[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 26166-26167]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11334]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 350, 390, 394, 395, and 398

[Docket No. FMCSA-97-2350]
RIN 2126-AA23


Public Hearing on Hours of Service of Drivers; Driver Rest and 
Sleep for Safe Operations

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

ACTION: Notice of hearings.

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SUMMARY: The FMCSA is announcing the first of seven public hearings for 
interested persons to present comments and views on the FMCSA's 
proposed revisions to its hours-of-service regulations (65 FR 25540, 
May 2, 2000). This action is necessary to inform the public about the 
date, time, and structure of the first hearing. The FMCSA hopes to hear 
from the public about how the proposed hours-of-service regulations 
would improve highway safety, affect the personal, professional, and 
family life of commercial vehicle drivers, and the impact on the 
various segments of the motor carrier industry. All oral comments will 
be transcribed and placed in the rulemaking docket for the FMCSA's 
consideration.

DATES: The first of seven sessions will be held on Wednesday May 31 and 
Thursday June 1, 2000, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. The 
dates and times for sessions 2 through 7 will be announced in the near 
future.

ADDRESSES: The first session will be held at the DOT Headquarters 
building, Room 2230, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-
0001. The locations for sessions 2 through 7 will be held at sites 
convenient for truck and motor coach parking in Atlanta, GA; Denver, 
CO; Los Angeles, CA; Indianapolis, IN; Kansas City, MO; and the 
Springfield, MA/Hartford, CT area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General Information. To request time 
to be heard at the Washington, D.C. hearing and for other general 
information about all the sessions contact Mr. Stanley Hamilton, Office 
of Regulatory Development, (202) 366-0665. Specific Information. For 
information concerning the rulemaking contact Mr. David Miller, Office 
of Driver and Carrier Operations, (202) 366-1790, or Mr. Charles 
Medalen, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-1354.

[[Page 26167]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    Internet users may access all comments received by the U.S. DOT 
Dockets, Room PL-401, by using the universal resource locator (URL): 
http://dms.dot.gov. It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each 
year. Please follow the instructions online for more information and 
help.
    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded by using a 
computer, modem and suitable communications software from the 
Government Printing Office's Electronic Bulletin Board Service at (202) 
512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's 
web page at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. Internet users may also 
find this document at the FMCSA's Motor Carrier Regulatory Information 
Service (MCREGIS) web site for notices at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/rulemakings.htm.

Background

Structure of Washington Hearing

    Speakers must limit their oral presentations to no more than 10 
minutes duration. Presenters may submit additional written 
documentation to be placed in the public docket.
    The public hearing will be subdivided and the FMCSA will seek 
comments on specific topics during the prescribed time period, as 
follows:

Day One

1. Opening remarks--8:30 a.m.
2. Supportive science--8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m., with general comments about 
any subject from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m.

Day Two

3. Daily cycle (18, 24, other) and weekly cycle (7-day, 168-hour, 
other)--8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
4. Minimum rest period to recover from cumulative multi-day fatigue--
10:45 a.m. to noon.
5. Work-rest requirements for various types of operations--1 to 2 p.m.
6. Information collection methods and requirements, including 
electronic on-board recorders and Department of Labor time records--2 
to 3 p.m.
7. General comments--3:15 to 4:30 p.m.

Washington Participants

    All persons who would like to present comments must notify Mr. Stan 
Hamilton by telephone at (202) 366-0665 by 4 p.m. e.t., no later than 
May 26, 2000. All persons attending will be subject to Federal and DOT 
workplace security measures. All persons will need photo identification 
and must display the identification to DOT security officers. All 
persons will be required to sign in at the guard's desk, walk through 
metal detectors, and be subject to random search. All visitors will be 
required to wear a ``Visitor'' tag at all times while in the building. 
Persons failing to satisfy security requirements will be denied entry 
and forfeit their opportunity to participate in the hearing. Such 
persons may, however, submit their written comments by the close of 
business on July 31, 2000, to the Docket Clerk, U.S. DOT Dockets, Room 
PL-401, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20950-0001.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 31502, and 31136; and 49 CFR 1.73.

    Issued on: May 2, 2000.
Brian M. McLaughlin,
Director, Office of Policy Plans and Regulations.
[FR Doc. 00-11334 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
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