In proceedings handled by the Department of Transportation Office of Hearings, its functions shall attach upon notice of the institution of a formal proceeding involving a prehearing conference and/or a hearing by the Administration.

An Administrative Law Judge in the Department of Transportation Office of Hearings will be designated by the Department's Chief Administrative Law Judge to preside at hearings required by statute, or directed to be held under the Administration's discretionary authority in hearings not required by statute, in rotation so far as practicable, unless the Administration shall designate one or more of its officials to serve as presiding officer(s) in hearings required by statute, or member(s) of the staff in proceedings not required by statute.

The officer designated to hear a case shall have authority to arrange and issue notice of the date, time and place of hearings; under appropriate circumstances consolidate dockets for joint hearing; sign and issue subpoenas authorized by law; take or cause depositions to be taken; rule upon proposed amendments or supplements to pleadings; hold conferences for the settlement or simplification of matters embraced in the proceedings; regulate the course of the hearing; prescribe the order in which evidence shall be presented; dispose of procedural requests or similar matters; hear and initially rule upon all motions and petitions before him; administer oaths and affirmations; examine witnesses, direct witnesses to testify or produce available evidence and to submit reports, studies and analyses of data available to them which may be generally relevant and material to the determination of any questions of fact in issue; rule upon offers of proof and receive competent, relevant, material, reliable, and probative evidence; exclude irrelevant, immaterial, unreliable, repetitious or cumulative evidence; exclude cross-examination which is primarily intended to elicit self-serving declarations in favor of the witness; and limit cross-examination of any questions of fact in issue; for a full and true disclosure of the facts in issue; act upon petitions to intervene; act upon submission of facts, or argument; initially consider offers of settlement or other proposals of adjustment upon which recommendations to the Administration may be made; hear oral argument at the close of testimony; fix the time for filing briefs, motions and other documents to be filed in connection with hearings and replies thereto; and issue the initial or recommended decisions and dispose of any other pertinent matter that normally and properly arises in the course of proceedings. When the presiding officer is unavailable for any reason, and the exercise of any of his powers and functions, as described herein, is due, timely, and necessary, the Chief Administrative Law Judge may exercise such powers and functions until the presiding officer becomes available or until his successor is designated.

If, in the judgment of the presiding officer, convenience or necessity so requires he may postpone the time or change the place of hearing.

Any presiding officer may at any time withdraw if he deems himself disqualified, in which case another presiding officer will be designated. If a party to a proceeding, or his representative, files in good faith a timely and sufficient affidavit of personal bias or disqualification of a presiding officer, the Administration will determine the matter as a part of the record and decision in the case.