FMCSA Proposes CDL Testing & CDL Learner's Permit Standards 
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), in the April 9 Federal Register, that revises commercial driver's license (CDL) knowledge and skills testing standards and requires new federal minimum standards for states to issue commercial learner's permits (CLP). The NPRM addresses many of the shortcomings of current CDL testing standards and minimum age requirements. Some of the requirements include:
- Successful completion of knowledge prior to issuance of a CLP
- All CDL applicants to have CLP for 30 days before applying for a CDL
- All CLP applicants be at least 18 years old before applying for a CLP
- Increased documentation requirements for CDL and CLP applicants to demonstrate legal presence
- Increased fraud prevention measures to be implemented by the state driver's licensing agencies
Comments must be submitted by June 9, 2008. View the Federal Register notice for submission details. On April 16 AAMVA distributed a matrix to assist states in evaluating the rule. Please e-mail Karen Morton or Pam Walker by May 23, 2008, a copy of your jurisdiction’s comments for the record so AAMVA can use the jurisdiction comments as the basis for the Association comments for the docket.
New in REAL ID FAQ Database: Background Checks, Lawful Status, Storing Signatures
There are new items in the
REAL ID FAQ database regarding employee background checks, lawful status, and storing signatures.
New feature: The front page of the
REAL ID FAQ database now provides a
list of the new questions that have been added to the database. Please direct any questions about using this database to
Janice Dluzynski.
NHTSA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed National Survey
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking public comment on proposed a National Survey on Reported and Unreported Motor Vehicle Crashes. The national survey would be conducted by telephone among a sample of 2,000 adults (age 16 and older) who were involved in a motor vehicle crash in the past 12 months. Participation by respondents would be voluntary. NHTSA’s information needs require a telephone survey on a national probability sample of drivers in the United States that will allow national estimates of the annualized incidence and severity of unreported crashes in the United States to be made. The questionnaire focuses on the extent of any injuries and property damage that were a result of the crash the respondent was involved in. View the
Federal Register notice for more details.
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: CAFE Standards
In a May 2
Federal Register notice, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes substantial increases in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light trucks that would enhance energy security by improving fuel economy. Since the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from the tailpipes of new motor vehicles is the natural by-product of the combustion of fuel, the increased standards would also address climate change by reducing tailpipe emissions of CO2. Those emissions represent 97 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. Implementation of the new standards would dramatically add to the billions of barrels of fuel already saved since the beginning of the CAFE program in 1975. Comments must be received on or before July 1, 2008. View the
Federal Register notice for more information.
FMCSA Withdraws Emergency ICR to Analyze Impacts of Hours-of-Service Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a notice in the
Federal Register on March 21, 2008 (73 FR 15253), requesting an emergency approval of a proposed new information collection that would be used to analyze the impact of the new Hours-of-Service regulations on drivers and the effects of these regulations on driver fatigue. The new information collection would also acquire general demographic information regarding the commercial motor vehicle driving population. FMCSA has determined that this information collection request (ICR) will not be conducted at this time. For more information view the
May 2 Federal Register notice.
NHTSA Requests Comments on CAFE Standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is requesting comments to acquire new and updated information regarding vehicle manufacturers’ future product plans to assist the agency in analyzing the proposed passenger car and light truck corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards as required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, Pub. L. 110-140. Comments must be received on or before July 1, 2008. View the
Federal Register notice for more information.
NPRM on Administrative Requirements for Grants
On May 2, the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend regulations on uniform administrative requirements for grants and agreements with institutions of higher education, hospitals and other non-profit organizations. Specifically, the DOT proposes to make requirements for these grants and agreements consistent with the uniform administrative requirements for grants and cooperative agreements to state and local governments. In addition, the proposal would update references to applicable cost principles for grants and cooperative agreements with state and local governments and for grants and other agreements with institutions of higher education, hospitals and other non-profit organizations that appear in current DOT regulations. Comments on this proposed amendment must be received on or before June 16, 2008. View the
May 2 Federal Register notice.
DOT Issues Final Rule on Nonprocurement Suspension & Debarment Regulations
The Department of Transportation (DOT) is moving its regulations on nonprocurement suspension and debarment from their current location in title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to title 2 of the CFR. By issuing this final rule and moving its nonprocurement suspension and debarment regulations to new CFR part 1200 in title 2 thereof, DOT is also adopting the interim and final government-wide guidance on nonprocurement suspension and debarment issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the
Federal Register on Aug. 31, 2005 (70 FR 51863) and Nov. 15, 2006 (71 FR 66431), respectively. The OMB guidance can be found in 2 CFR Part 180, Subtitle A, Chapter I. These actions by the DOT implement OMB initiatives to streamline and consolidate all federal regulations on nonprocurement suspension and debarment into one part of the CFR. In addition, this rule removes 49 CFR Part 29, regulations that reflect the DOT's implementation of the government-wide common rule on nonprocurement suspension and debarment. These changes are non-substantive in nature and constitute an administrative simplification that would make no substantive change in DOT policy or procedures for nonprocurement suspension and debarment. This final rule is effective on June 2, 2008. View the
May 2 Federal Register notice for more details.
