Washington, D.C.-The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that it has received an application for an exemption from the commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements from the National Agricultural Aviation Association (NAAA), a trade association that represents more than 1,300 members in 46 states. NAAA requested that commercial motor vehicle drivers working with agricultural aircraft operators be exempt from the required knowledge and skills tests and be eligible to receive a restricted CDL. NAAA also requested an exemption to allow these restricted CDL holders to transport fuels used to power agricultural aircraft engines if hauled in quantities of 1,000 gallons or less. NAAA argued that relief from the CDL regulations will relieve a current economic hardship and will provide parity in the CDL regulations compared to other, nearly identical farm-related services. NAAA said it is asking for the exemption “primarily to expand the labor pool of available drivers,” claiming that qualified CDL drivers are more likely to take year-round jobs than the seasonal employment offered by aviators during the aerial application season. NAAA also said that the evidence provided in its exemption request demonstrates that the level of safety achieved under the exemption would be equal to or greater than the level of safety that prevails without the exemption. FMCSA is requesting public comment on the NAAA application for exemption. Comments must be received on or before Aug. 6, 2007, and can be submitted via email at http://dmses.dot.gov/submit/; by fax at 1-202-493-2251; or by mail at Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590.
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