Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes Mellitus

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
April 13, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 70 (Monday, April 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19732-19734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08413]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0312]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes 
Mellitus

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt 69 individuals from its 
rule prohibiting persons with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM) 
from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in interstate commerce. 
The exemptions enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate 
commerce.

DATES: The exemptions were effective on February 24, 2015. The 
exemptions expire on February 24, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles A. Horan, III, Director, 
Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards, (202) 366-4001, 
fmcsamedical@ dot.gov, FMCSA, Room W64-224, Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. 
Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document 
Management System (FDMS) at: http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or

[[Page 19733]]

comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov and/or Room W12-140 on the 
ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the 
system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    On January 23, 2014, FMCSA published a notice of receipt of Federal 
diabetes exemption applications from 69 individuals and requested 
comments from the public (80 FR 3724). The public comment period closed 
on February 23, 2015, and three comments were received.
    FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of the 69 applicants and 
determined that granting the exemptions to these individuals would 
achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level that 
would be achieved by complying with the current regulation 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3).

Diabetes Mellitus and Driving Experience of the Applicants

    The Agency established the current requirement for diabetes in 1970 
because several risk studies indicated that drivers with diabetes had a 
higher rate of crash involvement than the general population. The 
diabetes rule provides that ``A person is physically qualified to drive 
a commercial motor vehicle if that person has no established medical 
history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring 
insulin for control'' (49 CFR 391.41(b)(3)).
    FMCSA established its diabetes exemption program, based on the 
Agency's July 2000 study entitled ``A Report to Congress on the 
Feasibility of a Program to Qualify Individuals with Insulin-Treated 
Diabetes Mellitus to Operate in Interstate Commerce as Directed by the 
Transportation Act for the 21st Century.'' The report concluded that a 
safe and practicable protocol to allow some drivers with ITDM to 
operate CMVs is feasible. The September 3, 2003 (68 FR 52441), Federal 
Register notice in conjunction with the November 8, 2005 (70 FR 67777), 
Federal Register notice provides the current protocol for allowing such 
drivers to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
    These 69 applicants have had ITDM over a range of one to 29 years. 
These applicants report no severe hypoglycemic reactions resulting in 
loss of consciousness or seizure, requiring the assistance of another 
person, or resulting in impaired cognitive function that occurred 
without warning symptoms, in the past 12 months and no recurrent (2 or 
more) severe hypoglycemic episodes in the past 5 years. In each case, 
an endocrinologist verified that the driver has demonstrated a 
willingness to properly monitor and manage his/her diabetes mellitus, 
received education related to diabetes management, and is on a stable 
insulin regimen. These drivers report no other disqualifying 
conditions, including diabetes-related complications. Each meets the 
vision requirement at 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10).
    The qualifications and medical condition of each applicant were 
stated and discussed in detail in the January 23, 2014, Federal 
Register notice and they will not be repeated in this notice.

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received three comments in this proceeding. The comments are 
discussed below.
    The American Trucking Associations, Inc. (ATA) submitted a comment 
stating, ``ATA believes that the increased volume of applications for 
exemption from parts of 49 CFR 391.41 is cause for concern. The 
granting of such a large number of exemptions dilutes the physical 
qualification standards and constitutes regulation through exemption. 
FMCSA must begin a dialogue on the need and effectiveness of these 
standards. If it is determined that these standards need to be altered, 
it must be done through the formal rulemaking process.'' FMCSA is 
engaged in a formal rulemaking process, and is preparing to publish an 
NPRM in the spring of this year.
    Scott Cleveland submitted a comment stating the Federal Register 
notice did not tell him if he was approved. As stated in the notice, 
all drivers listed will receive an exemption effective the day after 
the close of the request for comments period, barring any negative 
comments.
    An anonymous commenter submitted a comment stating that the Federal 
Register notice requesting comments does not state whether people are 
being granted an exemption because the comment period must end before 
the final determination is made.

IV. Basis for Exemption Determination

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 
from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) if the exemption 
is likely to achieve an equivalent or greater level of safety than 
would be achieved without the exemption. The exemption allows the 
applicants to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.
    To evaluate the effect of these exemptions on safety, FMCSA 
considered medical reports about the applicants' ITDM and vision, and 
reviewed the treating endocrinologists' medical opinion related to the 
ability of the driver to safely operate a CMV while using insulin.
    Consequently, FMCSA finds that in each case exempting these 
applicants from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) is 
likely to achieve a level of safety equal to that existing without the 
exemption.

