Commercial Driver's License: National School Transportation Association Application for Renewal of Exemption

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration [Docket No. FMCSA-2022-0148] AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department of Transportation (DOT). ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments. SUMMARY: FMCSA requests public comment on the National School Transportation Association's (NSTA) application to renew the exemption that permits all commercial driver's license (CDL) applicants seeking a school bus endorsement only to forgo the engine compartment portion of the pre-trip vehicle inspection skills testing requirement, known as the “under-the-hood” testing requirement. Drivers issued a CDL pursuant to the requested exemption are restricted to the intrastate operation of school buses only. FMCSA is required by statute to publish a notice explaining each exemption request. This notice does not indicate what decision FMCSA will ultimately reach on the request. After reviewing the application, safety analyses, and public comments submitted, FMCSA will grant or deny the exemption. DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 30, 2026. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-2022-0148 by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov . See the Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further information. Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-213, West Bu…