Update on Relevant U.S. Regulations

FMCSA Publishes Final Rule on the Applicability of Emergency Exemptions
On Oct. 13, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published the final rule on the Applicability of Emergency Exemptions, which revises the emergency exemption rules to narrow the scope of safety regulations from which relief is automatically provided for motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance when an emergency has been declared. The rule confirms that the relief granted through emergency declarations is appropriate and tailored to the specifics of the circumstances and emergencies being addressed. The rule also revises the process for extending automatic emergency regulatory relief where circumstances warrant and allows for potential reporting requirements when FMCSA issues an extension or modification. The final rule is effective Dec. 12.

FMCSA Announces Final WOTAB Meeting
On Oct. 12, FMCSA announced the final meeting of the Women of Trucking Advisory Board (WOTAB). The online meeting will take place on Oct. 26 and will be open to the public. Advance registration is required.

OMB Proposes Revisions to Guidance for Grants and Agreements
On Oct. 5, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed revisions to the OMB Guidance for Grants and Agreements. OMB proposes policy changes and clarifications to existing guidance, updates to the guidance to reflect recent OMB priorities related to federal financial assistance, and revisions to improve federal financial assistance management, transparency and oversight. Comments are due by Dec. 4.

Update on Exemptions

FMCSA Renews U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc. CDL Exemption
On Oct. 11, FMCSA announced the decision to provisionally renew U.S. Custom Harvesters Inc.’s exemption request. The exemption allows custom harvester drivers with a “K” restriction on their commercial driver’s license (CDL) to operate in interstate commerce. The exemption is effective from Oct. 3, 2023 to Oct. 3, 2025.

CVSA Active Exemption Tracker
CVSA maintains a list of active exemptions issued by FMCSA. The exemption tracker can be found at cvsa.org under the “Inspections” tab at the top of the page.