Source: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section31136&num=0&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2020-05-26 21:46:15
Document Index: 233565414

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 31136', '§1', '§344', '§5', '§4007', '§4116', '§32911', '§5202', '§206', '§206', '§9102', '§5301', 'art 381', '§5519', 'art 395', '§5524', 'arts 390', 'arts 390', '§32934', '§5518', '§4133', '§4136', '§101', '§229', '§4115', '§301', '§32101', '§5508', '§4007', '§4008', '§4024', '§1076', '§408', '§345', '§4115', '§346', '§1211', '§9003', '§5101']

[USC02] 49 USC 31136: United States Government regulations
<< Previous TITLE 49 / SUBTITLE VI / PART B / CHAPTER 311 / SUBCHAPTER III / § 31136 Next >>
49 USC 31136: United States Government regulations Text contains those laws in effect on May 25, 2020
(a) Minimum Safety Standards.-Subject to section 30103(a) of this title, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety. The regulations shall prescribe minimum safety standards for commercial motor vehicles. At a minimum, the regulations shall ensure that-
(b) Eliminating and Amending Existing Regulations.-The Secretary may not eliminate or amend an existing motor carrier safety regulation related only to the maintenance, equipment, loading, or operation (including routing) of vehicles carrying material found to be hazardous under section 5103 of this title until an equivalent or more stringent regulation has been prescribed under section 5103.
(c) Procedures and Considerations.-(1) A regulation under this section shall be prescribed under section 553 of title 5 (without regard to sections 556 and 557 of title 5).
(2) Before prescribing regulations under this section, the Secretary shall consider, to the extent practicable and consistent with the purposes of this chapter-
(d) Effect of Existing Regulations.-If the Secretary does not prescribe regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety under this section, regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety prescribed by the Secretary before October 30, 1984, and in effect on October 30, 1984, shall be deemed in this subchapter to be regulations prescribed by the Secretary under this section.
(e) Exemptions.-The Secretary may grant in accordance with section 31315 waivers and exemptions from, or conduct pilot programs with respect to, any regulations prescribed under this section.
(f) Regulatory Impact Analysis.-
(1) In general.-Within each regulatory impact analysis of a proposed or final major rule issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Secretary shall, whenever practicable-
(2) Scope.-To the extent feasible and appropriate, and consistent with law, an analysis described in paragraph (1) shall-
(g) Public Participation.-
(1) In general.-If a proposed rule under this part is likely to lead to the promulgation of a major rule, the Secretary, before publishing such proposed rule, shall-
(2) Requirements.-Each advance notice of proposed rulemaking issued under paragraph (1) shall-
(3) Waiver.-This subsection does not apply to a proposed rule if the Secretary, for good cause, finds (and incorporates the finding and a brief statement of reasons for such finding in the proposed or final rule) that an advance notice of proposed rulemaking is impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.
(h) Rule of Construction.-Nothing in subsection (f) or (g) may be construed to limit the contents of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
( Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1003 ; Pub. L. 104–59, title III, §344, Nov. 28, 1995, 109 Stat. 610 ; Pub. L. 104–287, §5(60), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3394 ; Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, §4007(c), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 403 ; Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, §4116(b), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1728 ; Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, §32911, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 818 ; Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, §5202, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1534 .)
31136(a) 49 App.:2505(a), (g). Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–554, §206(a)–(g), 98 Stat. 2834 .
31136(f) 49 App.:2505(h). Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–554, §206(h), 98 Stat. 2835 ; restated Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690, §9102(a), 102 Stat. 4528 .
2015-Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 114–94 added subsec. (f) and redesignated and transferred former subsec. (f) of this section to subsec. (g) of section 31315 of this title.
2012-Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 112–141 added par. (5).
2005-Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 109–59 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: "the physical condition of operators of commercial motor vehicles is adequate to enable them to operate the vehicles safely; and".
1998-Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–178 amended heading and text of subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) consisted of pars. (1) to (3) relating to waivers.
1996-Subsec. (e)(2)(A), (J), (3). Pub. L. 104–287 substituted "November 28, 1995" for "the date of the enactment of this paragraph".
1995-Subsec. (e)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 104–59 designated existing text as par. (1) and inserted heading, and added pars. (2) and (3).
Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, §5301, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1543 , provided that:
"(a) In General.-Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 2015], the Secretary [of Transportation] shall revise the regulations in section 393.60(e) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to the prohibition on obstructions to the driver's field of view) to exempt from that section the voluntary mounting on a windshield of vehicle safety technology likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be achieved absent the exemption.