V. Conditions and Requirements

    The terms and conditions of the exemption will be provided to the 
applicants in the exemption document and they include the following: 
(1) That each individual submit a quarterly monitoring checklist 
completed by the treating endocrinologist as well as an annual 
checklist with a comprehensive medical evaluation; (2) that each 
individual reports within 2 business days of occurrence, all episodes 
of severe hypoglycemia, significant complications, or inability to 
manage diabetes; also, any involvement in an accident or any other 
adverse event in a CMV or personal vehicle, whether or not it is 
related to an episode of hypoglycemia; (3) that each individual provide 
a copy of the ophthalmologist's or optometrist's report to the medical 
examiner at the time of the annual medical examination; and (4) that 
each individual provide a copy of the annual medical certification to 
the employer for retention in the driver's qualification file, or keep 
a copy in his/her driver's qualification file if he/she is self-
employed. The driver must also have a copy of the certification when 
driving, for presentation to a duly authorized Federal, State, or local 
enforcement official.

VI. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 69 exemption applications, FMCSA 
exempts the following drivers from the diabetes requirement in 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(10), subject to the requirements cited above 949 CFR 
391.64(b)):


[[Page 19734]]


Bryan L. Anderson (WA), Travis K. Archer (ME), Michael R. Batham (CA), 
Victor M. Beltran-Araujo (ID), Charles A. Best (OH), Cassandra J. 
Braford (MN), Mark E. Buchholz (SD), Richard E. Buthy (NJ), George E. 
Carle (CO), Jamey S. Carney (IA), Bryan D. Carpenter (NC), Michael G. 
Cary (MN), John G. Castilaw (MS), Dominick Cicala (NJ), Scott E. 
Clevelan (KY), Adam C. Cochran (GA), Michael R. Cummings (VA), David L. 
Dalheim (NY), Brian Dick (MD), Timothy B. Duelke (ID), Cory A. Duncan 
(OR), Terrence J. Dunne (NJ), David L. Eklund (IL), Yoshitsugu Endo 
(NY), Barry K. Foster (TX), Robert Fugate (OH), John A. Georg (IA), 
Francis J. Gernatt, Jr. (NY), Mark A. Haines (WV), Ivan G. Hanford 
(OR), James L. Harman, III (VA), James R. Hoyle (TX), George E. Huften 
(CT), John M. Ippolito (NY), Allan L. Jameson (NE), Erik D. Kemmer 
(MN), Mark L. Knobel, Sr. (MD), Joseph E. Knox, Sr., Erik M. Lane (NY), 
Jacob C. Liebl (ND), Galen H. Martin (PA), James D. Martin (IN), John 
M. McCabe (IL), Kevin F. McGlade (PA), Brett J. Mellor (ID), Kenneth M. 
Merritt (CA), Douglas D. Milligan (WA), Charles E. Morgan (LA), Richard 
D. Neal (TN), Gary Anthony Alfred H. Nelson (FL), Robert E. Perdue 
(WA), Christie M. Rose (TX), John E. Sautkulis (NY), Kevin D. 
Schlichting (PA), Ronnie L. Schronce (NC), Richard A. Sharpe (MN), 
William F. Smith (DE), Richard W. Stultz (IN), Robin W. Swasey (UT), 
Michelle P. Thibeault (ME), Michael L. Thrasher (AL), Melinda K. Topel 
(MO), Steven R. Vance (TX), William D. VanReese (MN), Ellis J. Vest, 
Jr. (WV), Herbert E. Wachtel (MN), Kendall G. Webster (OR), Christopher 
J. Wilson (PA), Mark P. Zimmerman (NV).

    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315 each exemption is 
valid for two years unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. The exemption will 
be revoked if the following occurs: (1) The person fails to comply with 
the terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the exemption has 
resulted in a lower level of safety than was maintained before it was 
granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not be consistent 
with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315. If the 
exemption is still effective at the end of the 2-year period, the 
person may apply to FMCSA for a renewal under procedures in effect at 
that time.

    Issued on: April 3, 2015.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-08413 Filed 4-10-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P