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FMCSA Seeks Public Comment on PAM Transport CDL Supervision Exemption Request

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is soliciting public comment on a request by PAM Transport, Inc. to relax the front-seat supervision requirement for commercial learner's permit holders who have passed their CDL skills test.

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published a notice requesting public comment on an exemption application filed by PAM Transport, Inc. (PAM) from a federal commercial driver's license (CDL) supervision requirement. Comments must be received on or before November 27, 2026, and may be submitted online, by fax, by mail, or by hand delivery under docket number FMCSA-2026-3466.

The Regulatory Requirement at Issue

Under FMCSA's current CDL regulations at 49 CFR 383.25(a)(1), a commercial learner's permit (CLP) holder must always be accompanied by the holder of a valid CDL in the front seat of the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) while the CLP holder is driving. This requirement applies to CLP holders who have successfully passed the CDL skills test but have not yet been issued their CDL credentials.

PAM Transport's Exemption Request

PAM Transport's application proposes a modification to this arrangement: the company states that a CDL holder would remain in the CMV while the CLP holder is driving, but not necessarily in the passenger seat of the vehicle. In other words, PAM seeks to allow the required CDL-holding supervisor to be present somewhere in the vehicle other than the front seat during CLP-holder-operated trips.

FMCSA's Review Process and Legal Basis

FMCSA holds authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. By statute, the agency is required to publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register under 49 CFR 381.315(a), provide the public an opportunity to inspect information relevant to the application including the applicant's safety analysis, and accept public comments. The agency's notice explicitly states that it does not indicate what decision FMCSA will ultimately reach on the request.

After the comment period closes, FMCSA will review the application, safety analyses, and all public comments received, and will determine 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 — the standard set forth in 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1). The agency will then publish its decision in the Federal Register. If granted, the notice will identify the regulatory provisions from which PAM would be exempt, the effective period, and all terms and conditions of the exemption, per 49 CFR 381.315(c)(1). If denied, the notice will explain the reason for denial per 49 CFR 381.315(c)(2). The exemption may also be renewed under 49 CFR 381.300(b).

Submitting Comments

Members of the public wishing to comment are directed to include docket number FMCSA-2026-3466 with their submission and to indicate the specific section of the notice to which their comment applies. Confidential Business Information (CBI) submissions — defined as commercial or financial information customarily and actually treated as private — must be clearly marked "PROPIN" on each page and sent separately to Sarah Stella, Chief, Regulatory Development Division, Office of Policy, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, and will not be placed in the public docket.

What to Watch

  • November 27, 2026: Deadline for public comments on the PAM Transport exemption application (FMCSA-2026-3466).
  • Following the comment period, FMCSA will publish a final decision in the Federal Register either granting or denying the exemption.

Related

Sources

13 cited

Every hard fact above is grounded in and cited to a primary source record.

  1. Comments must be received on or before November 27, 2026.

    federalregister.gov

  2. The docket number for the notice is FMCSA-2026-3466.

    federalregister.gov

  3. Under 49 CFR 383.25(a)(1), a CLP holder must always be accompanied by the holder of a valid CDL in the front seat of the CMV while the CLP holder is driving.

    federalregister.gov

  4. PAM Transport states that the CDL holder would remain in the CMV while the CLP holder is driving, but not necessarily in the passenger seat of the vehicle.

    federalregister.gov

  5. FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b) to grant exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

    federalregister.gov

  6. FMCSA is required by statute to publish a notice of each exemption request in the Federal Register under 49 CFR 381.315(a).

    federalregister.gov

  7. The notice does not indicate what decision FMCSA will ultimately reach on the request.

    federalregister.gov

  8. FMCSA will determine 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 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(1).

    federalregister.gov

  9. If granted, the notice will identify the regulatory provisions from which the exempted party will be exempt, the effective period, and all terms and conditions of the exemption per 49 CFR 381.315(c)(1).

    federalregister.gov

  10. If the exemption is denied, the notice will explain the reason for the denial per 49 CFR 381.315(c)(2).

    federalregister.gov

  11. The exemption may be renewed under 49 CFR 381.300(b).

    federalregister.gov

  12. Confidential Business Information submissions should be sent to Sarah Stella, Chief, Regulatory Development Division, Office of Policy, FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

    federalregister.gov

  13. The exemption application pertains to CLP holders who have successfully passed the CDL skills test but have not yet been issued CDL credentials.

    federalregister.gov

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