"(b) Vehicle Safety Technology Defined.-In this section, the term 'vehicle safety technology' includes a fleet-related incident management system, performance or behavior management system, speed management system, lane departure warning system, forward collision warning or mitigation system, and active cruise control system and any other technology that the Secretary considers applicable.
"(c) Rule of Construction.-For purposes of this section, any windshield mounted technology with a short term exemption under part 381 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, on the date of enactment of this Act, shall be considered likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to or greater than the level of safety that would be achieved absent an exemption under subsection (a)."
Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, §5519, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1558 , provided that:
"(a) In General.-In the case of a commercial motor vehicle driver subject to the hours of service requirements in part 395 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, who is driving a hi-rail vehicle, the maximum on duty time under section 395.3 of such title for such driver shall not include time in transportation to or from a duty assignment if such time in transportation-
"(b) Hi-Rail Vehicle Defined.-In this section, the term 'hi-rail vehicle' means an internal rail flaw detection vehicle equipped with flange hi-rails."
Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, §5524, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1560 , provided that:
"(a) Covered Motor Vehicle Defined.-In this section, the term 'covered motor vehicle' means a motor vehicle that-
"(b) Federal Requirements.-A covered motor vehicle, including the individual operating such vehicle and the employer of such individual, shall be exempt from the following:
Pub. L. 113–125, June 30, 2014, 128 Stat. 1388 , provided that:
"(a) Defined Term.-In this Act, the term 'residential heating fuel' includes-
"(b) Authorization.-If the Governor of a State declares a state of emergency caused by a shortage of residential heating fuel and, at the conclusion of the initial 30-day emergency period (or a second 30-day emergency period authorized under this subsection), the Governor determines that the emergency shortage has not ended, any extension of such state of emergency by the Governor, up to 2 additional 30-day periods, shall be recognized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as a period during which parts 390 through 399 of chapter III of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply to any motor carrier or driver operating a commercial motor vehicle to provide residential heating fuel in the geographic area so designated as under a state of emergency.
"(c) Rulemaking.-The Secretary of Transportation shall amend section 390.23(a)(1)(ii) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to conform to the provision set forth in subsection (b).
"(d) Savings Provision.-Nothing in this section may be construed to modify the authority granted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Field Administrator under section 390.23(a) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to offer temporary exemptions from parts 390 through 399 of such title.
"Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act [June 30, 2014], the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of, and transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, a report on the impacts of safety from the extensions issued by Governors according to this Act. In conducting the study, the Secretary shall review, at a minimum-
Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, subtitle G, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 809 , provided that:
"(1) Advanced glazing.-The term 'advanced glazing' means glazing installed in a portal on the side or the roof of a motorcoach that is designed to be highly resistant to partial or complete occupant ejection in all types of motor vehicle crashes.
"(2) Bus.-The term 'bus' has the meaning given the term in section 571.3(b) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [see section 3(a), (b) of Pub. L. 112–141, set out as Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment notes under section 101 of Title 23, Highways]).
"(3) Commercial motor vehicle.-Except as otherwise specified, the term 'commercial motor vehicle' has the meaning given the term in section 31132(1) of title 49, United States Code.
"(4) Direct tire pressure monitoring system.-The term 'direct tire pressure monitoring system' means a tire pressure monitoring system that is capable of directly detecting when the air pressure level in any tire is significantly under-inflated and providing the driver a low tire pressure warning as to which specific tire is significantly under-inflated.
"(5) Motor carrier.-The term 'motor carrier' means-
"(6) Motorcoach.-The term 'motorcoach' has the meaning given the term 'over-the-road bus' in section 3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century [Pub. L. 105–178] (49 U.S.C. 5310 note), but does not include-
"(7) Motorcoach services.-The term 'motorcoach services' means passenger transportation by motorcoach for compensation.
"(8) Multifunction school activity bus.-The term 'multifunction school activity bus' has the meaning given the term in section 571.3(b) of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act).
"(9) Portal.-The term 'portal' means any opening on the front, side, rear, or roof of a motorcoach that could, in the event of a crash involving the motorcoach, permit the partial or complete ejection of any occupant from the motorcoach, including a young child.
"(10) Provider of motorcoach services.-The term 'provider of motorcoach services' means a motor carrier that provides passenger transportation services with a motorcoach, including per-trip compensation and contracted or chartered compensation.
