Notice2025-20677
Commercial Driver's License; Electronic Logging Device Requirements: Diamond Excursions Ladies Edition d/b/a Project Gap; Application for Exemptions
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 24, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Abstract
FMCSA requests public comment on the application from Diamond Excursions Ladies Edition, doing business as Project Gap (Project Gap), for exemptions from the commercial driver's license (CDL) and electronic logging device (ELD) regulations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 224 (Monday, November 24, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 224 (Monday, November 24, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53048-53049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20677]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-2025-0524]
Commercial Driver's License; Electronic Logging Device
Requirements: Diamond Excursions Ladies Edition d/b/a Project Gap;
Application for Exemptions
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Department
of Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of application for exemptions; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: FMCSA requests public comment on the application from Diamond
Excursions Ladies Edition, doing business as Project Gap (Project Gap),
for exemptions from the commercial driver's license (CDL) and
electronic logging device (ELD) regulations.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 24, 2025.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2025-0524 by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. See the
Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further
information.
<bullet> Mail: Dockets Operations, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
<bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West
Building, Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number
(FMCSA-2025-0524) for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments
received without change to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, including any personal
information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading
below.
Privacy Act: In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), DOT solicits
comments from the public to better inform its exemption process. DOT
posts these comments, including any personal information the commenter
provides, to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, as described in the system of records
notice DOT/ALL-14 FDMS (Federal Docket Management System (FDMS)), which
can be reviewed at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices">https://www.transportation.gov/individuals/privacy/privacy-act-system-records-notices</a>. The comments are posted without
edit and are searchable by the name of the submitter.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pearlie Robinson, Driver and Carrier
Operations Division; Office of Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety
Standards, FMCSA; (202) 913-0704; or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#acdcc9cddec0c5c982dec3cec5c2dfc3c2ecc8c3d882cbc3da"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f585909487999c90db879a979c9b869a9bb5919a81db929a83">[email protected]</span></a>. If you
have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, contact
Dockets Operations at (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation and Request for Comments
FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and
related materials.
A. Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
notice (FMCSA-2025-0524), indicate the specific section of this
document to which the comment applies, and provide a reason for your
suggestions or recommendations. You may submit your comments and
material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only
one of these means. FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a
mailing address, an email address, or a phone number in the body of
your document so the Agency can contact you if it has questions
regarding your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0524/document">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2025-0524/document</a>, click on this notice, click
``Comment,'' and type your comment into the text box on the following
screen.
If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing.
FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the
comment period. Comments received after the comment closing date will
be filed in the public docket and will be considered to the extent
practicable.
B. Confidential Business Information (CBI)
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure.
If your comments responsive to the notice contain commercial or
financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you
actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to the
notice, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission that
constitutes CBI as ``PROPIN'' to indicate it contains proprietary
information. FMCSA will treat such marked submissions as confidential
under the Freedom of Information Act, and they will not be placed in
the public docket of the notice. Submissions containing CBI should be
sent to Brian Dahlin, Chief, Regulatory Evaluation Division, Office of
Policy, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001 or
via email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1577677c747b3b723b71747d797c7b55717a613b727a63"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b2d0c0dbd3dc9cd59cd6d3dadedbdcf2d6ddc69cd5ddc4">[email protected]</span></a>. At this time, you need not send a
duplicate hardcopy of your electronic CBI submissions to FMCSA
headquarters. Any comments FMCSA receives not specifically designated
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this notice.
C. Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this
preamble as being available in the docket, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, insert FMCSA-2025-0524 in the keyword box, select
the document tab and choose the document to review. To view comments,
click this notice, then click ``Browse Comments.'' If you do not have
access to the internet, you may view the docket by visiting Docket
Operations on the ground floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
ET Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. To be sure someone
is there to help you, please call (202) 366-9317 or (202) 366-9826
before visiting Dockets Operations.
II. Legal Basis
FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant
exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. FMCSA
must publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register
(49 CFR 381.315(a)). The Agency must provide the public an opportunity
to inspect the information relevant to the application,
[[Page 53049]]
including the applicant's safety analysis. The Agency must provide an
opportunity for public comment on the request.
The Agency reviews the application, safety analyses, and public
comments submitted and determines whether granting the exemption would
likely achieve a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the
level that would be achieved absent such exemption, pursuant to the
standard set forth in 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1). The Agency must publish
its decision in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)). If granted,
the notice will identify the regulatory provision(s) from which the
applicant will be exempt, the effective period, and all terms and
conditions of the exemption (49 CFR 381.315(c)(1)). If the exemption is
denied, the notice will explain the reason for the denial (49 CFR
381.315(c)(2)). The exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).
III. Applicant's Request
Current Regulatory Requirements
Under 49 CFR 383.23, no person shall operate a commercial motor
vehicle (CMV) without having taken and passed both knowledge and
driving skills tests for a commercial learner's permit or CDL for the
CMV that person operates or expects to operate that meet the Federal
standards contained in subparts F, G, and H of Part 383. Under 49 CFR
395.8(a)(1)(i), drivers required to prepare records of duty status must
do so using ELDs. Under 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)(ii)(A)(1), a motor carrier
may allow its drivers to record their duty status manually, rather than
use an ELD, if the driver is operating a CMV ``[i]n a manner requiring
completion of a record of duty status on not more than 8 days within
any 30-day period.''
Applicant's Request
Project Gap is a food pantry and emergency supply program operated
by Diamond Excursions Ladies Edition a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
organization. Project Gap delivers and picks up donated goods--
including food, water, hygiene items, and essential supplies--for
underserved communities and areas affected by natural disasters.
Unpaid, volunteer drivers conduct all transportation. According to
Project Gap, the vehicle use is limited to donation collection,
community distribution events, and disaster relief missions, some in
interstate commerce. Project Gap states that these trips are infrequent
and mission specific. Project Gap confirmed to FMCSA that its trips
exceed 8 days in a 30-day period, so it is not eligible for the
exception in 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)(ii)(A)(1). Project Gap states that
compliance with the CDL requirements in 49 CFR part 383 and the ELD
requirements in 49 CFR part 395 pose significant burdens on Project
Gap's ability to serve affected communities, particularly during
emergencies and natural disasters.
Applicant's Equivalent Level of Safety
Project Gap states that it is committed to operating safely and
responsibly. It says that all drivers are trained and insured and
comply with medical and safety screenings. These drivers, however, do
not have CDLs. Project Gap states that it maintains detailed records of
vehicle use, routes, and trip purposes.
A copy of the applicant's application for exemptions is available
for review in the docket for this notice.
IV. Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), FMCSA requests public
comment from all interested persons on Project Gap's application for
exemptions from the CDL requirements in 49 CFR 383.23 and the ELD
requirements in 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)(i). All comments received before the
close of business on the comment closing date 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.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator of Policy.
[FR Doc. 2025-20677 Filed 11-21-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P
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