Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/667099
LEADING NEWS, TRUCKING MARKET CONDITIONS AND INDUSTRY ANALYSIS DOT seeks feedback on potential sleep apnea rule T he U.S. Department of Transportation last month published a notice seeking feedback from trucking industry stakeholders about the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea among truck operators and any potential costs that carriers and others may incur if DOT were to issue a rule requiring sleep apnea screening and treatment. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration called the request for feedback the "first step" in a poten- tial sleep apnea rule for the trucking industry. Currently, the agency recommends that drivers exhibiting symptoms of respiratory dysfunction be referred to a specialist for evalua- tion. The agency, per a 2013 federal law, cannot issue official guidance to medical examiners, carriers or driv- ers about sleep apnea beyond the January 2015 recommendation. FMCSA published the request for feedback in the Federal Register on March 10, which began a 90-day window to submit input on the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at Regulations.gov. – James Jaillet Entry-level driver training rule proposed T he Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last month published a pro- posed rule that, if made final, would implement a required core curriculum for new entrant truck drivers receiving their commercial driver's license and require them to receive 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training before being issued a Class A CDL. The effective date of the rule – which also would require Class B applicants to put in 15 hours behind the wheel – would take place three years after its final publication in the Federal Register, which will come after the agency takes public comment for 60 days on the proposal and makes any changes to the rule based on that feedback. The proposal, with any changes if made, then would have to be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House's Office of Management and Budget before a final rule is published. The three-year countdown to its implementation would begin at that time. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking unveiled by FMCSA, in addition to the core cur- riculum and behind-the-wheel requirements, also seeks to establish a registry of agency-approved driver training providers. FMCSA's rule outlines minimum qualifica- tions related to instructors, testing, training vehicles and more that the agency will use to approve training provid- ers for the registry. The proposal reflects consensus recommendations of a negotiated rulemaking committee comprised of FMCSA representatives and 25 stakeholders, including the American Trucking Associations, and responds to a congressional mandate imposed under the 2012 MAP-21 transportation funding act. The agency was accepting public comment on the rule for 60 days following its March 7 publication. To review the rule and file a comment, go to Regulations.gov and search for Docket No. FMCSA-2007–27748. The rule will apply to all drivers required to complete a skills test to obtain a CDL; those upgrading their license from Class B to Class A or adding an endorsement such as hazard- ous materials or tank truck hauling; and a previously disqualified CDL holder seeking to reacquire a license. The core curriculum for those seeking a Class A license is broken down into two categories: Theory and actual driving time. The theoretical component includes required training on basic vehicle instruments and controls, basic operation of a vehicle, how to perform a vehicle inspection, controlling a vehicle under various road and traffic conditions, how to shift and back a vehicle, hours of service, handling cargo, crash procedures, fatigue awareness, vehicle mainte- nance and violations, trip planning and more. – James Jaillet Scan the QR code with your smartphone or visit ccjdigital.com/news/subscribe-to-news- letters to sign up for the CCJ Daily Report, a daily e-mail newsletter filled with news, analysis, blogs and market condition articles. 10 commercial carrier journal | april 2016 The American Trucking Associa- tions, which participated on the "reg-neg" committee, took issue with defining a set number of behind-the-wheel training hours. FMCSA currently only can recommend that drivers exhibit- ing symptoms of respiratory dysfunction be referred to a specialist for evaluation.