"(11) Public transportation.-The term 'public transportation' has the meaning given the term in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code.
"(12) Safety belt.-The term 'safety belt' has the meaning given the term in section 153(i)(4)(B) of title 23, United States Code.
"(13) Secretary.-The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Transportation.
"(a) Regulations Required Within 1 Year.-Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations requiring safety belts to be installed in motorcoaches at each designated seating position.
"(b) Regulations Required Within 2 Years.-Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations that address the following commercial motor vehicle standards, if the Secretary determines that such standards meet the requirements and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code:
"(1) Roof strength and crush resistance.-The Secretary shall establish improved roof and roof support standards for motorcoaches that substantially improve the resistance of motorcoach roofs to deformation and intrusion to prevent serious occupant injury in rollover crashes involving motorcoaches.
"(2) Anti-ejection safety countermeasures.-The Secretary shall consider requiring advanced glazing standards for each motorcoach portal and shall consider other portal improvements to prevent partial and complete ejection of motorcoach passengers, including children. In prescribing such standards, the Secretary shall consider the impact of such standards on the use of motorcoach portals as a means of emergency egress.
"(3) Rollover crash avoidance.-The Secretary shall consider requiring motorcoaches to be equipped with stability enhancing technology, such as electronic stability control and torque vectoring, to reduce the number and frequency of rollover crashes among motorcoaches.
"(c) Commercial Motor Vehicle Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems.-Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe the following commercial vehicle regulation:
"(1) In general.-The Secretary shall consider requiring motorcoaches to be equipped with direct tire pressure monitoring systems that warn the operator of a commercial motor vehicle when any tire exhibits a level of air pressure that is below a specified level of air pressure established by the Secretary, if the Secretary determines that such standards meet the requirements and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code.
"(2) Performance requirements.-In any standard adopted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include performance requirements to meet the objectives identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
"(d) Tire Performance Standard.-Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall consider-
"(2) if the Secretary determines that a standard does not meet the requirements and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code, submit a report that describes the reasons for not prescribing such a standard to-
"(e) Application of Regulations.-
"(1) New motorcoaches.-Any regulation prescribed in accordance with subsection (a), (b), (c), or (d) shall-
"(2) Retrofit assessment for existing motorcoaches.-
"(A) In general.-The Secretary may assess the feasibility, benefits, and costs with respect to the application of any requirement established under subsection (a) or (b)(2) to motorcoaches manufactured before the date on which the requirement applies to new motorcoaches under paragraph (1).
"(B) Report.-The Secretary shall submit a report on the assessment to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
"(a) Research and Testing.-The Secretary shall conduct research and testing to determine the most prevalent causes of motorcoach fires and the best methods to prevent such fires and to mitigate the effect of such fires, both inside and outside the motorcoach. Such research and testing shall consider flammability of exterior components, smoke suppression, prevention of and resistance to wheel well fires, automatic fire suppression, passenger evacuation, causation and prevention of motorcoach fires, and improved fire extinguishers.
"(b) Standards.-Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary may issue fire prevention and mitigation standards for motorcoaches, based on the results of the Secretary's research and testing, taking into account highway size and weight restrictions applicable to motorcoaches, if the Secretary determines that such standards meet the requirements and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code.
"(a) Safety Research Initiatives.-Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the following research and testing:
"(1) Interior impact protection.-The Secretary shall research and test enhanced occupant impact protection technologies for motorcoach interiors to reduce serious injuries for all passengers of motorcoaches.
"(2) Compartmentalization safety countermeasures.-The Secretary shall research and test enhanced compartmentalization safety countermeasures for motorcoaches, including enhanced seating designs.
"(3) Collision avoidance systems.-The Secretary shall research and test forward and lateral crash warning systems applications for motorcoaches.
"(b) Rulemaking.-Not later than 2 years after the completion of each research and testing initiative required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall issue final motor vehicle safety standards if the Secretary determines that such standards meet the requirements and considerations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49, United States Code.
"(a) Requirements.-To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall ensure that research programs are carried out concurrently, and in a manner that concurrently assesses results, potential countermeasures, costs, and benefits.
"(b) Authority to Combine Rulemakings.-When considering each of the rulemaking provisions, the Secretary may initiate a single rulemaking proceeding encompassing all aspects or may combine the rulemakings as the Secretary deems appropriate.
