This docket serves as a mailbox for the public’s submission of petitions for rulemaking, in accordance with 49 CFR 389.31(b) – Petitions for Rule Making. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will retrieve all petitions submitted to this docket. FMCSA action on petitions may be tracked on FMCSA’s Petitions website.

Steve Talkington Consulting, Inc. is submitting a petition on behalf of its customers, who are motor carriers, to eliminate specific paperwork requirements in 49 CFR 391.23 regarding driver history inquiries from former employers. The commenter argues that these requirements are redundant, costly, and obsolete because the necessary information can be obtained through other means like MVRs or the PSP.

Michael Millard, a former federal inspector, is petitioning the FMCSA to amend 49 CFR Part §396.9 to explicitly require drivers to assist in roadside inspections. He argues that drivers are increasingly refusing to cooperate and suggests that federal regulations should provide a clearer mandate for driver assistance to ensure safety inspections can be completed effectively.

Steve Talkington Consulting, Inc. is requesting that the FMCSA eliminate specific paperwork requirements in Part 391.23 regarding driver history inquiries from former employers. They argue that the current process is redundant, costly, and time-consuming, as the same information can be obtained more efficiently through the driver's MVR or PSP.

Bobby Brown, representing Independent Recruiters for Class A Drivers Nationwide, is submitting a petition for rulemaking to modernize the Verification of Employment (VOE) process. The petitioner argues that the current 30-day response window is obsolete and proposes a 7-day electronic response mandate with a tiered penalty structure to improve economic efficiency and driver retention.

Michelle Grubbs, the mother of a firefighter killed in a semi-truck crash, proposes "Trevor's Bill #1205" to increase accountability for CDL drivers. She argues for stricter penalties, including instant license revocation for fatal crashes and a "3 strike" system for repeated offenses like speeding and distracted driving.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is submitting a petition requesting that the FMCSA establish a rule to disqualify drivers who have committed specific traffic violations from operating commercial motor vehicles transporting livestock. They argue that current disqualification periods are insufficient to protect animals and motorists from the high rate of severe crashes involving livestock-hauling trucks.

The commenter is proposing specific edits to CFR 49 391.41 and CFR 391.49 to modify regulations regarding Special Permits for Equipment (SPE). They argue that the current regulations are discriminatory and cumbersome, suggesting that the SPE should only be required for drivers who lose a limb while already operating a CMV and wish to return to work, rather than for those who obtain a CMV post-injury.