Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Metronet Application for Exemption

Issuing agencies

Abstract

FMCSA requests public comment on an application from Metronet for an exemption from the requirement that all exterior lighting devices be steady burning. The exemption would allow Metronet to use Grote Industries LLC's (Grote) amber brake-activated pulsating lamp on its commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), including pickup truck service vehicles not covered by the exemption FMCSA previously granted to Grote, in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69636-69637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2026-2707]


Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation; Metronet 
Application for Exemption

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

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

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SUMMARY: FMCSA requests public comment on an application from Metronet 
for an exemption from the requirement that all exterior lighting 
devices be steady burning. The exemption would allow Metronet to use 
Grote Industries LLC's (Grote) amber brake-activated pulsating lamp on 
its commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), including pickup truck service 
vehicles not covered by the exemption FMCSA previously granted to 
Grote, in addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the 
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 4, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2026-2707 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, W58-213, West Building, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery or Courier: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-
213, West Building, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    <bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    <bullet> Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
docket number (FMCSA-2026-2707) 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: Mr. David Sutula, Chief, Vehicle and 
Roadside Operations Division, Office of Carrier, Driver, and Vehicle 
Safety, FMCSA; <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a0ede3f0f3f6e0c4cfd48ec7cfd6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5f8f6e5e6e3f5d1dac19bd2dac3">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

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-2026-2707), 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-2026-2707/document">https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FMCSA-2026-2707/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.

[[Page 69637]]

    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 Sarah Stella, Chief, Regulatory Development 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#a3d0c2d1c2cb8dd0d7c6cfcfc2e3c7ccd78dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d8abb9aab9b0f6abacbdb4b4b998bcb7acf6bfb7ae">[email&#160;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-2026-2707 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 Dockets 
Operations in the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W58-
213, Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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 (FMCSRs). 
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, 
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 
exempted party 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

    Section 393.25(e) of the FMCSRs requires all exterior lamps (both 
required lamps and any additional lamps) to be steady burning except 
turn signal lamps, hazard warning signal lamps, school bus warning 
lamps, amber warning lamps or flashing warning lamps on tow trucks and 
CMVs transporting oversized loads, and warning lamps on emergency and 
service vehicles authorized by State or local authorities.

Applicant's Request

    Metronet applied for a 5-year exemption from 49 CFR 393.25(e) to 
allow it to use Grote's Auxiliary Strobe & Stop Lamp on its trailers, 
pickup truck service vehicles, and van body straight trucks. FMCSA 
previously granted Grote an exemption, which expires on December 2, 
2030, permitting motor carriers to use Grote's auxiliary pulsating 
brake lamps on trailers and van body straight trucks (90 FR 51430). 
Metronet's request also includes pickup truck service vehicles, a 
vehicle type that is not included within the scope of the existing 
Grote exemption. Pickup trucks are not ``commercial motor vehicles'' 
subject to the FMCSRs unless they have a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or 
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,001 pounds or more and operate 
in interstate commerce. Metronet did not explain whether any of its 
vehicles operate in interstate commerce.
    Metronet states that the auxiliary lamp would be installed in 
addition to the steady-burning brake lamps required by the FMCSRs. Upon 
application of the brakes, the auxiliary lamp would operate as a Class 
II strobe for up to 4 seconds and then illuminate with a steady-burning 
red light for the remainder of the time that the brake circuit is 
activated. The auxiliary lamp would remain off when the brake circuit 
is not activated.
    Metronet states that pulsating auxiliary brake lamps can increase 
vehicle conspicuity and may reduce the frequency of rear-end crashes. 
Metronet cites research conducted by the National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration concerning enhanced rear-signaling systems and 
notes that FMCSA has previously granted similar exemptions to the 
National Tank Truck Carriers, Inc., Grote, and Waste Management.
    Metronet reports that rear-end collisions accounted for 19 percent 
of its reportable crashes in 2025. Metronet asserts that the requested 
exemption would permit it to improve the visibility of its vehicles and 
reduce the risk of rear-end collisions while maintaining a level of 
safety equivalent to, or greater than, the level achieved without the 
exemption.
    A copy of Metronet's application for exemption 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 Metronet's application for an 
exemption from the requirement of 49 CFR 393.25(e). 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 for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2026-22512 Filed 11-3-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P


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