[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 199 (Tuesday, October 15, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83078-83079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-23653]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2024-0230]


Commercial Driver's License Standards: Application for Exemption; 
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (Daimler)

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

ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that Daimler Trucks North America, LLC 
(Daimler) has requested a 5-year exemption for six drivers who hold 
foreign commercial driver's licenses (CDL) from the requirement to hold 
a CDL issued by a U.S. State when operating a commercial motor vehicle 
(CMV). Daimler is requesting an exemption so that these drivers can 
test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product 
requirements in real-world environments and verify results. FMCSA 
requests public comment on the applicant's request for an exemption.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 14, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Number FMCSA-2024-0230 by any of the following 
methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. See the 
Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further 
information.
    <bullet> Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. E.T., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number 
(FMCSA-2024-0230) 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: If you do not have access to the internet, you may view the 
docket by visiting Docket Operations on the ground floor of the DOT 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 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.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its exemption 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 FDMS, which can be reviewed at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy. The comments are posted without edit 
and are searchable by the name of the submitter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Bernadette Walker, Driver, and 
Carrier Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle 
Safety Standards, FMCSA; (202) 385-2415; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9dfff8eff3fcf9f8e9e9f8b3eafcf1f6f8efddf9f2e9b3faf2eb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="533136213d3237362727367d24323f38362113373c277d343c25">[email protected]</span></a>. If 
you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
contact Dockets Operations at (202) 366-9826.

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-2024-0230), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for your 
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.go, put the 
docket number ``FMCSA-2024-0230'' in the keyword box, and click 
``Search.'' Next, sort the results by ``Posted (Newer-Older),'' choose 
the first notice listed, click the ``Comment'' button, and type your 
comment into the text box on 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 8\1/2\ 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.

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 notice 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 
notice, 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

[[Page 83079]]

treat such marked submissions as confidential under the Freedom of 
Information Act, and they will not be placed in the public docket of 
the notice. 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 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aac8d8c3cbc484cd84cecbc2c6c3c4eacec5de84cdc5dc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8eecfce7efe0a0e9a0eaefe6e2e7e0ceeae1faa0e9e1f8">[email protected]</span></a>. 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 notice.

II. Legal Basis

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant 
exemptions from Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). 
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 the applicant's safety analyses. The Agency must provide an 
opportunity for public comment on the request.
    The Agency reviews safety analyses and public comments submitted 
and determines whether granting the exemption would likely maintain a 
level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level that would be 
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305(a)). The Agency must 
publish its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If 
granted, the notice will identify the regulatory provision(s) from 
which the applicant will be exempt, the effective period, and all terms 
and conditions of the exemption (49 CFR 381.315(c)(1)). If the 
exemption is denied, the notice will explain the reason for the denial 
(49 CFR 381.315(c)(2)). The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 
381.300(b)).

III. Applicant's Request

    Daimler has applied for a 5-year exemption for six drivers from 49 
CFR 383.23, which requires that drivers operating CMVs in interstate or 
intrastate commerce hold CDLs issued by a State. Daimler requests the 
exemption because these drivers are not residents of a U.S. State, and 
therefore cannot meet the residency requirement for a CDL and are 
eligible only for non-domiciled CDLs. The Daimler drivers are 
Christopher Kappes, Andreas Munch, Franz-Alexander Baumgartner, Fabian 
Schab, Malte Kleindick, and Lucas Jung. These drivers all hold valid 
German CDLs. Daimler asserts in its exemption request that the 
requirements for a German CDL ensure that the same level of safety is 
met or exceeded as if these drivers had a CDL issued by a U.S. State.
    The requested exemption would allow these six drivers to operate 
CMVs in interstate commerce to support Daimler field tests for 
developing and optimizing the control software that governs the 
high[hyphen]voltage functions of an electric vehicle's powertrain. 
According to Daimler, these drivers will perform safety testing and 
validation that is crucial for powertrain controllers in electric 
trucks, ensuring they can handle high-voltage functions safely and 
maintain system performance under diverse driving conditions. In all 
cases, they will be accompanied by a holder of a CDL issued by a State 
who is familiar with the routes to be traveled. Daimler adds that if 
this exemption is not granted, future vehicle development and launch of 
electric trucks could be hindered as these six individuals play a 
crucial role in directing company resources to the development of new 
and advanced powertrain solutions.
    A copy of Daimler's application for exemption is available for 
review in the docket for this notice.

IV. Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), FMCSA requests public 
comment from all interested persons on Daimler's application for an 
exemption from the requirement in 49 CFR 383.23. All comments received 
before the close of business on the comment closing date indicated at 
the beginning of this notice will be considered and will be available 
for examination in the docket at the location listed under the 
Addresses section of this notice. Comments received after the comment 
closing date will be filed in the public docket and will be considered 
to the extent practicable. In addition to late comments, FMCSA will 
also continue to file, in the public docket, relevant information that 
becomes available after the comment closing date. Interested persons 
should continue to examine the public docket for new material.

Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024-23653 Filed 10-11-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P


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