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ACTION:  Notice of public listening sessions.

SUMMARY:  The FMCSA announces that it will hold two public listening sessions, on January 12 and 31, 2016, respectively, to solicit information on the potential benefits and feasibility of voluntary compliance and ways to credit carriers and drivers who initiate and establish programs that promote safety beyond the standards established in FMCSA regulations.  Section 5222 of the recently enacted the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (Pub. L. 114-94, FAST Act) mandates that the FMCSA Administrator allow recognition for a motor carrier that installs advanced safety equipment, enhanced driver fitness measures, fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs and other standards for use by motor carriers to receive recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile.  This provision requires the Administrator, after providing notice and comment, to develop a process for identifying and reviewing these opportunities to provide credit to those carriers and drivers who go above and beyond the regulatory requirements.  FMCSA would like to know the views of the public on this concept, with any data or analysis to support it, with regard to 3 basic areas: 1) What voluntary technologies or safety program best practices would be appropriate for beyond compliance; 2) what type of incentives would encourage motor carriers to invest in technologies and best practices programs; and 3) how FMCSA would verify that the voluntary technologies or safety programs are being implemented.

The January 12, 2016, session was held at the American Bus Association’s (ABA) Marketplace conference in Louisville, Kentucky.  The January 31, 2016, session will be held at the United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Expo 2016 conference in Atlanta, Georgia.  All comments will be transcribed and placed in the docket referenced above for FMCSA’s consideration.  The entire proceedings of both meetings will be webcast.