FMCSA Renews 20 Hearing Exemptions and Takes Comments on 11 New Ones
The federal hearing standard for CDL drivers has an exemption route, and FMCSA published two notices on it on September 28, 2026. Here is what they say.
The standard
Under 49 CFR 391.41(b)(11), a person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if they first perceive a forced whispered voice in the better ear at not less than 5 feet, with or without a hearing aid. If tested with an audiometric device, the average hearing loss in the better ear cannot be greater than 40 decibels at 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz, with or without a hearing aid.
Notice one: 11 new applicants
FMCSA announced receipt of applications from 11 individuals who want an exemption from the hearing requirement to drive in interstate commerce (Docket FMCSA-2026-0053). The notice lists each applicant by name, age and license: some hold Class D or C licenses, others hold Class A CDLs. FMCSA says it will evaluate each person to decide whether an exemption would achieve the level of safety the law requires. One applicant previously held an exemption that expired on March 4, 2024 and did not request renewal, so he counts as new.
Notice two: 20 renewals
In a second notice, FMCSA renewed exemptions for 20 individuals who had met the renewal conditions. The notice groups them by effective date, for example August 13, 2026 through August 28, 2026, and says each runs two years from its effective date. FMCSA says it issues medical exemptions for two years to match the medical certificate.
Conditions on the exemption
The notice lists the terms: each driver must report any crash to FMCSA within 7 days, report citations and convictions for disqualifying offenses within 7 days, submit annual certified driving records from the state licensing agency, and may not drive a motorcoach or bus with passengers in interstate commerce. Drivers must carry a copy of the exemption and still meet all CDL testing requirements. FMCSA may revoke an exemption for noncompliance, a lower level of safety, or if it is no longer consistent with the law.
A note on the two groups
The applicants in the new-application notice hold a mix of licenses: Class D, Class C, Class CM, and Class A CDLs from several states. The renewal notice lists 20 drivers across groups with different effective dates, and FMCSA says it reviewed each driver's certified driving record from the state licensing agency, plus police reports for any crash, before extending the exemption. A clean record is part of what the agency says it relies on.
Comments
Comments on both notices are due October 28, 2026 and can be filed at regulations.gov under the docket numbers in each notice.
What to do
If you have hearing loss and want to drive interstate, talk to a certified medical examiner first. An exemption is a separate FMCSA process on top of the DOT physical, and it is decided driver by driver. Our guide to the CDL medical card and DOT physical explains the exam and what examiners check. Keep your exemption paperwork in the cab if you hold one.