Four notices cover renewals and new applications
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published four hearing-exemption notices on September 28. Two notices renew exemptions for 20 and 18 individuals, allowing 38 deaf or hard-of-hearing drivers to continue operating commercial motor vehicles in interstate commerce. Two additional notices announce applications from groups of nine and 11 individuals. Those 20 applications are under review; they are not approvals. Comments on all four notices are due October 28, 2026.
The underlying federal hearing standard remains in place
The notices do not replace the physical-qualification rule in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11). Under that standard, a driver generally qualifies by perceiving a forced whispered voice in the better ear from at least five feet, with or without a hearing aid, or by meeting the specified audiometric threshold. FMCSA may grant an individual exemption only after deciding that the applicant can achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level without the exemption. The agency says it considers scientific information, public comments and the individual driving record.
Renewals run for two years and carry conditions
FMCSA states that medical exemptions are issued for two years to align with the maximum duration of a driver medical certificate. The renewed drivers must report qualifying crashes to FMCSA within seven days, report citations and convictions for disqualifying offenses within seven days, and submit an annual certified driving record from the appropriate state licensing agency. They may not operate an interstate passenger-carrying motorcoach or bus and must still meet applicable CDL testing requirements.
Drivers must carry the exemption while operating
A driver operating under a renewed hearing exemption must keep a copy in the vehicle and present it to an authorized federal, state or local enforcement officer when requested. The individual effective and expiration dates vary by driver; the notices include groups expiring in July or August 2028. A pending application does not authorize interstate CMV operation under an exemption, and an expired exemption is not extended simply because the driver applied again.
Driver and fleet takeaway
Drivers using a hearing exemption should place its exact effective and expiration dates on a compliance calendar, carry a readable copy on every trip and keep proof of required crash, citation and annual-record submissions. Fleet safety teams should verify the exemption and current medical certification in the driver qualification file before dispatch, confirm that the assignment does not involve prohibited interstate passenger service, and use the individual document—not a general news summary—to determine eligibility. Applicants should track their docket and wait for FMCSA’s published decision before treating the request as approved.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration — September 28 Hearing Exemption Notices
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