§ 31136. United States Government regulations
(a)
Minimum Safety Standards.—
Subject to section
30103
(a) of this title, the Secretary of Transportation shall prescribe regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety. The regulations shall prescribe minimum safety standards for commercial motor vehicles. At a minimum, the regulations shall ensure that—
(2)
the responsibilities imposed on operators of commercial motor vehicles do not impair their ability to operate the vehicles safely;
(3)
the physical condition of operators of commercial motor vehicles is adequate to enable them to operate the vehicles safely and the periodic physical examinations required of such operators are performed by medical examiners who have received training in physical and medical examination standards and, after the national registry maintained by the Department of Transportation under section
31149
(d) is established, are listed on such registry; and
(b)
Eliminating and Amending Existing Regulations.—
The Secretary may not eliminate or amend an existing motor carrier safety regulation related only to the maintenance, equipment, loading, or operation (including routing) of vehicles carrying material found to be hazardous under section
5103 of this title until an equivalent or more stringent regulation has been prescribed under section
5103.
(c)
Procedures and Considerations.—
(d)
Effect of Existing Regulations.—
If the Secretary does not prescribe regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety under this section, regulations on commercial motor vehicle safety prescribed by the Secretary before October 30, 1984, and in effect on October 30, 1984, shall be deemed in this subchapter to be regulations prescribed by the Secretary under this section.
(e)
Exemptions.—
The Secretary may grant in accordance with section
31315 waivers and exemptions from, or conduct pilot programs with respect to, any regulations prescribed under this section.
(f)
Limitations on Municipality and Commercial Zone Exemptions and Waivers.—
(1)
The Secretary may not—
(2)
If a person was authorized to operate a commercial motor vehicle in a municipality or commercial zone of a municipality in the United States for the entire period from November 19, 1987, through November 18, 1988, and if the person is otherwise qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle, the person may operate a commercial motor vehicle entirely in a municipality or commercial zone of a municipality notwithstanding—