``PROPIN'' to indicate it contains proprietary information. FMCSA will 
treat such marked submissions as confidential under the Freedom of 
Information Act, and they will not be placed in the public docket of 
the NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Brian Dahlin, 
Chief, Regulatory Evaluation Division, Office of Policy, FMCSA, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 or via email at 
[email protected]. At this time, you need not send a duplicate 
hardcopy of your electronic CBI submissions to FMCSA headquarters. Any 
comments FMCSA receives not specifically designated as CBI will be 
placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

B. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view any documents mentioned as being available in the docket, 
go to https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0107/document and 
choose the document to review. To view

[[Page 22943]]

comments, click this NPRM, then click ``Browse Comments.'' If you do 
not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by 
visiting Dockets Operations on the ground floor of the DOT West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 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.

C. Privacy

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments from the 
public to better inform its regulatory 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 (Federal Docket Management System (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. Abbreviations

ANPRM Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CMV Commercial Motor Vehicle
CVSA Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
DOT Department of Transportation
FMCSRs Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations
FR Federal Register
NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
OMB Office of Management and Budget
PIA Privacy Impact Assessment
PTA Privacy Threshold Assessment
UMRA Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
U.S.C. United States Code

III. Legal Basis

    This rulemaking is based on the authority of the Motor Carrier Act 
of 1935 (49 Stat. 543) (1935 Act) and the Motor Carrier Safety Act of 
1984 (Title II of Pub. L. 98-554, 98 Stat. 2832) (1984 Act), as 
amended.
    The 1935 Act, as amended, provides that ``[t]he Secretary of 
Transportation may prescribe requirements for--(1) qualifications and 
maximum hours of service of employees of, and safety of operation and 
equipment of, a motor carrier; and (2) qualifications and maximum hours 
of service of employees of, and standards of equipment of, a private 
motor carrier, when needed to promote safety of operation'' (49 U.S.C. 
31502(b)).
    This NPRM would amend the current requirements for rear impact 
guards in the FMCSRs by rescinding the requirement that the impact 
guard be permanently marked or labeled with a certification from the 
impact guard manufacturer as required by the applicable FMVSS. The 
Agency would amend a rule for which the adoption and enforcement of is 
authorized by the 1935 Act.
    The 1984 Act provides concurrent authority to regulate drivers, 
motor carriers, and vehicle equipment. It requires the Secretary to 
``prescribe regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety.'' The 
regulations shall prescribe minimum safety standards for CMVs. At a 
minimum, pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31136(a), the regulations shall ensure 
that: (1) CMVs are maintained, equipped, loaded, and operated safely; 
(2) the responsibilities imposed on operators of CMVs do not impair 
their ability to operate the vehicles safely; (3) the physical 
condition of operators of CMVs is adequate to enable them to operate 
vehicles safely; (4) the operation of CMVs does not have a deleterious 
effect on the physical condition of the operators; and (5) drivers are 
not coerced by motor carriers, shippers, receivers, or transportation 
intermediaries to operate a vehicle in violation of a regulation 
promulgated under 49 U.S.C. 31136 (which is the basis for much of the 
FMCSRs) or 49 U.S.C. chapters 51 or 313 (49 U.S.C. 31136(a)).
    This proposed rule concerns parts and accessories necessary for the 
safe operation of CMVs. It is based on section 31136(a)(1) because it 
deals with maintenance of rear impact guards. The NPRM does not 
implicate the driver-centered requirements of sections 31136(a)(2)-(4). 
As the amendment proposed by this rulemaking pertains only to the 
certification label or marking, FMCSA believes there will be 
stakeholder support for this initiative and that it is unlikely CMV 
drivers would be exposed to greater risk of being coerced to operate 
trailers with missing or non-compliant rear impact guards, which would 
run afoul of 31136(a)(5).
    Before prescribing any such regulations, FMCSA must consider the 
``costs and benefits'' of any proposal (49 U.S.C. 31136(c)(2)(A) and 
31502(d)). As discussed in greater detail in the ``Regulatory 
Analyses'' section, FMCSA has determined that this proposed rule is not 
a significant regulatory action.

