• Many types of CMV operations are exempt from the regulations governing CMV parts & accessories and related requirements.

The types of operations that are exempt from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs), including the vehicle specifications in Parts 325 (Interstate Motor carrier Noise Emission Standards), 393 (Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation), and 399 (Employee Safety and Health Standards), are described in 390.3(f):

• All school bus operations (between home and school), as defined in 390.5;
• Transportation performed by the federal government or a state or local government (but not including contractors doing work for the government);
• The occasional transportation of personal property by individuals when there is no compensation involved and the transportation is not business-related;
• The transportation of human corpses or sick and injured persons;
• The operation of fire trucks and rescue vehicles while involved in emergency and related operations;
• The operation of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) designed to transport between 9 and 15 passengers (including the driver), not for direct compensation (these operations are not completely exempt from the FMCSRs, however); and
• Drivers of vehicles used to respond to a pipeline emergency or used primarily to transport propane winter heating fuel, but only if the regulations prevent the driver from responding to an emergency condition requiring immediate response.

Pipeline welding truck exemption

Under 390.38, certain pipeline welding trucks, including the employer and operator, are exempt from the regulations governing parts and accessories and inspection and maintenance (Part 393 and Part 396).

A “pipeline welding truck” is defined in 390.38(b) as a motor vehicle that is traveling in the state in which the vehicle is registered or another state, is owned by a welder, is a pick-up style truck, is equipped with a welding rig that is used in the construction or maintenance of pipelines and has a gross vehicle weight and combination weight rating and weight of 15,000 pounds or less.