Agency Information Collection Activities; Approval of a New Information Collection Request

Thomas P. Keane
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
23 April 2021

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 77 (Friday, April 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21781-21782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08419]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2020-0203]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Approval of a New 
Information Collection Request

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces its plan 
to submit the Information Collection Request (ICR) described below to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for its review and approval 
and invites public comment. This notice invites comment on a proposed 
information collection project titled Trucking Fleet Concept of 
Operations (CONOPS) for Managing Mixed Fleets. It is a survey study 
that will assess the self-reports of approximately 2,000 survey 
respondents, including commercial motor vehicle (CMV) fleet managers, 
CMV sales personnel, State and Federal government personnel, industry 
engineers, researchers, and CMV drivers. The questionnaire is designed 
to collect baseline opinions of automated driving systems (ADS) before 
and after hands-on demonstrations with ADS technologies.

DATES: Please send your comments by May 24, 2021. OMB must receive your 
comments by this date in order to act quickly on the ICR.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Kelly, Technology Division, 
Department of Transportation, FMCSA, West Building 6th Floor, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202-480-5240; email 
Thomas.Kelly@dot.gov. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Trucking Fleet Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for Managing 
Mixed Fleets.
    OMB Control No.: To be determined by OMB upon OMB approval of the 
ICR.
    Type of Request: new information collection.
    Respondents: CMV fleet managers, CMV sales personnel, State and 
Federal government personnel, industry engineers, researchers, and CMV 
drivers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,000 total respondents (675 CMV 
fleet managers, 150 CMV sales personnel, 600 Industry Engineers, 100 
CMV Drivers, 325 State and Federal government, and 150 Researchers).
    Estimated Time per Response: 3.5 minutes for the Pre-Roadshow 
Questionnaire and 4.4 minutes for the Post-Roadshow Questionnaire.
    Expiration Date: This is a new information collection.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion (if attending one of four 
roadshows).
    Estimated Total Annual Burden: 175 hours.

Background

    Although ADS-equipped trucks hold the promise of increased safety, 
productivity, and efficiency, it is not clear how these vehicles should 
be integrated into fleet operations with conventional trucks for mixed-
fleet operations. Reflecting this issue is a question frequently asked 
by trucking executives: How can I integrate ADS into my fleet 
operations? FMCSA needs information from truck industry representatives 
regarding their opinions and perception of ADS.
    The introduction of ADS technology on heavy trucks (Class 8 
vehicles) will profoundly affect all commerce in the U.S., as the U.S. 
moves more than 70% of all goods by truck. However, existing 
stakeholders in the road freight ecosystem (primarily for-hire and 
private truck fleets, but also shippers, brokers, truck manufacturers, 
and service and maintenance providers) do not have a clear picture of 
how they will implement ADS in their daily operations. At present, 
technical progress in this nascent but promising technology is 
outstripping the ability of truck fleets to keep up and plan for ADS 
deployment. This may adversely affect adoption by truck fleets and 
associated industries, resulting in the delayed achievement of safety, 
productivity, and efficiency benefits of ADS-equipped trucks. If ADS 
technology is to gain traction in the U.S. trucking industry, current 
stakeholders and new entrants need a rigorous, data driven CONOPS.
    This project focuses on the development and demonstration of a 
CONOPS for ADS-equipped trucks, which will ensure the results translate 
directly to real-world settings that are of practical importance to the 
trucking industry, regulators, and the public at large. Part of the 
development of CONOPS includes a series of outreach events where the 
public, with a focus on truck drivers and truck fleet managers, will 
have the opportunity to meet ADS technology developers and original 
equipment manufacturers. The outreach will also provide opportunities 
to participate in hands-on technology demonstrations, such as in-
vehicle demonstrations and closed-course scenarios. Lessons learned 
from this demonstration will influence all three phases of the research 
to ensure the CONOPS developed is true to real-life fleet operations. 
Thus, the purpose of the hands-on demonstrations: (1) Expose truck 
fleet managers and other personnel, truck drivers, government 
officials, insurance and inspection personnel, and the general public 
to ADS; (2) collect valuable qualitative data on participants' opinions 
and perceptions regarding ADS; and (3) use the data to ensure the 
CONOPS covers major industry concerns.
    Data will be collected from CMV drivers, CMV fleet managers, 
industry engineers, CMV sales personnel, researchers, and State and 
Federal government personnel at four roadshows. The roadshows will 
coincide with large conferences, such as the Technology Maintenance 
Council (TMC) Annual Meeting, North American Commercial Vehicle Show, 
SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress, and Automated Vehicle 
Symposium. The questionnaire data collected in Phase I of the study 
(pre-roadshow) will allow us to gather baseline opinions regarding ADS 
technologies. Once they participate in the hands-on demonstrations at 
the roadshow, we will see if their opinions on the technologies have 
changed (Phase 2 or post-roadshow).
    The research team will use cell phones to collect participant data

[[Page 21782]]

(adhering to cleaning procedures between each participant). The pre- 
and post-study questionnaires will be loaded onto a cell phone which 
will be distributed to participants at the beginning (and end) of the 
roadshow. Each questionnaire will be loaded in an app format. Once the 
participants submit their answers, the data will be stored on the phone 
and will not be accessible until researchers download the data to a 
computer.
    FMCSA conducted a pilot test with some of the proposed end-users. 
This pilot test included six end users, two researchers, one government 
employee, one commercial/motor vehicle fleet representative, and two 
commercial driver's license holders. Participants completed the Pre-
Roadshow Questionnaire and Post-Roadshow Questionnaire, timing 
completion of each and reviewing for content and/or comprehension 
issues. Based on this pilot test, FMCSA revised the Pre-Roadshow 
Questionnaire and Post-Roadshow Questionnaire. Pilot test participants 
indicated mean completion times of 3.5 minutes and 4.4 minutes for the 
Pre-Roadshow Questionnaire and Post Roadshow Questionnaire, 
respectively.

I. Summary of Public Comments Received

    On November 3, 2020, FMCSA published a notice in the Federal 
Register (85 FR 69678) with a 60-day public comment period to announce 
this proposed information collection. As of the closing date of January 
4, 2021, the agency received nine comments in response to this notice; 
however, one comment was blank.
    Seven of the comments expressed concern for the safety of ADS 
technologies and the potential job losses associated with this 
technology.
    The remaining comment indicated concern for real-world ADS testing 
as opposed to using simulations. FMCSA appreciates the commenters 
taking the time to provide feedback; however, these comments are beyond 
the scope of this information collection.
    Public Comments Invited: You are asked to comment on any aspect of 
this information collection, including: (1) Whether the proposed 
collection is necessary for the FMCSA to perform its functions; (2) the 
accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways for the FMCSA to enhance the 
quality, usefulness, and clarity of the collected information; and (4) 
ways that the burden could be minimized without reducing the quality of 
the collected information.

    Issued under the authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.87 on:
Thomas P. Keane,
Associate Administrator, Office of Research and Registration.
[FR Doc. 2021-08419 Filed 4-22-21; 8:45 am]
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