IV. Background

History of Rear Impact Guards and Labeling Requirement

    Section 393.86 of the FMCSRs, ``Rear impact guards and rear end 
protection,'' requires rear impact guards to be installed on most CMVs 
to reduce the incidence of passenger compartment intrusion during 
underride crashes in which a passenger vehicle strikes the rear of the 
CMV. Regulations requiring rear impact guards have been in the FMCSRs 
since 1952. The FMCSRs require that all CMVs be systematically 
inspected, repaired, and maintained to ensure that all required parts 
and accessories--including rear impact guards--are in safe and proper 
operating condition at all times (Sec.  396.3(a)(1)). Operation of a 
CMV with a missing or noncompliant rear impact guard would be a 
violation of the FMCSRs, precluding the issuance of a Commercial 
Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) inspection decal if the vehicle were to 
be inspected. In addition, a vehicle with a missing or noncompliant 
rear impact guard would fail the periodic or annual inspection required 
by 49 CFR 396.17.
    NHTSA's rear impact guard standard applicable to the manufacturers 
of the devices include labeling requirements. Under FMVSS No. 223, 
``Rear impact guards,'' manufacturers are allowed to affix the rear 
impact guard certification label on either the forward- or rearward-
facing surface of the horizontal member of the guard, provided the 
label does not interfere with the retroreflective sheeting required by 
the FMVSS.
    On September 1, 1999, FHWA published a final rule (64 FR 47703) 
amending the FMCSRs to require trailers and semitrailers manufactured 
on or after January 26, 1998, with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or more, be 
equipped with rear impact guards that meet the requirements of FMVSS 
No. 223. The rear impact guards must be installed to ensure that the 
trailer or semitrailer meets the rear end protection requirements of 
FMVSS No. 224. The rule was intended to ensure that the rear impact 
protection requirements of the FMCSRs are consistent with the FMVSSs.
    The 1999 final rule included a provision concerning the labeling or 
marking of the rear impact guard (64 FR 47708). The labeling 
requirements were subsequently updated after NHTSA published a final 
rule on November 19, 2004, relating to rear impact guards. NHTSA 
amended the labeling requirement in FMVSS No. 223 to permit the rear 
impact guard certification label to be mounted on

[[Page 22944]]

either the forward- or rearward-facing surface of the horizontal member 
of the guard (69 FR 67660).

V. Discussion of Proposed Rulemaking

Rear Impact Guard Labeling or Marking

    The certification label or marking provides motor carriers 
purchasing new trailers or new impact guards to replace damaged devices 
with a means to determine whether the equipment is certified as meeting 
the applicable FMVSS. However, the labeling or marking requirement has 
proven problematic for motor carriers when the label or marking becomes 
illegible or wears off during the service life of the trailer or guard. 
As discussed above in the Background section, operation of a CMV with a 
missing or noncompliant rear impact guard would be a violation of the 
FMCSRs, precluding the issuance of a CVSA inspection decal if the 
vehicle were to be inspected, and a vehicle with a missing or 
noncompliant rear impact guard would fail the periodic or annual 
inspection required by Sec.  396.17.
    On December 10, 2024, FMCSA issued a guidance document \1\ noting 
NHTSA had determined that labels that wear, fade, or are removed during 
repair do not indicate a current compliance issue with the requirements 
in FMVSS No. 223 (88 FR 5844-5845, Jan. 30, 2023). This proposal would 
eliminate an unintended regulatory burden on motor carriers without 
compromising safety, as the NPRM would not affect the applicable FMVSS; 
rather, it would rescind the FMCSR provision in Sec.  393.86(a)(6) 
requiring that the impact guard be permanently marked or labeled with 
the certification required by the FMVSS.
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    \1\ FMCSA-VEH-393.86-FAQ001 (2024-12-10), available at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/enforcement/does-illegible-incomplete-or-missing-rear-impact-guard-certification-label.
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VI. International Impacts

    Motor carriers and drivers are subject to the laws and regulations 
of the countries in which they operate, unless an international 
agreement states otherwise. Drivers and carriers should be aware of the 
regulatory differences between nations.

