Federal Register #FMCSA20260826

FMCSA Proposed Rulemaking: English Language Proficiency as Out-of-Service Violation

This opportunity involves a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the Department of Transportation. - Government Buyer: - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation - OEMs and Vendors: - Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is referenced as the standards body - Products/Services Requested: - No products or services are being procured; this is a regulatory notice - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Proposes to codify English language proficiency (ELP) as an out-of-service (OOS) violation for commercial motor vehicle drivers - Aligns Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) with the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria issued by CVSA - Responds to a petition from CVSA - Includes an exception for drivers operating solely within U.S.-Mexico border commercial zones, unless they operate beyond those boundaries - Seeks public comment on the proposed regulatory changes - No contract, procurement, or acquisition of goods/services is involved in this notice

Description

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposes to codify the English language proficiency (ELP) driver qualification requirement as an out-of-service (OOS) violation. This rulemaking aims to ensure uniform enforcement by aligning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) with the current enforcement tolerances in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria issued by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The proposal responds to a petition from CVSA and includes an exception for drivers operating within U.S.-Mexico border commercial zones unless they operate beyond those boundaries. Comments on the proposal must be received by October 9, 2026.

View original listing