# 2025-00745: Feds Exempt Deaf Truckers From Hearing Tests, Obviously

2025-00745, Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing, is a Federal Register notice from an unnamed agency published 2025-01-15, effective 2024-12-24 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-00745
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-00745
- Title: Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: unknown
- Citation: unknown
- Published: 2025-01-15
- Effective: 2024-12-24
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Feds Exempt Deaf Truckers From Hearing Tests, Obviously

## Summary

The FMCSA has given 16 hard of hearing and deaf drivers a special pass to drive big trucks across state lines without needing to pass the usual hearing test. This change started on December 24, 2024, and lasts until December 24, 2026. It opens new job opportunities for these drivers without extra costs or delays.

## Abstract

FMCSA announces its decision to exempt 16 individuals from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

## Effects PRIA read

- 16 Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Drivers Cleared To Drive Interstate: benefit, medium. FMCSA exempted 16 named hard-of-hearing and deaf individuals from the hearing requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11), allowing them to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. The exemptions are effective December 24, 2024 and expire December 24, 2026, and FMCSA found each exem…
- Exemption Comes With Reporting And Operational Limits: cost, low. Drivers granted these exemptions must report any crashes (per Sec. 390.5T) and any disqualifying citations or convictions to FMCSA within 7 days, submit annual certified driving records from their State Driver's Licensing Agency, and must carry a copy of the exemption while driving. The exemption h…
- Federal Exemption Preempts Conflicting State Laws: benefit, low. While the exemptions are in effect (December 24, 2024 through December 24, 2026), no State may enforce a law or regulation that conflicts with a person operating under the FMCSA exemption. This protects exempted drivers from state rules that would otherwise block their interstate operation.
- Two-Year Exemption Term And Revocation Conditions: cost, low. Each exemption is valid for two years from the effective date (December 24, 2024 to December 24, 2026) and may be revoked earlier if the driver fails to comply with terms, the exemption results in a lower level of safety, or continuation would conflict with statutory goals. FMCSA may also align exe…

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## Sources
- [2025-00745 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/15/2025-00745/qualification-of-drivers-exemption-applications-hearing)
- [2025-00745 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-15/pdf/2025-00745.pdf)

## Related
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- [Next: 2025-00746, Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Hearing](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-00746)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-00745 (as of 2026-06-08).