2019-20237. Commercial Driver's License Standards: Application for Exemption; Navistar, Inc. (Navistar)

AGENCY:

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

FMCSA announces that Navistar, Inc. (Navistar) has requested an exemption for five commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) drivers from the Federal requirement to hold a U.S. commercial driver's license (CDL). The requested exemption will cover five Swedish Project Engineers who will test-drive commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) for Navistar within the United States. All five engineers work for Scania AB in Sweden (part of the Volkswagen Group), which is partnering with Navistar to develop improved fuel economy and emissions reductions. The Scania drivers all hold valid Swedish commercial licenses and need to test-drive Navistar vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements in “real world” environments and to verify results. Navistar believes the requirements for a Swedish commercial license ensure that operation under the exemption will likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be obtained in the absence of the exemption. FMCSA requests public comments on Navistar's application for exemption.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before October 21, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2018-0347 using any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
• Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
• Fax: [phone].

Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments received without change to www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or visit Room W12-140 on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The on-line FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Richard Clemente, FMCSA Driver and Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards; Telephone: [phone]. Email: [e-mail]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact Docket Services, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and related materials.

Submitting Comments

If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (FMCSA-2018-0347), 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 www.regulations.gov and put the docket number, “FMCSA-2018-0347” in the “Keyword” box, and click “Search.” When the new screen appears, click on “Comment Now!” button and type your comment into the text box in the following screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the comment period and may grant or not grant this application based on your comments.

II. Legal Basis

FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an opportunity to inspect the information relevant to the application, including any safety analyses that have been conducted. The Agency must provide an opportunity for public comment on the request.

The Agency reviews the safety analyses and the public comments, and determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The decision of the Agency must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) with the reason for the grant or denial and, if granted, the specific person or class of persons receiving the exemption, and the regulatory provision or provisions from which exemption is granted. The notice must specify the effective period of the exemption (up to 5 years), and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).

III. Request for Exemption

Navistar has applied for an exemption for five drivers from 49 CFR 383.23, which prescribes licensing requirements for drivers operating CMVs in interstate or intrastate commerce. Navistar requests the exemption because these drivers are all citizens of Sweden and therefore cannot apply for a CDL in any of the U.S. States due to their lack of residency in this country. A copy of the individual applications is in Docket No. FMCSA-2018-0347.

The exemption would allow five drivers to operate CMVs in interstate or intrastate commerce as part of Navistar field tests designed to meet future vehicle safety and environmental requirements and to promote the development of new and advanced emissions reduction systems and fuel efficiency improvements. According to Navistar, the drivers will typically drive for no more than 8 hours per day for 2 consecutive days, and that 50 percent of the test driving will be on two-lane State highways, while 50 percent will be on interstate highways. The driving for each driver will consist of no more than 300 miles per day, and in all cases the drivers will be accompanied by a holder of a U.S. CDL who is familiar with the routes to be traveled.

The drivers are Jonas Hellstrom, Sofie Svanstrom, Erik Holma, Jonas Udd, and Mikael Oun. The drivers hold valid Swedish commercial licenses and, as explained by Navistar in its exemption request, the requirements for that license ensure that, operating under the exemption, the drivers would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be achieved by the current regulation. Navistar requests that the exemptions cover a five-year period for each driver.

Copies of Navistar's applications for exemption for these five drivers are available in the docket for this notice.

Issued on: September 10, 2019.

Larry W. Minor,

Associate Administrator for Policy.