Hours of Service of Drivers: DPN, dba Matrix Medical Network; Application for Exemption

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
31 October 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58447-58448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23752]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2019-0240]


Hours of Service of Drivers: DPN, dba Matrix Medical Network; 
Application for Exemption

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

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

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces that it has received an application from DPN, 
doing business as Matrix Medical Network (Matrix), requesting 
exemptions from the hours-of-service (HOS) provisions. Matrix requests 
the exemptions to allow its employee-drivers known as ``Mobile Team 
Leads'' to work up to 16 hours per day and be allowed to return to work 
with less than the mandatory 10 consecutive hours off duty. FMCSA 
requests public comment on Matrix's application.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 2, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Federal Docket 
Management System Number FMCSA-2019-0240 by any of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: www.regulations.gov. See the 
Public Participation and Request for Comments section below for further 
information.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
E.T., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Each submission must include the Agency name and the docket number 
of this notice. DOT posts all comments received without change to 
www.regulations.gov, including personal information in a comment. 
Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Docket: To read background documents or comments, go to 
www.regulations.gov or visit Room W12-140 on the ground level of the 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
The on-line FDMS is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
    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 personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS) at www.dot.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this 
notice, please contact Ms. Pearlie Robinson, FMCSA Driver and Carrier 
Operations Division; Telephone: (202) 366-4325; Email: MCPSD@dot.gov. 
If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and 
related materials.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (FMCSA-2019-0240), the specific section of this document to 
which the comment applies, and

[[Page 58448]]

provide reasons for suggestions or recommendations. You may submit 
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 your document so the 
Agency can contact you if it has questions about your submission.
    To submit your comments online, go to www.regulations.gov and put 
the docket number, ``FMCSA-2019-0240'' in the ``Keyword'' box, and 
click ``Search.'' When the new screen appears, click on the ``Submit a 
Formal Comment'' button and type your comment into the text box in the 
following screen. Indicate whether you are submitting your comment as 
an individual or on behalf of a third party and then submit. 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. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. FMCSA will consider all comments 
and material received during the comment period and may grant or deny 
this application based on your comments.

II. Legal Basis

    FMCSA has authority under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 to grant 
exemptions from certain 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 any safety analyses that have been conducted. 
The Agency must also provide an opportunity for public comment on the 
request.
    The Agency reviews 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 by the current regulation (49 CFR 381.305). The Agency's 
decision must be published in the Federal Register (49 CFR 381.315(b)) 
with the reasons for denying or granting the application and, if 
granted, the name of the person or class of persons receiving the 
exemption, and the regulatory provision from which the exemption is 
granted. The notice must also specify the effective period (up to 5 
years) and explain the terms and conditions of the exemption. The 
exemption may be renewed (49 CFR 381.300(b)).

III. Request for Exemption

    49 CFR 395.3(a)(1) prohibits a driver from operating a commercial 
motor vehicle (CMV) without first taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. 
49 CFR 395.3(a)(2) prohibits a driver from operating a CMV after the 
the end of a 14 hour consecutive hour period without first taking 10 
consecutive hours off duty.
    Matrix requests a limited exemption for its drivers of mobile 
clinics known as ``Mobile Team Leads'' from the HOS 10 hour off-duty 
rule and the 14-hour period. Matrix requests that these employee-
drivers be permitted to rest for 8 hours instead of 10 hours, and 
operate for 16 working hours instead of being limited to 14 hours.
    Matrix reports that it operates a fleet of mobile medical clinics 
used to assist Medicare Advantage organizations. These services 
include, but are not limited to, providing patients with comprehensive 
health assessments and evaluations, and ongoing management of complex 
chronic conditions.
    Matrix explained that it generally hosts patients during 
``events,'' which are usually held two to three times per week. 
Patients are seen on a mobile clinic throughout an event day usually 
between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, however the events do not always 
end at scheduled times. Each mobile clinic operates with a minimal crew 
consisting of (1) a mobile team lead, (2) registered nurse or nurse 
practitioner, (3) mammography technician, and (4) a medical technician 
or cardiovascular technician. The Mobile Team Lead is an integral part 
of the mobile clinic's healthcare service delivery team. The Mobile 
Team Lead is responsible for duties akin to an office manager's 
responsibilities. In addition to these duties, the Mobile Team Lead is 
responsible for driving the mobile clinic to and from an event location 
and hotel location. The proposed exemption would cover approximately 50 
mobile team leads for the 40 mobile clinics in the applicant's fleet. 
Additonally, the exemption, if granted, would be used on event days 
only.
    Matrix asserts that the proposed exemption is critical to ensure 
that it meets the needs of its patients and support its mission. Matrix 
explains that patients cancelling or arriving late to scheduled 
appointments or appointments that require additional time with 
providers, can cause an event to go beyond its scheduled end time of 
6:00 p.m. local time. Matrix argues that 395.3(a)(1) and 395.3(a)(2) 
would require Matrix to cancel patient appointments, causing a hardship 
on their operation. According to the applicant, the need to maximize 
patient engagement is the underlying reason for this exemption request. 
It would allow an event to continue past its scheduled end time and 
allow the Mobile Team Lead to drive the mobile clinic to a new hotel 
location that is close enough to the next event location so that the 
following event day can commence at 7:00 a.m. local time.

IV. Method To Ensure an Equivalent or Greater Level of Safety

    To ensure an equivalent level of safety, Matrix offers short 
driving distances, short durations of driving, and driving at off-peak 
commuting times. Matrix believes that an equivalent level of safety 
will be sustained as Mobile Team leads are trained on fatigue awareness 
and hours of service compliance expectations, and, training programs 
from both the North American Fatigue Management Program and the 
Commercial Vehicle Training Alliance. Matrix states that Mobile Team 
Leads drive less than one-sixth of their work day. The rest of their 
day is spent performing non-clinical, management, and administrative 
services.
    A copy of Matrix's application is available for review in the 
docket for this notice.

    Issued on: October 24, 2019.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-23752 Filed 10-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P