VII. Section-by-Section Analysis

A. Regulatory Provisions

Section 393.86
    FMCSA proposes to amend 49 CFR 393.86 to rescind the labeling or 
marking requirement. While brand new trailers would continue to display 
manufacturer certification labels, and a significant percentage of 
trailers in operation would have certification labels, motor carriers 
operating trailers in environments that make it difficult, if not 
impossible, to preserve the certification label would no longer be at 
risk of being penalized during inspections for missing or illegible 
certification labels affixed by the manufacturer.

B. Guidance Statements and Interpretations

    This rulemaking proposes to amend a regulation that has an 
associated guidance statements or interpretations. Such guidance 
statements do not have the force and effect of law, are strictly 
advisory, and are not meant to bind the public in any way. Conformity 
with guidance statements is voluntary. Guidance is intended only to 
provide information to the public regarding existing requirements under 
the law or FMCSA policies. A guidance statement does not alter the 
substance of a regulation.
    On December 10, 2024, FMCSA issued a guidance FAQ to address the 
issue of illegible, incomplete, or missing rear impact guard 
certification labels under 49 CFR 393.86(a)(6).\2\ FMCSA intends to 
rescind this guidance as no longer necessary upon publication of a 
final rule eliminating the provision to which the guidance relates.
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    \2\ See FMCSA-VEH-393.86-FAQ001(2024-12-10), available on 
FMCSA's Guidance Portal at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/enforcement/does-illegible-incomplete-or-missing-rear-impact-guard-certification-label.
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VIII. Regulatory Analyses

A. Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), E.O. 
13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review), and DOT Regulatory 
Policies and Procedures

    FMCSA has considered the impact of this NPRM under E.O. 12866 (58 
FR 51735, Oct. 4, 1993), Regulatory Planning and Review, E.O. 13563 (76 
FR 3821, Jan. 21, 2011), Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, 
and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures. The Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
determined that this NPRM is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of E.O. 12866, as supplemented by E.O. 13563, and does not 
require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 
6(a)(3) of that order. Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed it under that 
E.O.
    Section 393.86(a) currently requires most trailers and semitrailers 
manufactured on or after January 26, 1998, to be equipped with rear 
impact guards that meet NHTSA's requirements. This proposed rule would 
eliminate only the FMCSR requirement that the impact guard have a 
certification label or marking in perpetuity, while retaining NHTSA's 
requirement applicable at the time of manufacture and sale.
    This rulemaking would eliminate the problem of motor carriers 
receiving citations for missing or illegible certification labels 
during inspections by Federal and State personnel. Because the Agency 
does not have data on the frequency with which such citations are 
accompanied by a State-issued fine, it is not possible to estimate the 
cost savings for motor carriers.
    The Agency does not expect this proposed rule to result in benefits 
beyond the baseline established in the FMCSRs. As required by Sec.  
396.17, motor carriers currently complete annual inspections of all 
items identified in Appendix G. FMCSA assumes that motor carriers 
review rear impact guards in their annual inspection programs to remain 
in compliance with the current requirements in Sec.  396.3(a)(1), which 
states that rear impact guards must be installed and in safe and proper 
operating conditions at all times. Additionally, CMVs are subject to 
inspections conducted in accordance with the CVSA's North American 
Standard Inspection Program that may occur throughout the year, which 
include the examination of rear impact guards.

B. E.O. 14192 (Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation)

    E.O. 14192 (90 FR 9065, Jan. 31, 2025), Unleashing Prosperity 
Through Deregulation, requires that for ``each new [E.O. 14192 
regulatory action] issued, at least ten prior regulations be identified 
for elimination.'' \3\
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    \3\ Executive Office of the President. Executive Order 14192 of 
January 31, 2025. Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation. 90 FR 
9065-9067. Feb. 6, 2025.
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    Implementation guidance for E.O. 14192 issued by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) (Memorandum M-25-20, March 26, 2025) 
defines two different types of E.O. 14192 actions: an E.O. 14192 
deregulatory action, and an E.O. 14192 regulatory action.\4\
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    \4\ Executive Office of the President. Office of Management and 
Budget. Guidance Implementing Section 3 of Executive Order 14192, 
Titled ``Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.'' Memorandum M-
25-20. March 26, 2025.
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    An E.O. 14192 deregulatory action is defined as ``an action that 
has been

