New regs for Thursday: Spiders, trucks

Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register contains exemptions for truck drivers and protections for endangered spiders.

Here’s what is happening:

Spiders: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will continue protecting certain spiders.

The FWS on Wednesday rejected a petition to delist the endangered Bone Cave harvestman, which is found in Texas.

The finding goes into effect immediately.

Trucks: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is considering exempting dozens of truck drivers with poor sight in one eye from vision requirements that would otherwise prohibit them from operating commercial motor vehicles between states.

These 36 truck drivers claim they have good enough vision in the other eye that they can safely operate a commercial motor vehicle.

The FMCSA is also considering exempting another two truck drivers who have implantable cardioverter defibrillators from rules that would otherwise prevent them from getting behind the wheel.

The public has 30 days to comment.

The FMCSA, meanwhile, has decided to exempt nine truck drivers who suffering from hearing loss from rules that would otherwise prevent them from driving between states.

The agency also granted similar exemptions to 46 truck drivers with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus.