80_FR_47182 80 FR 47031 - Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for an Exemption From TowMate, LLC.

80 FR 47031 - Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application for an Exemption From TowMate, LLC.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 151 (August 6, 2015)

Page Range47031-47032
FR Document2015-19333

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requests public comment on an application for exemption from TowMate, LLC (TowMate) to allow motor carriers to operate rechargeable wireless temporary stop, turn, and tail lighting systems during temporary emergency towing operations in lieu of hard-wired temporary stop, tail, and turn signal lighting systems. Rechargeable wireless temporary emergency stop, turn, and tail lighting systems do not meet the power supply requirements for lamps in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) which require all required lamps, with the exception of battery-powered lamps used on projecting loads, to be powered by the electrical system of the motor vehicle. Based on improvements in light-emitting diode (LED) technology, coupled with advancements in battery technologies, TowMate believes that rechargeable wireless tow lighting systems will maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety achieved without the exemption. TowMate is requesting the temporary exemption in advance of petitioning FMCSA to conduct a rulemaking to amend 49 CFR 393.23.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47031-47032]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19333]



[[Page 47031]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2015-0238]


Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Application 
for an Exemption From TowMate, LLC.

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of application for exemption; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
requests public comment on an application for exemption from TowMate, 
LLC (TowMate) to allow motor carriers to operate rechargeable wireless 
temporary stop, turn, and tail lighting systems during temporary 
emergency towing operations in lieu of hard-wired temporary stop, tail, 
and turn signal lighting systems. Rechargeable wireless temporary 
emergency stop, turn, and tail lighting systems do not meet the power 
supply requirements for lamps in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations (FMCSR) which require all required lamps, with the 
exception of battery-powered lamps used on projecting loads, to be 
powered by the electrical system of the motor vehicle. Based on 
improvements in light-emitting diode (LED) technology, coupled with 
advancements in battery technologies, TowMate believes that 
rechargeable wireless tow lighting systems will maintain a level of 
safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety 
achieved without the exemption. TowMate is requesting the temporary 
exemption in advance of petitioning FMCSA to conduct a rulemaking to 
amend 49 CFR 393.23.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 8, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2015-0238 using any of the 
following methods:
     Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on the Federal electronic docket 
site.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 
DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Ground Floor, Room W12-140, DOT Building, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
e.t., Monday-Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and 
docket number for this notice. For detailed instructions on submitting 
comments and additional information on the exemption process, see the 
``Public Participation'' heading below. Note that all comments received 
will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided. Please see the ``Privacy Act'' 
heading for further information.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or to Room W12-140, 
DOT Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.
    Public participation: The http://www.regulations.gov Web site is 
generally available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You may find 
electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the 
``help'' section of the http://www.regulations.gov Web site as well as 
the DOT's http://docketsinfo.dot.gov Web site. If you would like 
notification that we received your comments, please include a self-
addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgment 
page that appears after submitting comments online.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Luke Loy, Vehicle and Roadside 
Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Safety, MC-
PSV, (202) 366-0676, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 4007 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
(TEA- 21) [Pub. L. 105-178, June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 401] amended 49 
U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e) to provide authority to grant exemptions from 
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). On August 20, 
2004, FMCSA published a final rule (69 FR 51589) implementing section 
4007. Under this rule, FMCSA must publish a notice of each exemption 
request in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must 
provide the public with an opportunity to inspect the information 
relevant to the application, including any safety analyses that have 
been conducted. The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public 
comment on the request.
    The Agency reviews the safety analyses and the public comments and 
determines whether granting the exemption would likely achieve a level 
of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that would be 
achieved by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305).
    The decision of the Agency must be published in the Federal 
Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If the Agency denies the request, it must 
state the reason for doing so. If the decision is to grant the 
exemption, the notice must specify the person or class of persons 
receiving the exemption and the regulatory provision or provisions from 
which an exemption is granted. The notice must specify the effective 
period of the exemption (up to 2 years) and explain the terms and 
conditions of the exemption. The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 
381.315(c) and 49 CFR 381.300(b)).

TowMate's Application for Exemption

    TowMate has applied for an exemption from 49 CFR 393.23 to allow 
motor carriers to operate rechargeable wireless temporary stop, turn, 
and tail lighting systems during temporary emergency towing operations. 
Such systems do not comply with the requirement that all required 
lamps, with the exception of battery powered lamps used on projecting 
loads, must be powered by the electrical system of the motor vehicle. A 
copy of the application is included in the docket referenced at the 
beginning of this notice.
    Section 393.23 of the FMCSRs, ``Power Supply for lamps,'' provides 
``All required lamps must be powered by the electrical system of the 
motor vehicle with the exception of battery powered lamps used on 
projecting loads.''
    In its application, TowMate states:

    TowMate is making this request because the use of conventional 
hard wired temporary stop, turn, and tail lights has many drawbacks 
that wireless tow lights solve. These include broken connections, 
frayed wires, burnt out incandescent bulbs, and the potential to be 
snagged or pulled from the tow light receptacle due to improper 
running of wires, and road hazards, along with the safety hazard of 
increasing the amount of time spent on the roadside or the scene of 
an accident by stringing wired lighting systems between vehicles and 
securing the wires.

[[Page 47032]]

With the advent of LED technology coupled with advancements in 
battery technologies, wireless tow lights are more reliable and 
better equipped for the rigors of daily temporary use.
    Temporary wireless stop, turn, tail lighting systems can operate 
for 10+ hours of continuous use on a full charge, and in-cab wire-
less monitoring systems give the driver constant information on the 
functioning of the system, displaying state of charge of the battery 
inside the unit, displaying the functioning of the system during 
operation, and warning the driver if the unit is no longer 
functioning. In this sense, wireless tow lights provide a level of 
safety and redundancy that is not currently required on wired 
temporary lighting systems. In an emergency situation with a drained 
battery, power can be directly connected to the temporary wireless 
stop, turn, and tail lighting system from a standard 4 pin or 7 pin 
electrical connection.
    Without the proposed temporary exemption, tow and haul away 
operators will be forced to continue to use cumbersome wired 
temporary towing light systems, placing an unnecessary burden on 
their daily operations. The current temporary lighting requirements 
for stop, tail, and turn lamps require that the lamps receive their 
power from a direct wired connection to the towing vehicle with no 
ascertainable benefit from doing such. Wireless tow lights afford 
benefits that wired systems are unable to, such as redundancies like 
monitoring the status of the unit in real time, thus assuring their 
proper operation at all times.

    The exemption would apply to all motor carriers using rechargeable 
wireless temporary stop, turn, and tail lighting systems. TowMate 
believes that use of rechargeable wireless tow lighting systems will 
maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the 
level of safety achieved without the exemption.

Request for Comments

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 and 31136(e), FMCSA requests 
public comment from all interested persons on TowMate's application for 
an exemption from 49 CFR 393.23. All comments received before the close 
of business on the comment closing date indicated at the beginning of 
this notice will be considered and will be available for examination in 
the docket at the location listed under the ADDRESSES section of this 
notice. Comments received after the comment closing date will be filed 
in the public docket and will be considered to the extent practicable. 
In addition to late comments, FMCSA will also continue to file, in the 
public docket, relevant information that becomes available after the 
comment closing date. Interested persons should continue to examine the 
public docket for new material.

