The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will hold two sets of public listening sessions next month to gain input on “the potential benefits and feasibility of voluntary compliance” and how the agency might credit both motor carriers and drivers for creating “programs that promote safety beyond the standards established in FMCSA regulations.”

The April 1 listening session will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12 p.m and again from 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. (all times EDT) at the Mid-America Trucking Show at the Kentucky Expo Center, 938 Phillips Lane, Louisville, Ky. 

The April 25 session will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (all times CDT) at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Spring 2016 Workshop at the Sheraton Grand Chicago, 301 East North Water Street, Chicago, Ill. 

In addition, FMCSA will post information on how to participate via the Internet on www.fmcsa.dot.gov/calendar in advance of the listening sessions. 

Also, written comments on the information being sought, identified by Docket Number FMCSA-2015-0124, may be submitted using any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax to 202-493-2251

• Mail to Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., West Building, Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

• Hand-deliver or courier to West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

The agency noted that the FAST Act highway bill enacted late last year mandated that FMCSA “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 Safety Measurement System percentile.”

FMCSA added that is soliciting comments “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.”