"(c) Considerations.-If the Secretary undertakes separate rulemaking proceedings, the Secretary shall-
"(a) Safety Reviews.-[Amended section 31144 of this title.]
"(b) Disclosure of Safety Performance Ratings of Motorcoach Services and Operations.-
"(A) Motorcoach.-
"(i) In general.-Except as provided in clause (ii), the term 'motorcoach' has the meaning given the term 'over-the-road bus' in section 3038(a)(3) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century [Pub. L. 105–178] (49 U.S.C. 5310 note).
"(ii) Exclusions.-The term 'motorcoach' does not include-
"(B) Motorcoach services and operations.-The term 'motorcoach services and operations' means passenger transportation by a motorcoach for compensation.
"(2) Requirements for the disclosure of safety performance ratings of motorcoach services and operations.-
"(A) In general.-Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish, through notice and opportunity for public to comment, requirements to improve the accessibility to the public of safety rating information of motorcoach services and operations.
"(B) Display.-In establishing the requirements under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider requirements for each motor carrier that owns or leases 1 or more motorcoaches that transport passengers subject to the Secretary's jurisdiction under section 13501 of title 49, United States Code, to prominently display safety fitness information pursuant to section 31144 of title 49, United States Code-
"(a) In General.-Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall review and assess the current knowledge and skill testing requirements for a commercial driver's license passenger endorsement to determine what improvements to the knowledge test, the examination of driving skills, and the application of such requirements are necessary to ensure the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport passengers.
"(b) Report.-Not later than 120 days after completion of the review and assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate-
"Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall complete a rulemaking proceeding to consider requiring States to establish a program for annual inspections of commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport passengers, including an assessment of-
"(2) the effectiveness of existing Federal standards for the inspection of such vehicles in-
Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, §32934, July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 830 , as amended by Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, §5518, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1558 , provided that:
"(a) Federal Requirements.-A covered farm vehicle, including the individual operating that vehicle, shall be exempt from the following:
"(3) Any requirement relating to medical certificates established under-
"(4) Any requirement relating to hours of service established under-
"(5) Any requirement relating to vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance established under-
"(b) State Requirements.-
"(1) In general.-Federal transportation funding to a State may not be terminated, limited, or otherwise interfered with as a result of the State exempting a covered farm vehicle, including the individual operating that vehicle, from-
"(2) Exception.-Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to a covered farm vehicle transporting hazardous materials that require a placard.
"(c) Covered Farm Vehicle Defined.-
"(1) In general.-In this section, the term 'covered farm vehicle' means a motor vehicle (including an articulated motor vehicle)-
"(A) that-
"(ii) is operated by-
"(iii) is transporting to or from a farm or ranch-
"(B) that has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight, whichever is greater, that is-
"(2) Inclusion.-In this section, the term 'covered farm vehicle' includes a motor vehicle that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) (other than paragraph (1)(A)(iv)) and-
"(d) Safety Study.-The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of the exemption required by subsection (a) as follows:
"(1) Data and analysis of covered farm vehicles shall include-
"(e) Construction.-Nothing in this section shall be construed as authority for the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations."
Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, §4133, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1744 , provided that: "Notwithstanding sections 31136 and 31502 of title 49, United States Code, and any other provision of law, the maximum daily hours of service for an operator of a commercial motor vehicle providing transportation of property or passengers to or from a theatrical or television motion picture production site located within a 100 air mile radius of the work reporting location of such operator shall be those in effect under the regulations in effect under such sections on April 27, 2003."
Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, §4136, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1745 , provided that: "The Federal motor carrier safety regulations that apply to interstate operations of commercial motor vehicles designed to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver) shall apply to all interstate operations of such carriers regardless of the distance traveled."
Pub. L. 106–159, title I, §101(f), Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1752 , provided that: "The authority under title 49, United States Code, to promulgate safety standards for commercial motor vehicles and equipment subsequent to initial manufacture is vested in the Secretary and may be delegated."
