The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has extended the public comment period for its May 31 notice concerning regulatory guidance on the applicability of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to operators of certain farm vehicles and off-road agricultural equipment. The original deadline of June 30 has been extended to Aug. 1.
FMCSA is requesting public comment on its previously published regulatory guidance on the distinction between interstate and intrastate commerce in deciding whether operations of commercial motor vehicles within the boundaries of a single state are subject to the FMCSRs; the factors the states are using in deciding whether farm vehicle drivers transporting agricultural commodities, farm supplies and equipment as part of a crop share agreement are subject to the commercial driver’s license regulations; and proposed guidance to determine whether off-road farm equipment or implements of husbandry operated on public roads for limited distances are considered CMVs.
FMCSA says the guidance would be used to help ensure uniform application of the safety regulations by enforcement personnel, motor carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers. Comments may be submitted at www.regulations.gov; the docket number is FMCSA-2011-0146.
