Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
December 24, 2013

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77777-77778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30720]



[[Page 77777]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[FMCSA-2013-0171]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of denials.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its denial of 91 applications from individuals 
who requested an exemption from the Federal vision standard applicable 
to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the denials. 
FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision 
requirement if the exemptions will provide a level of safety that is 
equivalent to or greater than the level of safety maintained without 
the exemptions. The Agency has concluded that granting these 
individuals an exemption would not achieve the required level of 
safety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine M. Papp, Chief, Medical 
Programs Division, 202-366-4001, U.S. Department of Transportation, 
FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-
0001. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the Federal vision standard for a renewable 2-year period if it 
finds ``such an exemption would likely achieve a level of safety that 
is equivalent to or greater than the level that would be achieved 
absent such an exemption.'' The procedures for requesting an exemption 
are set forth in 49 CFR part 381.
    Accordingly, FMCSA evaluated 91 individual exemption requests on 
their merit and made a determination that these applicants do not 
satisfy the criteria eligibility or meet the terms and conditions of 
the Federal exemption program. Each applicant has, prior to this 
notice, received a letter of final disposition on the exemption 
request. Those decision letters fully outlined the basis for the denial 
and constitute final Agency action. The list published in this notice 
summarizes the Agency's recent denials as required under 49 U.S.C. 
31315(b)(4) by periodically publishing names and reasons for denial.
    The following 15 applicants had no experience operating a CMV:

Daniel S. Billig
Christopher Delo
Alan Dorantes
Deborah S. Ford
Rebecca L. Jenson
Christopher M. Kelly
Alex M. Long
Charles McDonald
Kenneth C. Mead
Abdelkhaleq R. Muhammad
Eduardo Nunez
Michael J. Sawlville
Richard Seidel
Kyle Smith
Kirk C. Ward

    The following 23 applicants did not have 3 years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies:

Gordon T. Anderson
Amanuel W. Behon
John Bertelle
Devon W. Bivens
Vernie W. Bochmann
Larry Brown
Larry E. Carter
Eric Cherry
Donald Darling
David Dibbs
Everett H. Fuller
Tom Gibson
Joshua A. Holcombe
Christopher A. Johnson
Thomas R. Lease
Collin C. Longacre
Jason McKinney
Michael L. Mueting
Steven D. Nelson
Steven S. Smith, Jr.
Kyle L. Souza
Kyle M. Wallace
Ricky W. Woods

    The following 3 applicants did not have 3 years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:

Roy Duncan
Edmond Harold
John M. Munroe

    The following applicant, Dawson Smith, did not have sufficient 
driving experience during the past 3 years under normal highway 
operating conditions.
    The following 2 applicants had their commercial driver's license 
suspended during the 3-year review period for moving violations. 
Applicants do not qualify for an exemption with a suspension during the 
3-year period:

Buck J. Barney
Charles R. Edwards

    The following applicant, Victor A. Jorge, did not have verifiable 
proof of commercial driving experience over the past 3 years under 
normal highway operating conditions that would serve as an adequate 
predictor of future safe performance.
    The following applicant, James C. Reed, Jr., was unable to obtain a 
statement from an optometrist or ophthalmologist stating that he was 
able to operate a commercial vehicle from a vision standpoint.
    The following 15 applicants were denied for miscellaneous/multiple 
reasons:

Anthony Bartel
Ricky A. Bruens
DeAndre Bryan
Robert S. Buckwalter
John R. Freeman
George H. Harrison
Tim Hollenback
Darrel J. Karpowicz
Jason S. Klepp
Mark H. Schneewind
Brian R. Smith
Glenn Snowberger
Drake M. Vendsel
James E. Wilkes, III
Willard C. Wilson

    The following applicant, Don R. Alexander, was denied because he 
never submitted the required documents.
    The following 11 applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision:

Bryan L. Adkins
Charles J. Clay, Jr.
Michael W. Doig
Jonathan E. Edwards
Shane B. Henninger
Kevin Hesson
Aldric L. Jones
Fernando Polanco
Francisca M. Rhodes
Ronald F. Simpson
Russel P. Worl

    The following 12 applicants were denied because they will not be 
driving interstate, interstate commerce, or not required to carry a DOT 
medical card:

Pasco Anderson
Steven K. Bain
William C. Braaten
Stanley Chaskey
Keith Dowty
Richard B. Grove
Richard Hazelwood
Wilton F. Marine
James B. McCullough
Gary D. Morgan
Michael Nishida-Llanes
Dennis C. Welpe

    Finally, the following 6 applicants perform transportation for the 
federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state.


[[Page 77778]]


Michael Newhouse
Donald C. Schmitt
Ronnie L. Pruitt
Denish L. McQueen
Jimmy J. Thornton
Sharon McDaniel

    Issued on: December 16, 2013.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2013-30720 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P