Pub. L. 106–159, title II, §229, as added and amended by Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, §§4115(a), (c), 4130–4132, 4147, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1726 , 1743, 1744, 1749; Pub. L. 110–244, title III, §301(i), June 6, 2008, 122 Stat. 1616 ; Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title II, §32101(d), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 778 ; Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, §§5508(c), 5522, Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1554 , 1559, provided that:
"(a) Exemptions.-
"(1) Transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies.-Regulations prescribed by the Secretary [of Transportation] under sections 31136 and 31502 of title 49, United States Code, regarding maximum driving and on-duty time for drivers used by motor carriers shall not apply during planting and harvest periods, as determined by each State, to-
"(2) Transportation and operation of ground water well drilling rigs.-Such regulations shall, in the case of a driver of a commercial motor vehicle who is used primarily in the transportation and operation of a ground water well drilling rig, permit any period of 7 or 8 consecutive days to end with the beginning of an off-duty period of 24 or more consecutive hours for the purposes of determining maximum driving and on-duty time. Except as required in section 395.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this sentence [Aug. 10, 2005], no additional off-duty time shall be required in order to operate such vehicle.
"(3) Transportation of construction materials and equipment.-Such regulations shall, in the case of a driver of a commercial motor vehicle who is used primarily in the transportation of construction materials and equipment, permit any period of 7 or 8 consecutive days to end with the beginning of an off-duty period of 24 or more consecutive hours for the purposes of determining maximum driving and on-duty time.
"(4) Operators of utility service vehicles.-
"(A) Inapplicability of federal regulations.-Such regulations shall not apply to a driver of a utility service vehicle.
"(B) Prohibition on state regulations.-A State, a political subdivision of a State, an interstate agency, or other entity consisting of two or more States, shall not enact or enforce any law, rule, regulation, or standard that imposes requirements on a driver of a utility service vehicle that are similar to the requirements contained in such regulations.
"(5) Snow and ice removal.-A State may waive the requirements of chapter 313 of title 49, United States Code, with respect to a vehicle that is being operated within the boundaries of an eligible unit of local government by an employee of such unit for the purpose of removing snow or ice from a roadway by plowing, sanding, or salting. Such waiver authority shall only apply in a case where the employee is needed to operate the vehicle because the employee of the eligible unit of local government who ordinarily operates the vehicle and who has a commercial drivers license is unable to operate the vehicle or is in need of additional assistance due to a snow emergency.
"(b) Preemption.-Except as provided in subsection (a)(4), nothing contained in this section shall require the preemption of State laws and regulations concerning the safe operation of commercial motor vehicles as the result of exemptions from Federal requirements provided under this section.
"(c) Review by the Secretary.-The Secretary [of Transportation] may conduct a rulemaking proceeding to determine whether granting any exemption provided by subsection (a) (other than paragraph (1), (2), or (4)) is not in the public interest and would have a significant adverse impact on the safety of commercial motor vehicles. If, at any time as a result of such a proceeding, the Secretary determines that granting such exemption would not be in the public interest and would have a significant adverse impact on the safety of commercial motor vehicles, the Secretary may prevent the exemption from going into effect, modify the exemption, or revoke the exemption. The Secretary may develop a program to monitor the exemption, including agreements with carriers to permit the Secretary to examine insurance information maintained by an insurer on a carrier.
"(d) Report.-The Secretary shall monitor the commercial motor vehicle safety performance of drivers of vehicles that are subject to an exemption under this section. If the Secretary determines that public safety has been adversely affected by an exemption granted under this section, the Secretary shall report to Congress on the determination.
"(1) 7 or 8 consecutive days.-The term '7 or 8 consecutive days' means the period of 7 or 8 consecutive days beginning on any day at the time designated by the motor carrier for a 24-hour period.
"(2) 24-hour period.-The term '24-hour period' means any 24 consecutive hour period beginning at the time designated by the motor carrier for the terminal from which the driver is normally dispatched.
"(3) Ground water well drilling rig.-The term 'ground water well drilling rig' means any vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer, semi-trailer, or specialized mobile equipment propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used on highways to transport water well field operating equipment, including water well drilling and pump service rigs equipped to access ground water.
"(4) Transportation of construction materials and equipment.-The term 'transportation of construction materials and equipment' means the transportation of construction and pavement materials, construction equipment, and construction maintenance vehicles, by a driver to or from an active construction site (a construction site between initial mobilization of equipment and materials to the site to the final completion of the construction project) within a 75 air mile radius of the normal work reporting location of the driver, except that a State, upon notice to the Secretary, may establish a different air mile radius limitation for purposes of this paragraph if such limitation is between 50 and 75 air miles and applies only to movements that take place entirely within the State. This paragraph does not apply to the transportation of material found by the Secretary to be hazardous under section 5103 of title 49, United States Code, in a quantity requiring placarding under regulations issued to carry out such section.
"(5) Eligible unit of local government.-The term 'eligible unit of local government' means a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, or other public body created by or pursuant to State law which has a total population of 3,000 individuals or less.