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finalized and has total costs less than zero.'' This proposed 
rulemaking is expected to have total costs less than zero, and 
therefore would be considered an E.O. 14192 deregulatory action upon 
issuance of a final rule. This rulemaking would result in cost savings 
for motor carriers that would no longer be issued citations for missing 
or illegible certification labels during Federal and State inspections. 
The cost savings of this rulemaking could not be quantified.

C. Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(g), FMCSA is required to publish an advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) or proceed with a negotiated 
rulemaking, if a proposed safety rule ``under this part'' \5\ is likely 
to lead to the promulgation of a major rule.\6\ As this proposed rule 
is not likely to result in the promulgation of a major rule, the Agency 
is not required to issue an ANPRM or to proceed with a negotiated 
rulemaking.
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    \5\ Part B of Subtitle VI of Title 49, United States Code, i.e., 
49 U.S.C. chapters 311-317.
    \6\ A major rule means any rule that the Office of Management 
and Budget finds has resulted in or is likely to result in (a) an 
annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; (b) a major 
increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, 
geographic regions, Federal, State, or local government agencies; or 
(c) significant adverse effects on competition, employment, 
investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United 
States-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises 
in domestic and export markets (5 U.S.C. 804(2)).
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D. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), as amended 
by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996,\7\ 
requires Federal agencies to consider the effects of the regulatory 
action on small business and other small entities and to minimize any 
significant economic impact. The term small entities comprises small 
businesses and not-for-profit organizations that are independently 
owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, and 
governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000 (5 
U.S.C. 601(6)). Accordingly, DOT policy requires an analysis of the 
impact of all regulations on small entities, and mandates that agencies 
strive to lessen any adverse effects on these businesses. The Small 
Business Administration develops the size standards used to classify 
entities as small, and establishes separate standards for each 
industry, as defined by the North American Industry Classification 
System. The motor carriers that would be affected by this proposed rule 
fall into many different industry codes with differing size standards. 
Because this proposed rule would impact all motor carriers, including 
those considered to be small entities, FMCSA anticipates that this 
proposed rule would impact a substantial number of small entities.
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    \7\ Public Law 104-121, 110 Stat. 857, (Mar. 29, 1996).
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    However, FMCSA has determined that this rule would not have a 
significant impact on the affected entities. This proposed rule would 
rescind the requirement that the manufacturer certification label be 
displayed on the rear impact guard. The manufacturer certification 
label provides a motor carrier purchasing new trailers or new impact 
guards to replace damaged devices with a means to determine whether the 
equipment is certified as meeting the NHTSA requirements. However, the 
labeling requirement has proven problematic for motor carriers when the 
label becomes illegible or wears off during the service life of the 
trailer. Today's proposal would eliminate an unintended regulatory 
burden on motor carriers without compromising safety. The Agency 
expects the impacts of this proposed rule would be de minimis, and 
therefore, does not expect the proposed rule to have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    Consequently, I certify that the proposed action will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
FMCSA invites comment from members of the public who believe there will 
be a significant impact either on small businesses or on governmental 
jurisdictions with a population of less than 50,000.