    Issued on: July 24, 2015.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-19333 Filed 8-5-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 151 / Thursday, August 6, 2015 / Notices 47031 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. e.t., Monday- section 4007. Under this rule, FMCSA Friday, except Federal holidays. must publish a notice of each exemption Federal Motor Carrier Safety Instructions: All submissions must request in the Federal Register (49 CFR Administration include the Agency name and docket 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide number for this notice. For detailed the public with an opportunity to [Docket No. FMCSA–2015–0238] instructions on submitting comments inspect the information relevant to the Parts and Accessories Necessary for and additional information on the application, including any safety Safe Operation; Application for an exemption process, see the ‘‘Public analyses that have been conducted. The Exemption From TowMate, LLC. Participation’’ heading below. Note that Agency must also provide an all comments received will be posted opportunity for public comment on the AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety without change to http:// request. Administration (FMCSA), DOT. www.regulations.gov, including any The Agency reviews the safety ACTION: Notice of application for personal information provided. Please analyses and the public comments and exemption; request for comments. see the ‘‘Privacy Act’’ heading for determines whether granting the further information. exemption would likely achieve a level SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier Docket: For access to the docket to of safety equivalent to or greater than Safety Administration (FMCSA) read background documents or the level that would be achieved by the requests public comment on an comments received, go to http:// current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). application for exemption from www.regulations.gov or to Room W12– The decision of the Agency must be TowMate, LLC (TowMate) to allow 140, DOT Building, 1200 New Jersey published in the Federal Register (49 motor carriers to operate rechargeable Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 CFR 381.315(b)). If the Agency denies wireless temporary stop, turn, and tail a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through the request, it must state the reason for lighting systems during temporary Friday, except Federal holidays. doing so. If the decision is to grant the emergency towing operations in lieu of Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 exemption, the notice must specify the hard-wired temporary stop, tail, and U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits comments person or class of persons receiving the turn signal lighting systems. from the public to better inform its exemption and the regulatory provision Rechargeable wireless temporary rulemaking process. DOT posts these or provisions from which an exemption emergency stop, turn, and tail lighting comments, without edit, including any is granted. The notice must specify the systems do not meet the power supply personal information the commenter effective period of the exemption (up to requirements for lamps in the Federal provides, to www.regulations.gov, as 2 years) and explain the terms and Motor Carrier Safety Regulations described in the system of records conditions of the exemption. The (FMCSR) which require all required notice (DOT/ALL–14 FDMS), which can exemption may be renewed (49 CFR lamps, with the exception of battery- be reviewed at www.dot.gov/privacy. 381.315(c) and 49 CFR 381.300(b)). powered lamps used on projecting Public participation: The http:// TowMate’s Application for Exemption loads, to be powered by the electrical www.regulations.gov Web site is system of the motor vehicle. Based on generally available 24 hours each day, TowMate has applied for an improvements in light-emitting diode 365 days each year. You may find exemption from 49 CFR 393.23 to allow (LED) technology, coupled with electronic submission and retrieval help motor carriers to operate rechargeable advancements in battery technologies, and guidelines under the ‘‘help’’ section wireless temporary stop, turn, and tail TowMate believes that rechargeable of the http://www.regulations.gov Web lighting systems during temporary wireless tow lighting systems will site as well as the DOT’s http:// emergency towing operations. Such maintain a level of safety that is docketsinfo.dot.gov Web site. If you systems do not comply with the equivalent to, or greater than, the level would like notification that we received requirement that all required lamps, of safety achieved without the your comments, please include a self- with the exception of battery powered exemption. TowMate is requesting the addressed, stamped envelope or lamps used on projecting loads, must be temporary exemption in advance of postcard or print the acknowledgment powered by the electrical system of the petitioning FMCSA to conduct a page that appears after submitting motor vehicle. A copy of the application rulemaking to amend 49 CFR 393.23. comments online. is included in the docket referenced at the beginning of this notice. DATES: Comments must be received on FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Section 393.23 of the FMCSRs, or before September 8, 2015. Luke Loy, Vehicle and Roadside ‘‘Power Supply for lamps,’’ provides ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Operations Division, Office of Carrier, ‘‘All required lamps must be powered bearing the Federal Docket Management Driver, and Vehicle Safety, MC–PSV, by the electrical system of the motor System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA– (202) 366–0676, Federal Motor Carrier vehicle with the exception of battery 2015–0238 using any of the following Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey powered lamps used on projecting methods: Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590– loads.’’ • Web site: http:// 0001. In its application, TowMate states: www.regulations.gov. Follow the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TowMate is making this request because instructions for submitting comments the use of conventional hard wired on the Federal electronic docket site. Background temporary stop, turn, and tail lights has many • Fax: 1–202–493–2251. Section 4007 of the Transportation drawbacks that wireless tow lights solve. • Mail: Docket Management Facility, Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA– These include broken connections, frayed tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES U.S. Department of Transportation, 21) [Pub. L. 105–178, June 9, 1998, 112 wires, burnt out incandescent bulbs, and the Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Stat. 401] amended 49 U.S.C. 31315 and potential to be snagged or pulled from the Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590– 31136(e) to provide authority to grant tow light receptacle due to improper running of wires, and road hazards, along with the 0001. exemptions from the Federal Motor safety hazard of increasing the amount of • Hand Delivery: Ground Floor, Room Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). time spent on the roadside or the scene of an W12–140, DOT Building, 1200 New On August 20, 2004, FMCSA published accident by stringing wired lighting systems Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, a final rule (69 FR 51589) implementing between vehicles and securing the wires. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:50 Aug 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM 06AUN1

