Source: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency/three-month-waiver-response-covid-19-emergency-states-and-clp-holders-operating-0
Timestamp: 2020-08-12 16:24:37
Document Index: 604908973

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 5191', '§ 31136', '§ 31136', '§ 5191', 'art 384', '§ 31315', 'art 383', 'art 383']

Three-Month Waiver in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency – For States and CLP Holders Operating Commercial Motor Vehicles | FMCSA
FMCSA CLP Waiver - Reissuance June 17.pdf
SUMMARY: FMCSA grants a three-month waiver from certain regulations applicable to commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), as defined in 49 CFR 383.5, in interstate and intrastate commerce. FMCSA has initiated this action in response to the President’s declaration of a national emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and Executive Order No. 13924, Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery.
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) (Pub. L. 105-178, 112 Stat. 107, June 9, 1998) provides the Secretary of Transportation (the Secretary) authority to grant waivers from any of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations issued under Chapter 313 of Title 49 of the United States Code, 49 U.S.C. § 31136, to a person(s) seeking regulatory relief (49 U.S.C. §§ 31136(e), 31315(a)). The Secretary must make a determination that the waiver is in the public interest and that it is likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the waiver. Individual waivers may be granted for unique events for a period up to three months. TEA-21 authorizes the Secretary to grant waivers without requesting public comment, and without providing public notice.
On March 13, 2020, the President declared a national emergency under 42 U.S.C. § 5191(b) related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and, on May 19, 2020, issued Executive Order No. 13924, Regulatory Relief to Support Economic Recovery. Among other things, the Executive Order directed executive branch agencies to “address this economic emergency by … waiving [] or providing exemptions from regulations and other requirements that may inhibit economic recovery consistent with applicable law and with protection of the public health and safety ….” This waiver responds to the unique circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency and the effects on people and from the economic emergency identified in the President’s Executive Order. On March 28, 2020, FMCSA granted a waiver from the requirement under 49 CFR 383.25(a)(1) that a CLP holder be accompanied by a CDL holder and from the restriction in 49 CFR 383.79(a) that limits a State to administering a CDL skills test only to an out of state CDL applicant who has taken driver training in that State. The March 28 waiver will expire on June 30, 2020. FMCSA issues a new waiver from those provisions.
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, a number of States experienced greater than normal employee absences or closed offices of their State Driver Licensing Agencies (SDLA) in response to the guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to use social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In accordance with Federal guidelines for a phased reopening, some States have begun reopening their SDLAs to resume limited operations. The pace of return to normal operations will vary across the country, and as a result, some SDLAs may be unable to timely process and issue a commercial driver’s license (CDL) credential to eligible CLP holders who have passed the driving skills test. There is a continued public need for immediate transportation of essential supplies, equipment, and persons, which requires an adequate and sustained supply of drivers eligible to operate a CMV. In addition, ensuring an adequate supply of drivers will aid in the Nation’s overall economic recovery by enabling employers’ efficient resumption of the transportation of people and cargo throughout the United States.
States, SDLAs, and CLP holders are covered under this waiver without further action.
FMCSA will not issue a finding or a determination of substantial noncompliance under 49 CFR part 384 against States for action or inaction consistent with this waiver.
FMCSA will not take an enforcement against action CLP holders for operation, or against motor carriers for allowing the operation, of a CMV without a CDL holder present in the front seat of the vehicle if the CLP driver is in possession of evidence from the testing jurisdiction, including an authorized third-party tester, that the CLP holder has passed the CDL driving skills test, and, has a valid non-CDL driver’s license, CLP, and medical certificate, unless the FMCSA waiver on expiring CDLs and medical certificates applies.
FMCSA finds that the granting of this waiver is in the public interest, given CDL and CLP holders’ critical role in delivering necessary property and passengers, including, but not limited to, shipments of essential supplies to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. In addition, granting this waiver is in the public interest because ensuring the availability of eligible drivers will aid in the Nation’s overall economic recovery by enabling employers’ efficient resumption of the transportation of people and cargo throughout the United States. This waiver will also reduce the administrative burden on CLP holders during this national emergency.
Due to the limited scope of this waiver and the ample precautions that remain in place, FMCSA has determined that the waiver is likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to the level of safety that would be obtained absent the waiver. The waiver of a particular regulation should not be looked at in isolation but rather as part of the whole of all regulations governing the safety of drivers. Waiver determinations are made holistically, taking all relevant factors into account. See International Bhd of Teamsters v. DOT, 724 F.3d 206 (D.C. Cir. 2013). It is important to note that this waiver does not alter any of the knowledge and skills testing requirements for a CDL, a CLP, or a necessary endorsement.