E. Assistance for Small Entities

    In accordance with section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121, 110 Stat. 857), 
FMCSA wants to assist small entities in understanding this proposed 
rule so they can better evaluate its effects on themselves and 
participate in the rulemaking initiative. If the proposed rule would 
affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction 
and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for 
compliance, please consult the person listed under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal 
employees who enforce or otherwise determine compliance with Federal 
regulations to the Small Business Administration's Small Business and 
Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman (Office of the National 
Ombudsman, see https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/oversight-advocacy/office-national-ombudsman) and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness 
Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each 
agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on 
actions by employees of FMCSA, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247). 
DOT has a policy regarding the rights of small entities to regulatory 
enforcement fairness and an explicit policy against retaliation for 
exercising these rights.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) 
(UMRA) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their 
discretionary regulatory actions. The Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or Tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $206 million (which is the 
value equivalent of $100 million in 1995, adjusted for inflation to 
2024 levels) or more in any 1 year. This proposed rule does not contain 
Federal mandates (under the regulatory provisions of Title II of UMRA) 
for State, local, and Tribal governments, or the private sector of the 
adjusted inflationary amount or more in any 1 year. Thus, the 
rulemaking is not subject to the requirements of sections 202 and 205 
of UMRA. Though this proposed rule would not result in such an 
expenditure, the Agency does discuss the effects of this proposed rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

G. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed rule contains no new information collection 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520).

H. E.O. 13132 (Federalism)

    A rulemaking has implications for federalism under section 1(a) of 
E.O. 13132 if it has ``substantial direct effects on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government.''
    FMCSA has determined that this proposed rule would not have 
substantial direct costs on or for States, nor would it limit the 
policymaking discretion of States. Nothing in this document preempts 
any State law or regulation. Therefore, this proposed rule does not 
have sufficient federalism

[[Page 22946]]

implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Impact 
Statement.

I. Privacy

    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005,\8\ requires the Agency 
to assess the privacy impact of a regulation that will affect the 
privacy of individuals. This NPRM would not require the collection of 
personally identifiable information (PII).
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    \8\ Public Law 108-447, 118 Stat. 2809, 3268, note following 5 
U.S.C. 552a (Dec. 4, 2014).
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    The Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) applies only to Federal agencies 
and any non-Federal agency that receives records contained in a system 
of records from a Federal agency for use in a matching program.
    The E-Government Act of 2002,\9\ requires Federal agencies to 
conduct a PIA for new or substantially changed technology that 
collects, maintains, or disseminates information in an identifiable 
form. No new or substantially changed technology would collect, 
maintain, or disseminate information as a result of this proposed rule. 
Accordingly, FMCSA has not conducted a PIA.
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    \9\ Public Law 107-347, sec. 208, 116 Stat. 2899, 2921 (Dec. 17, 
2002).
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    In addition, the Agency will complete a Privacy Threshold 
Assessment (PTA) to evaluate the risks and effects the proposed 
rulemaking might have on collecting, storing, and sharing personally 
identifiable information. The PTA will be submitted to FMCSA's Privacy 
Officer for review and preliminary adjudication and to DOT's Privacy 
Officer for review and final adjudication.

J. E.O. 13175 (Indian Tribal Governments)

    This proposed rule does not have Tribal implications under E.O. 
13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, 
because it does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more 
Indian Tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
Indian Tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian Tribes.

K. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

    FMCSA analyzed this proposed rule pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The 
Agency believes this proposed rule, if finalized, would not have a 
reasonably foreseeable significant effect on the quality of the human 
environment. This action would likely fall under a published 
categorical exclusion and thus be excluded from further analysis and 
documentation in an environmental assessment or environmental impact 
statement under FMCSA Order 5610.1 (69 FR 9680), Appendix 2. 
Specifically, paragraph (6)(bb), which covers regulations pertaining to 
vehicle operation safety standards, equipment approval, and/or 
equipment carriage requirements. The public is invited to comment on 
the impact of the proposed Agency action.

L. Rulemaking Summary

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4), a summary of this proposed 
rule may be found at regulations.gov, under the docket number.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 393

    Highway safety, Motor carriers, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, FMCSA proposes to amend 49 CFR part 393 to read as 
follows:

PART 393--PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION

0
1. The authority citation for part 393 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 31136, 31151, and 31502; sec. 1041(b) of 
Pub. L. 102-240, 105 Stat. 1914, 1993 (1991); sec. 5301 and 5524 of 
Pub. L. 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1543, 1560; and 49 CFR 1.87.


Sec.  393.86  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec.  393.86 remove and reserve paragraph (a)(6).

    Issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.87.
Sue Lawless,
Assistant Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2025-09704 Filed 5-27-25; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P