# 2025-12167: FRA Formalizes Safety Waivers for Locomotive Engineers

2025-12167, Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers and Conductors: Incorporation of Longstanding C3RS Waivers, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Railroad Administration published 2025-07-01 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-12167
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-12167
- Title: Qualification and Certification of Locomotive Engineers and Conductors: Incorporation of Longstanding C3RS Waivers
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Railroad Administration
- Citation: 90 FR 28676
- Published: 2025-07-01
- Effective: unknown
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2130-AD32
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

FRA Formalizes Safety Waivers for Locomotive Engineers

## Summary

FRA is updating rules for train engineers and conductors to officially include long-standing exceptions for railroads using the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). This change helps railroads keep safety strong while easing some certification steps. Railroads using other safety reporting programs can still ask for special permission, and no big costs or deadlines are expected right now.

## Abstract

FRA proposes to amend its regulations governing the qualification and certification of locomotive engineers and conductors, to codify longstanding waivers that have granted relief from certain certification requirements for railroads that participate in the FRA- sponsored Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C\3\RS). FRA does not intend this NPRM to be a disincentive to railroads implementing alternative close call reporting programs outside C\3\RS, which the agency believes can still positively impact safety culture. FRA would still entertain waiver requests to implement alternative close call reporting programs, as necessary.

## Effects PRIA read

- Codifies C3RS Certification Waivers: benefit, low. The FRA proposes to put into its rules long‑standing waivers that give relief from certain certification requirements for locomotive engineers and conductors when their railroad participates in the FRA‑sponsored Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The change is meant to keep safety str…
- Formal Relief for Participating Railroads: benefit, low. Railroads that participate in the FRA‑sponsored C3RS would receive officially codified relief from certain conductor and engineer certification requirements. The proposal codifies longstanding waivers so participating railroads can continue using C3RS while maintaining safety, and the FRA says it d…
- Waiver Flexibility for Alternative Programs: benefit, low. The FRA says it will still consider waiver requests from railroads that use alternative close‑call reporting programs instead of C3RS, so railroads using other programs can seek special permission to get similar relief. The agency states it does not intend this proposal to be a disincentive to impl…

## Related documents

- [2026-17904](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-17904): National Environmental Policy Act Regulations, 2026-09-01
- [2026-19031](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19031): Safety Advisory 2025-02; Track Is Clear Determination During Shoving or Pushing Movements Across Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Equipped Only…, 2026-09-17
- [2026-18981](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18981): Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 2026-09-16
- [2026-18982](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18982): Proposed Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request, 2026-09-16
- [2026-18986](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18986): Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program; Ohio Department of Transportation Audit Report, 2026-09-16
- [2026-17996](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-17996): Safety Advisory 2026-01; Restricted Speed, 2026-09-03

## Sources
- [2025-12167 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/01/2025-12167/qualification-and-certification-of-locomotive-engineers-and-conductors-incorporation-of-longstanding)
- [2025-12167 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-07-01/pdf/2025-12167.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-12159, Expanding Certain Locomotive Wheel Set Diameter Variations](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-12159)
- [Next: 2025-12168, Amendments to Brake System Maintenance and Inspection Requirements](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-12168)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-12167 (as of 2026-06-08).