"(6) Utility service vehicle.-The term 'utility service vehicle' means any commercial motor vehicle-
"(7) Agricultural commodity.-The term 'agricultural commodity' means any agricultural commodity, non-processed food, feed, fiber, or livestock (including livestock as defined in section 602 of the Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 (7 U.S.C. 1471) and insects).
"(8) Farm supplies for agricultural purposes.-The term 'farm supplies for agricultural purposes' means products directly related to the growing or harvesting of agricultural commodities during the planting and harvesting seasons within each State, as determined by the State, and livestock feed at any time of the year.
"(f) Emergency Condition Requiring Immediate Response.-
"(1) Propane or pipeline emergency.-A regulation prescribed under section 31136 or 31502 of title 49, United States Code, shall not apply to a driver of a commercial motor vehicle which is used primarily in the transportation of propane winter heating fuel or a driver of a motor vehicle used to respond to a pipeline emergency if such regulations would prevent the driver from responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response.
"(2) Definition.-An emergency condition requiring immediate response is any condition that, if left unattended, is reasonably likely to result in immediate serious bodily harm, death, or substantial damage to property. In the case of propane such conditions shall include (but are not limited to) the detection of gas odor, the activation of carbon monoxide alarms, the detection of carbon monoxide poisoning, and any real or suspected damage to a propane gas system following a severe storm or flooding. An 'emergency condition requiring an immediate response' does not include requests to re-fill empty gas tanks. In the case of pipelines such conditions include (but are not limited to) indication of an abnormal pressure event, leak, release or rupture."
Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, §4007(d), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 404 , provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 31315 of this title] shall not apply to or otherwise affect a waiver, exemption, or pilot program in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act [June 9, 1998] under chapter 313 or section 31136(e) of title 49, United States Code."
Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, §4008(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 404 , provided that: "Effective on the last day of the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [June 9, 1998], regulations prescribed under section 31136 of title 49, United States Code, shall apply to operators of commercial motor vehicles described in section 31132(1)(B) of such title (as amended by subsection (a)) to the extent that those regulations did not apply to those operators on the day before such effective date, except to the extent that the Secretary determines, through a rulemaking proceeding, that it is appropriate to exempt such operators of commercial motor vehicles from the application of those regulations."
Pub. L. 105–178, title IV, §4024, June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 416 , as amended by Pub. L. 107–110, title X, §1076(ii), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2094 , required the Secretary to initiate a rulemaking, not later than 6 months after June 9, 1998, regarding applicability of commercial motor carrier safety regulations to interstate school transportation operations by local educational agencies.
Pub. L. 104–88, title IV, §408, Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 958 , provided that:
"(a) Advance Notice.-The Federal Highway Administration shall issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking dealing with a variety of fatigue-related issues pertaining to commercial motor vehicle motor vehicle safety (including 8 hours of continuous sleep after 10 hours of driving, loading and unloading operations, automated and tamper-proof recording devices, rest and recovery cycles, fatigue and stress in longer combination vehicles, fitness for duty, and other appropriate regulatory and enforcement countermeasures for reducing fatigue-related incidents and increasing driver alertness) not later than March 1, 1996.
"(b) Rulemaking.-The Federal Highway Administration shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking dealing with such issues within 1 year after issuance of the advance notice under subsection (a) is published and shall issue a final rule dealing with those issues within 2 years after the last day of such 1-year period."
Pub. L. 104–59, title III, §345, Nov. 28, 1995, 109 Stat. 613 , which related to exemption from certain regulatory or statutory requirements for transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies, transportation and operation of ground water well drilling rigs, transportation of construction materials and equipment, utility service vehicles, and vehicles operated for snow or ice removal, was repealed by Pub. L. 109–59, title IV, §4115(d), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1726 . The text of former section 345 of Pub. L. 104–59 was inserted as part of section 229 of Pub. L. 106–159, as added by section 4115(a) of Pub. L. 109–59, and is set out above.
Pub. L. 104–59, title III, §346, Nov. 28, 1995, 109 Stat. 615 , as amended by Pub. L. 105–178, title I, §1211(j), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 192 ; Pub. L. 105–206, title IX, §9003(d)(3), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 839 , which related to a pilot program for evaluating effects of maximum on-duty time regulations on winter home heating oil delivery, was repealed by Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title V, §5101(e)(11), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1526 , effective Oct. 1, 2016.