FMCSA has determined that waiving the requirements under 49 CFR 383.25(a) will not impact safety negatively, in light of the terms, conditions, and restrictions below. Section 383.25(a) sets forth the conditions a CLP holder must meet to operate a CMV for the purpose of behind-the-wheel training on public roads or highways prior to taking the skills test, including the requirement that the driver be accompanied by a CDL holder seated in the front passenger seat. Under this waiver, a CLP holder who has passed the driving skills test may operate a CMV on public roads or highways without a CDL holder present in the front passenger seat. CLP holders who have passed the driving skills test are qualified and eligible to obtain a CDL, and the only thing necessary to obtain the CDL credential is to apply at the SDLA in their State of domicile. Absent the SDLA closures and related processing delays resulting from the COVID-19 national emergency, these CLP holders would be able to obtain their CDL credential from the SDLA more quickly and begin driving a CMV on public roads and highways without any on-board supervision. While the waiver permits the CLP holder to operate a CMV without a CDL holder in the front passenger seat, under the terms, conditions, and restrictions below, a CDL holder is required to be present elsewhere in the vehicle.
FMCSA’s waiver is consistent with the Agency’s 2015 decision granting CR England an exemption from 49 CFR 383.25(a)(1) and FMCSA’s 2017 decision renewing the exemption (80 FR 33329 (Jun. 11, 2015), 82 FR 48889 (Oct. 20, 2017)). In this regard, FMCSA granted an application filed by CR England, under 49 U.S.C. § 31315, seeking an exemption from49 CFR 383.25(a)(1) to allow CLP holders who have successfully passed a CDL skills test to drive a truck without a CDL holder being present in the front seat. FMCSA explained that there is no evidence that having a CDL holder present in the front seat to accompany a CLP holder who has passed the skills test improves safety, and found that the exemption would likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to complying with the regulation. Moreover, neither FMCSA’s initial March 28 waiver nor the CR England exemption, which expires in 2022, have adversely affected safety.
FMCSA has also determined that waiving the requirement under 49 CFR 383.79(a) will not negatively impact safety. Section 383.79(a) permits, but does not require, an SDLA to allow an out of state CDL applicant to take the CDL driving skills (i.e., on-the-road) test if the applicant also received training in that State. Under this waiver, SDLAs would be permitted to allow an out of state CDL applicant to take the CDL driving skills test regardless of where the applicant received training. The Federal regulations in 49 CFR part 383, subparts F, G, H, and J, set forth uniform national knowledge and skills testing procedures and antifraud measures for the States. FMCSA’s regulatory framework provides for uniform national testing standards irrespective of where a CDL applicant receives training. See 49 CFR 383.131, 383.133. The waiver requires the SDLA to transmit the test results electronically directly from the testing State to the licensing State in an efficient and secure manner in accordance with 49 CFR 383.79(a)(1). FMCSA notes that the requirement in 49 CFR 383.79(a)(2) that the State of domicile must accept the results of a driving skills test administered to the applicant by any other State, in accordance with subparts F, G, and H of this part, in fulfillment of the CDL applicant's testing requirements under part 383 would continue to apply.
FMCSA believes that the measures listed below under Terms, Conditions, and Restrictions of the Waiver, taken collectively, provide the assurance needed to meet the legal standard that granting the waiver is likely to achieve an “equivalent level of safety.” Therefore, FMCSA has determined that a waiver from the regulations noted above during the period of the waiver is likely to achieve a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety that would be obtained in the absence of the waiver.
The COVID-19 public health emergency led to widespread closures of State and Federal government offices, reduction of government services, and disruption of transportation systems, including possible driver shortages and related interruption of supply chains, which are heavily dependent on continued CMV operations. While States begin reopening their SDLAs to resume limited operations, the pace of return to normal operations will vary across the country. Consequently, there may be continued widespread delays in processing and issuing CDL credentials and other services. FMCSA finds that the circumstances surrounding this waiver are unique because such government operations are not providing their usual level of service.
For the reasons above, FMCSA grants a three-month waiver as provided above, subject to the terms, conditions, and restrictions below.
This waiver covers States and CLP holders for the period beginning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) on July 1, 2020, and continuing through 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2020.
A CLP holder operating a CMV in accordance with this waiver must maintain in the vehicle documentary evidence from an SDLA or an authorized third-party tester showing that the driver passed the CDL driving skills test and must carry his/her non-CDL driver’s license and CLP while operating the CMV.
A CLP holder operating a CMV in accordance with this waiver must be accompanied by a CDL holder, with the proper CDL class and endorsements, present in the vehicle, although not necessarily seated in the front passenger seat.
This waiver does not apply to a CLP holder if the driver’s privileges have been suspended or withdrawn for offenses requiring disqualification under 49 CFR 383.51.
This waiver does not apply to a CLP holder subject to a driver imminent hazard order under 49 CFR 383.52 or disqualified under 49 CFR 391.11.
This waiver does not apply to a CLP holder who does not have a valid medical examiner’s certificate, unless FMCSA’s waiver regarding expiring CDLs, CLPs and medical examiners’ certificates, effective on July 1, 2020, applies and the driver is in compliance with the terms, conditions, and restrictions of that waiver.
This waiver does not apply to a CLP holder who is prohibited from performing safety sensitive functions under 49 CFR 382.501.
This waiver does not apply to CMV operations requiring the following endorsements: T (double/triple trailers); P (passenger), N (tank vehicle), H (hazardous materials), X (combination of tank vehicle and hazardous materials), and S (school bus).