Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
January 14, 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1986-1987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00657]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2015-0346]


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 100 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 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 100 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 14 applicants had no experience operating a CMV:

Charles A. Bell
William R. J. Brown
Reginald Davis, Jr.
Ian S. Gunning
Lionel J. Kelley Jr.
Nina Y. Lenthe
Armando Moronez, Jr.
Daryl S. Payton
Michael Picklesimer
Andre A. Taft
Mark O. Teeter
Caitlin Teves
William D. Wright
Laura L. Zomlot

    The following 24 applicants did not have 3 years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies:


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Shawn T. Cobbs
Glen D. Crawford
David Dibb
Armando Duval Sr.
Jamie A. Edson
Roger Ferry
Robert C. Findley
Jose A. Flores
Karl D. Graves
William A. Lamkie
Runger H. Langston
Bradley W. Lovelace
Tyrone Marrs
Edmund R. Morrison, IV
Alan L. Ofstad
John N. Pozworski
Stanley Reed
Tyrone M. Reese
Phillip A. Reilly
Walter A. Robidoux
Rodger L. Shaver
Monty W. Torrance
Scott A. Van Zandt
Neil D. Wangsness

    The following 10 applicants did not have three years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:

Jason L. Cash
Stanley L. Gordon
John A. Gwinn
Terry L. Haggerty
Ryan A. Hale
Trish A. Melvin
Michele L. Mickelson
Daniel G. Vaughan
Ornando K. Welsey
Leonard F. Wood

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

Michael E. Jones
Robert C. Lemke
Eric R. Padgett

    The following applicant, Mark L. Julin, was charged with a moving 
violation(s) in conjunction with a CMV accident(s).
    The following applicant, Randall K. Robertson, does not have 
sufficient peripheral vision in the better eye to qualify for an 
exemption.
    The following 6 applicants had their commercial driver's licenses 
suspended during the previous 3-year period:

Charles E. Calhoun
Darrin G. Coffee
Jason Lennon
Mark Matthews
Christopher W. Moore
Carlton Yuille

    The following applicant, Kenton D. McCullough, contributed to an 
accident(s) while operating a CMV.
    The following 11 applicants were denied for multiple reasons:

Keith J. Berger
Matthew R. Carricaburu
Bill Castillo
Randal A. Ferguson
Scott A. Hambleton
Melvin Nelson
Luis R. Olivas
Benajmin M. Pirner
Russell T. Snorek
Blake E. Spires
Gerard R. Talbot

    The following 2 applicants did not have stable vision for the 
entire three-year period:

Trent C. McCain
William D. Wallace

    The following applicant, Jakob Dueck, is a Canadian citizen.
    The following 2 applicants do not meet the vision standard in the 
better eye:

Michael S. Watson
WM C. White, Jr.

    The following 8 applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision:

Paul Blanford
Joel C. Conrad
Dillon R. Dupont
Christopher S. Fant
Michael J. Hinkle
Byron C. Pratt
John E. Reiter
Jerry L. Vandervegt

    The following 14 applicants were denied because they will not be 
driving interstate, interstate commerce, or are not required to carry a 
DOT medical card:

Gary Bridgewater, Jr.
Robert W. Dunn
Lawrence S. Frick
William D. Hauser
Jesus Hernandez, Jr.
Steven E. Herrick
Gina M. Kiser
Travis McCoy
Roy R. Owens
William D. Robinson
Luis Romero
Jonathan A. Slatten
Raymond Stonaker
Tammy S. Whitford

    Finally, the following 2 applicants perform transportation for the 
federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state.

Scott A. Lamb
Richard M. Marti

    Issued on: January 6, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-00657 Filed 1-13-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P