AARP Driver Safety Program Month
Because May is both Healthy Vision Month and the AARP Driver Safety Program Month, the organization is reminding drivers to maintain their eye health because of the link between healthy vision and safe driving. A full 90-95 percent of the information needed to detect and react to danger while driving comes through vision. More than 90 percent of AARP Driver Safety Program participants say they would recommend the course to a friend and from May 1 through June 15, AARP members can bring a friend to the classroom course and receive a 50 percent discount. This means both participants can attend the AARP Driver Safety Program classroom course together for only $10. Members will receive $2 off of the online course during the same period. For more information on course locations, volunteer opportunities or to find out how a group/organization can become a sponsor, call AARP toll-free at (888)227-7669 or visit
www.aarp.org/drive. For more information about older driver safety issues, contact Lori Cohen at
LCcohen@aarp.org.
FHWA Requests Renewal of Customer Satisfaction Survey Information Collection
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has forwarded an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request approval for a clearance renewal for an existing information collection that involves generic customer satisfaction surveys. Comments should be submitted by June 5, 2008. For more details, view the
May 6 Federal Register notice.
NHTSA Proposes Amendments to Insurance Reporting Requirements
In a May 6
Federal Register notice The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposes to amend Appendices A and C of 49 CFR Part 544, Insurer Reporting Requirements. The appendices list those passenger motor vehicle insurers that are required to file reports on their motor vehicle theft loss experiences. An insurer included in any of these appendices would be required to file three copies of its report for the 2005 calendar year before Oct. 25, 2008. If the passenger motor vehicle insurers remain listed, they must submit reports by each subsequent Oct. 25. NHTSA is proposing to add and remove several insurers from relevant appendices. Comments must be submitted not later than July 7, 2008. Insurers listed in the appendices are required to submit reports on or before Oct. 25, 2008.
View the Federal Register notice for more details.
TWIC Compliance Date Extended
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), issued a final rule in the May 7
Federal Register to realign the compliance date set forth in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) final rule. Under the new final compliance date, mariners must obtain a TWIC no later than April 15, 2009. This final rule also extends to April 15, 2009, the final date by which owners and operators of vessels, facilities, and outer continental shelf facilities, who have not otherwise been required to implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC on an earlier date, must implement those procedures. This final rule took effect on May 7, 2008. View the May 7
Federal Register notice for more details.
New AASHTO Study Designed to Save Lives
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) has released a report that details a number of low-cost solutions to reduce the number of traffic fatalities in the U.S. each year. 42,000 people die on our highways annually and more than 25,000, almost 60 percent, are killed in crashes caused when their vehicles veer from their lanes. The report, “Driving Down Lane-Departure Crashes,” highlights several examples of states that are experiencing dramatic reductions in lane-departure crashes and fatalities through successful leadership and systematic, low-cost improvements. The study outlines quick-implementation strategies that will also reduce crashes into trees and utility poles and assist with the identification and removal of roadside safety hazards. A copy of the report is available at
https://bookstore.transportation.org/item_details.aspx?ID=1216.
TRUCC Act Introduced in House
On May 6, the "Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs Act" (TRUCC Act) was introduced in House. The bill (
HR 5977) is intended to amend title 49, U.S. Code, to require a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder that collects a fuel surcharge to disclose and pay the fuel surcharge to the person responsible for bearing the cost of the fuel, and for other purposes.
Read the text of the legislation for more information.
REAL ID "Myths & Facts"
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently posted a discussion on "REAL ID: Myths & Facts" to the DHS REAL ID site:
http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/gc_1210269250821.shtm OMB Tells Agencies to Hold Off on FY 2010 Budget Requests
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a memo to top agency and department officials in April informing them not to submit a FY 2010 budget request. The OMB will instead provide a current services baseline database to serve as a guide for the new presidential administration in formulating the budget. Although agencies do not need to submit a formal budget and its accompanying policy materials for FY 2010, they will still need to submit performance plans and other "non-policy materials" in September. The OMB will provide more guidance to agencies in a circular to be released in July. For more information, visit
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/memoranda/fy2008/m08-17.pdf.
UCR Board of Directors Meeting
The Unified Carrier Registration Plan (UCR) Board of Directors has scheduled its next meeting for June 9 from 1pm to 5pm and June 10 from 8am to 12pm at The Brown Hotel, 335 West Broadway, Louisville, Kentucky, 40202. The board will continue its work in developing and implementing the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement and to that end, may consider matters properly before the Board. For further information, contact Avelino Gutierrez, Chair, Unified Carrier Registration Board of Directors at (505) 827-4565.
Sign Up for 2008 AAMVA Fall Workshop Updates
Make plans to join AAMVA for the 2008 Fall Workshop, Oct. 27-30, in Tampa, Florida at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. Agenda and program information will be available soon! Find out first—sign up for e-mails on Workshop Updates today!
Headlines
Member News
"The truth is that all of us attain the greatest success and happiness possible in this life whenever we use our native capacities to their greatest extent."
--Dr. Smiley Blanton