Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
August 6, 2014

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 45867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18648]



[[Page 45867]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0009]


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 128 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 granted will not compromise 
safety. The Agency has concluded that granting these exemptions does 
not provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater 
than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these 
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

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 128 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 applicant, Brian K. Coffman, did not have sufficient 
driving experience over the past 3 years under normal highway operating 
conditions.
    The following 15 applicants had no experience operating a CMV:

Bryant L. Balkcom, Augustus H. Brooks, Francis E. Cannon, Isaac 
Cuautle, Robert Eggleston, Aaron Findley, Gregory J. Hyer, William D. 
Issacs, David M. Krause, Steven L. Lane, Nicholas A. Lupo, Arthur E. L. 
Marcotte, Michael McPartland, Randall T. Petersheim, Vincent J. 
Townsend

    The following 31 applicants did not have 3 years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies:

Roy N. Aeschliman, Kwabena Apenteng, Wesley A. Barb, Carl Burks, Corey 
J. Colombo, Gary D. Crauthers, Demarcus Davis, Eric S. Dillon, Glenn D. 
Ferrell, David L. Fleming, Michael A. Greer, Carey G. Holland, James J. 
Kunkel, Edward O. Lemke, Brandon J. Michalko, Kenneth E. Morris, Sr., 
Moises Perez, Dale V. Petersen, Bryan W. Potratz, Jonathan A. Ramsey, 
Sr., Parker R. Roan, Jeff Saylor, Gary S. Seniuk, Robert Simpson, Peter 
G. Svoboda, Steve Szabo, Jason Watson, Donald J. Wilson, James W. Wise, 
Jr., Willie A. Young, Jr., Abdulkadir M. Yusuf.
    The following 12 applicants did not have 3 years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:

Zach Afsher Walter Benefield Arthur Doutt Bill A. Drake Stanfield L. 
Hunter John Lucas Rick Lunceford Eric K. McCall Ricky A. Schott Roy 
Taylor C. Pao Thao Curtis Townsend

    The following 2 applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience during the past 3 years under normal highway operating 
conditions:

Jason Muhammad, Otis Wright.

    The following 4 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:

Jay F. Brooks, Scott D. Goalder, Tony Gregoire, Steven R. Maddox.

    The following applicant, Thomas D. Lane, contributed to an accident 
in which the applicant was operating a commercial motor vehicle.
    The following 2 applicants were unable to obtain a statement from 
an optometrist or ophthalmologist stating that he was able to operate a 
commercial vehicle from a vision standpoint:

Steven E. Bumbrey Robert Davis

    The following 15 applicants were denied for miscellaneous/multiple 
reasons:

Lucas J. Brickner Barry Bunker Carol D. Cuthbertson Robert L. Dinkins 
Charles O. Drummond David L. Gillion Dennis E. Groothuis Jose Guzman 
Joshua A. Hernandez Mehrim Hodzic Robert P. Kelly Rick P. Moreno 
Timothy Smith John P. Trebesch Richard A. Wheeler

    The following 21 applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision:

Jorge E. Aldana Don Amundsen Warren M. Blakeney Nathan Boehm Alexander 
W. Bryant James C. Honeycutt Kerry Kersey Rommie L. Knight Rennard Lake 
Manual S. Marquez Jimmy C. Moore, Jr. Vasyl Myniv Ronald L. Olberding 
Juan A. Perez Kent E. Riegel Harry L. Ross Donnie M. Russell Kenny R. 
Taylor David M. Terry Timothy W. Trusty Henry L. Washington, Jr.

    The following 19 applicants were denied because they will not be 
driving interstate, interstate commerce, or not required to carry a DOT 
medical card:

Marco A. Alvarez Tomas Benavidez, Jr. Marlin G. Burley, Jr. Jerome 
Carbaugh Gareth T. Edwards Richard T. Elijah John A. Frymark Marvin F. 
Guess Robert Howell, Jr. Richard S. Huzzard Vance L. Johnson Augusto F. 
Nunez Juan G. Padilla Donald Reeves Christopher M. Reynolds Randall W. 
Schroeder Martin Skovish, Sr. Terrence M. Thomas Brian Weiner

    Finally, the following 5 applicants perform transportation for the 
federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state.

Johonn Finley Jeffery O. Galtney Jimmy D. Renfroe William C. Riddick 
Timothy A. Wright

    Issued on: July 29, 2014.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-18648 Filed 8-5-14; 8:45 am]
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