Federal Register #FMCSA-2022-0148

FAA Radar Data Pilot Program and FMCSA Exemption Requests for CDL and Hazmat Drivers

This opportunity summary covers two regulatory initiatives from the Department of Transportation: - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is launching a Radar Data Pilot Program (RDPP): - Provides up to three qualified U.S. State, Local, Tribal, or Territorial government entities with access to FAA National Airspace System (NAS) radar data feeds - Intended for Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) services or technology testing - Participation requires meeting security and need-to-know criteria, and execution of an Other Transaction Agreement and Interconnection Security Agreement - The pilot program will sunset after a defined period - The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is seeking public comment on two exemption requests: - National School Transportation Association (NSTA) requests renewal of an exemption allowing CDL applicants for school bus endorsements to skip the engine compartment portion of the pre-trip inspection test ("under-the-hood"), limited to intrastate school bus drivers - Lone Star Haz Mat Response, LLC requests an exemption to allow field response drivers to exceed hours of service requirements when returning from hazardous materials incident responses - No commercial products or OEM-specific equipment are being procured; these are regulatory and data-sharing initiatives - Notable requirements include strict security and legal agreements for radar data access, and safety-focused limitations for CDL and hazmat driver exemptions

Description

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is requesting public comment on the National School Transportation Association's application to renew an exemption that allows commercial driver's license (CDL) applicants seeking a school bus endorsement to skip the engine compartment portion of the pre-trip vehicle inspection skills test, known as the "under-the-hood" test. Drivers with this exemption are restricted to intrastate operation of school buses only. The exemption aims to aid recruitment of school bus drivers and has been adopted by 15 states with no reported negative safety impact. Comments on the exemption renewal are due by July 30, 2026.

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