47032 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 151 / Thursday, August 6, 2015 / Notices With the advent of LED technology coupled Issued on: July 24, 2015. Comments: Comments on the meeting with advancements in battery technologies, Larry W. Minor, may be submitted to the docket in the wireless tow lights are more reliable and Associate Administrator for Policy. following ways: better equipped for the rigors of daily temporary use. [FR Doc. 2015–19333 Filed 8–5–15; 8:45 am] E-Gov Web site: http:// Temporary wireless stop, turn, tail lighting BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P www.regulations.gov. This site allows systems can operate for 10+ hours of the public to enter comments on any continuous use on a full charge, and in-cab Federal Register notice issued by any wire-less monitoring systems give the driver DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION agency. constant information on the functioning of Fax: 1–202–493–2251. the system, displaying state of charge of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials battery inside the unit, displaying the Safety Administration Mail: Docket Management Facility; functioning of the system during operation, U.S. Department of Transportation and warning the driver if the unit is no [Docket No. PHMSA–2015–0173] (DOT), 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., longer functioning. In this sense, wireless West Building, Room W12–140, tow lights provide a level of safety and Pipeline Safety: Meeting of the Gas Washington, DC 20590–001. redundancy that is not currently required on Pipeline Safety Advisory Committee Hand Delivery: Room W12–140 on the wired temporary lighting systems. In an and the Liquid Pipeline Safety ground level of the DOT West Building, emergency situation with a drained battery, Advisory Committee power can be directly connected to the 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., temporary wireless stop, turn, and tail AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Washington, DC, between 9:00 a.m. and lighting system from a standard 4 pin or 7 Materials Safety Administration 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, pin electrical connection. (PHMSA), DOT. except on Federal holidays. Without the proposed temporary ACTION: Notice of advisory committee Instructions: Identify the docket exemption, tow and haul away operators will meeting. number PHMSA–2015–0173 at the be forced to continue to use cumbersome beginning of your comments. Note that wired temporary towing light systems, SUMMARY: This notice announces a placing an unnecessary burden on their daily all comments received will be posted public meeting of the Gas Pipeline without change to http:// operations. The current temporary lighting requirements for stop, tail, and turn lamps Advisory Committee (GPAC), also www.regulations.gov, including any require that the lamps receive their power known as the Technical Pipeline Safety personal information provided. You from a direct wired connection to the towing Standards Committee, and the Liquid should know that anyone is able to vehicle with no ascertainable benefit from Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC), search the electronic form of all doing such. Wireless tow lights afford also known as the Technical Hazardous comments received into any of our benefits that wired systems are unable to, Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards dockets by the name of the individual such as redundancies like monitoring the Committee. submitting the comment (or signing the status of the unit in real time, thus assuring their proper operation at all times. DATES: The committees will meet in comment, if submitted on behalf of an joint sessions on Tuesday, August 25, association, business, labor union, etc.). The exemption would apply to all 2015, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Therefore, you may want to review motor carriers using rechargeable on Wednesday, August 26, 2015, from DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement wireless temporary stop, turn, and tail 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST. in the Federal Register published on lighting systems. TowMate believes that The meetings will not be web cast; April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or view use of rechargeable wireless tow lighting however, presentations will be available the Privacy Notice at http:// systems will maintain a level of safety on the meeting Web site and posted on www.regulations.gov before submitting that is equivalent to, or greater than, the the E-Gov Web site: http:// any such comments. level of safety achieved without the www.regulations.gov under docket Docket: For access to the docket or to exemption. number PHMSA–2015–0173 within 30 read background documents or days following the meeting. comments, go to http:// Request for Comments ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at www.regulations.gov at any time or to In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315 the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan Room W12–140 on the ground level of and 31136(e), FMCSA requests public National Airport, 1999 Jefferson Davis the DOT West Building, 1200 New comment from all interested persons on Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. A Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, TowMate’s application for an exemption limited block of rooms is available at the between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., from 49 CFR 393.23. All comments government rate of $162 per night. The Monday through Friday, except Federal received before the close of business on deadline to book a room in the block is holidays. the comment closing date indicated at August 6, 2015, or when the block is If you wish to receive confirmation of the beginning of this notice will be filled, whichever comes first. However, receipt of your written comments, considered and will be available for the advisory committee members have please include a self-addressed, examination in the docket at the priority for the room block. More stamped postcard with the following location listed under the ADDRESSES information and a link to reserve a room statement: ‘‘Comments on PHMSA– section of this notice. Comments is available on the meeting Web site. 2015–0173.’’ The Docket Clerk will date received after the comment closing date You can also call the hotel directly at 1– stamp the postcard prior to returning it will be filed in the public docket and 703–413–5500 and ask for the ‘‘U.S. to you via the U.S. mail. Please note that will be considered to the extent Department of Transportation Meeting’’ due to delays in the delivery of U.S. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES practicable. In addition to late block. mail to Federal offices in Washington, comments, FMCSA will also continue to The agenda and any additional DC, we recommend that persons file, in the public docket, relevant information will be published on the consider an alternative method information that becomes available after following pipeline advisory committee (Internet, fax, or professional delivery the comment closing date. Interested meeting and registration page at https:// service) of submitting comments to the persons should continue to examine the primis.phmsa.dot.gov/meetings/ docket and ensuring their timely receipt public docket for new material. MtgHome.mtg?mtg=105. at DOT. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:50 Aug 05, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06AUN1.SGM 06AUN1


Document Created: 2018-02-23 10:55:42
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 10:55:42
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of application for exemption; request for comments.
DatesComments must be received on or before September 8, 2015.
ContactMr. Luke Loy, Vehicle and Roadside Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle Safety, MC- PSV, (202) 366-0676, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
FR Citation80 FR 47031 
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