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. FMCSAâs 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 driverâs 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 driverâs 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 carrierâs 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 driversâ medical examinerâs certificates (MECs) and file them in the driversâ 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 driversâ 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