This ICR estimates the burden
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and motor carriers incur to
comply with the mandatory reporting and recordkeeping tasks
required for motor carriers to maintain driver qualification (DQ)
files. FMCSA’s authority to require carriers to maintain DQ files
is in 49 U.S.C. 504, 31133, 31136, and 31502; 49 CFR 391.51; and 49
CFR 1.87. A motor carrier is required to maintain specified
information in a DQ file for each CMV driver it employs. The
purpose of the information is to document the driver’s
qualifications to operate a CMV. DQ files assist the motor carrier
in assessing the safety risk of hiring an individual to drive a
CMV. The DQ file documents that a driver: (1) is physically
qualified to operate a CMV, (2) has the experience and training to
safely operate the type of CMV he or she is assigned to drive, (3)
has the appropriate driver’s license, (4) has not been disqualified
from operating a CMV, and (5) has a history of avoiding high-risk
behavior. The annual burden associated with this information
collection consists of the Driver Hiring Process (IC-1), the Annual
Review of Driver Qualifications (IC-2), the Limited Exemptions from
Driver Qualification Documentation (IC-3), and the Driver Review
and Rebuttal of Safety Performance History (IC-4). The DQ file
assists Federal and State safety investigators in determining that
motor carriers are weighing these factors in deciding who may drive
CMVs on their behalf. Motor carriers collect and maintain part 391
information, and FMCSA does not require that information to be
submitted to the Agency. A motor carrier must make the part 391
information available when an FMCSA or State investigator conducts
an on-site review at the motor carrier’s place of business or
terminal. The ICR is a revision. This ICR estimates the burden
hours for CMV drivers and motor carriers based on updated driver
population and turnover rate data. The current ICR did not monetize
driver and motor carrier burden hours. This supporting statement
monetizes the burden for drivers and motor carrier personnel
performing DQ file reporting and recordkeeping tasks. The current
ICR included the burden hours incurred by motor carriers to obtain
drivers’ medical examiner’s certificates (MECs) and file them in
the drivers’ DQ files. This reporting and recordkeeping requirement
is accounted for in the ICR titled Medical Qualification
Requirements, covered by OMB Control Number 2126-0006, therefore
the burden associated with this reporting and recordkeeping
requirement is removed from this ICR to avoid double counting. The
current ICR does not include an estimate of motor carrier burden
hours to file the list of violations in the DQ file. The burden
associated with this task is included in the supporting statement
for this ICR.
US Code:
49
USC 504 Name of Law: Reports and records
PL:
Pub.L. 98 - 554 98 Stat 2834 Name of Law: Motor Carrier Safety
Act of 1984
US Code: 49
USC 31502 Name of Law: Requirements for qualification, hours of
service, safety, and equipment standards
US Code: 49
USC 31133 Name of Law: General powers of the Secretary of
Transportation
US Code: 49
USC 31136 Name of Law: United States Government regulations
The currently approved ICR
estimated total burden hours at 10.21 million hours, however with
this ICR revision the total burden hours are estimated at 12.27
million hours. The increase in burden hours is primarily the result
of the growth in the driver population from 5.7 million drivers in
the current ICR to 6.35 million estimated for this ICR. Burden
hours also increased for reporting and recordkeeping activities
because of the increase in the driver turnover rate from 62.8
percent to 71.6 percent. In addition, this ICR estimated 0.06
million burden hours for motor carriers to process drivers’ lists
of violations (under IC-2.2) that was not accounted for in the
current ICR. This ICR however removed 0.43 million burden hours for
motor carriers review and filing of driver MECs, which is accounted
for in the Medical Qualification Requirements ICR, OMB Control
Number 2126-0006. The currently approved supporting statement did
not monetize burden hours. This supporting statement monetizes
driver and motor carrier burden hours for the tasks they perform to
comply with the information that is required to be maintained in DQ
files. Based on the wage rates for drivers and motor carrier
personnel, the average annual monetized burden for drivers and
motor carriers is estimated at $350.64 million. The cost to motor
carriers to obtain MVRs from SDLAs increased from $78.3 million to
$154.40 million. The increase is due to the growth in the driver
population, the increase in job openings caused by the turnover
rate increasing from 62.3 percent to 71.6 percent, and the increase
in the fee paid to SDLAs for an MVR request from $5 per request to
$10 per request. Thus, the average annual cost in this ICR is
$505.04 million ($505.04 million = $350.64 million + $154.40
million).
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
PRA-2126-0004 SS 10-29-2019.docx
30-Day FR for 2126-0004.pdf
49 CFR 1.87.Delegations to the FMCSA Administrator.doc
Driver Qualification Files