Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
June 10, 2015

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33008-33009]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14173]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2015-0051]


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 60 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: Charles A. Horan, III, Director, 
Carrier, Driver and Vehicle Safety Standards, (202) 366-4001, 
fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, Department of Transportation, 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

[[Page 33009]]

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 60 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 nine applicants had no experience operating a CMV:

Erica K. Boggs
Leslie L. Dana
George S. Ginder
Destin R. Huerd
Edison Joe
Miles K. Manross
Paul R. Oja
Brandon C. Shepard
Dontrell D. Williams
    The following nine applicants did not have three years of 
experience driving a CMV on public highways with their vision 
deficiencies:

Osman M. Adanalic
William R. Bissell
David A. Crawford
Michael J. Floyd
Carlson Koyukuk
Abel D. Ordonez
Richard A. Paplow
Stephen J. Smith
Arlyn E. Witker
    The following four applicants did not have three years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:

Carl Jones III
Jim Pace
Jeffrey G. Sherrill
Veronica N. Washington
    The following two applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience during the past three years under normal highway operating 
conditions:

William L. Bowers
Bridget Johnson
    The following applicant, Richard Anthony, had his CDL suspended in 
relation to a moving violation during the three-year period. Applicants 
do not qualify for an exemption with a suspension during the three-year 
period.
    The following five 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:

Cesar A. Guridy, Jr.
Arthur L. Mabb
Winston Merrick
Barnett K. Moss, Sr.
Donald J. Wilson
    The following applicant, Larry Defrain, did not have stable vision 
for the entire three-year period.
    The following two applicants did not meet the vision standard in 
their better eye:

Leonard Hixon
Ryan R. Kepford
    The following nine applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision:

John A. Ashworth
Ronaldo A. M. Curva
Robert L. Downs
Harry J. Glynn
Julian Gonzales
Linda Jones-Hawkins
Frederik J. Koning
Pedro Torres
Robert M. Walls
    The following 15 applicants were denied because they will not be 
driving interstate, interstate commerce, or are not required to carry a 
DOT medical card:

Everardo G. Cantu
Gale D. Funke
Jeffrey W. Graham
Dillon L. Hendren
Noel C. Hill
Edgar I. IzquierdoGarcia
Robert Jasniewicz
Eric J. Johnson
Marion D. Kellstadt
Jeffrey E. Leisenring, Sr.
Leonard B. Mulkey
Michael K. Preslar
Vernon D. Roberts
Barbara H. Smith
Kyle O. Wrisley
    Finally, the following three applicants perform transportation for 
the federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the 
state.

Robert L. Bick
James L. Lockwood
Fredrick D. McCaskill

    Issued on: May 29, 2015.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.

[FR Doc. 2015-14173 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P