Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
25 April 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24170-24171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09529]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0026]


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 137 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: Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical 
Programs Division, (202) 366-4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov, FMCSA, 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Room W64-113, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., 
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 137 individual exemption requests on 
their

[[Page 24171]]

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 4 applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience over the past 3 years under normal highway operating 
conditions: Bradlee J. Durham, Nolan B. Dykema, Jerry M. Elsberry, Jr., 
James A. Pugh.
    The following 23 applicants had no experience operating a CMV: 
Jeret D. Akers, Jose G. Alvarez, Cristian D. Berlingeri, Larry G. 
Buchanan, Enedino A. Burgos, Michael E. Carter, Shernard Cook, Benjamin 
J. Curtis, Larry L. Davis, Jr., Jesse J. DeRico, Brent I. Gruszka, 
Andrei I. Gusakov, Damian Klyza, Miriam Laing, Patrick N. Lancaster, 
Daniel F. Large, Curtis G. Myrah, Omar Orozco, Moises A. Portillo, 
Samuel C. Rodriguez, Mark J. Smithson, William B. Stiles, Sr., Michael 
H. Taylor.
    The following 22 applicants did not have 3 years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies: Osman 
M. Adanalic, Christopher L. Bolding, William H. Conley, Fernando 
Cuevas, Fred L. Curtis, Kurt D. Davis, Adriano De Vargas, Alex J. 
Demaree, Dennis C. Durstine, Howard G. Edgar, Hamid Ferdowsi, Eric S. 
Hill, Wayde J. Isbell, Lloyd H. Kiihn, Earl B. Moffatt, Bryan S. Moses, 
Ronald R. Regier, John A. Ruggiero, Timothy P. Ryan, Charles E. 
Schrecengost, Barney R. Stephens, Larry L. Stewart.
    The following 16 applicants did not have 3 years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency: John F. Armstrong, 
Gerald L. Barber, Daniel J. Council, Helmut Danecker, Anthony R. 
Dirjan, David N. Groves, Antonio A. Jackson, Herman R. Lee, Jr., Robert 
C. Mason, Wayne C. Merry, Sherard L. Orange, Daniel D. Sandoval, Edward 
V. Skowronski, Colby T. Smith, Kenneth L. Sutphin, Bryan H. Walker.
    The following 12 applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience during the past 3 years under normal highway operating 
conditions: Joshua L. Arnold, Kevin D. Duffy, Thomas M. Hallwig, 
Gabriel L. Harrison, Richard K. Hemmingsen, Gerardo Hernandez, Raul T. 
Leiva, Nathan M. Magaard, Mark Paugh, Gregory M. Quilling, Chad M. 
Smith, Jeffrey L. Tanner.
    The following 2 applicants had their commercial driver's licenses 
suspended during the previous 3-year period: Michael J. Achille, 
Tydrick D. Brooks.
    The following 3 applicants contributed to an accident(s) while 
operating a CMV: Thomas R. Abbott, Timothy L. Bauman, Randy J. Miller.
    The following applicant, Thomas D. Jacobsen, did not hold a license 
which allowed operation of vehicles over 26,000 lbs. for all or part of 
the previous 3-year period.
    The following applicant, Toby L. Simmons, did not have an 
optometrist or ophthalmologist willing to make a statement that they 
are able to operate a commercial vehicle from a vision standpoint.
    The following 9 applicants were denied for multiple reasons: Joseph 
D. Allen, Dennis M. Coley, Timothy W. Detweiler, Hector O. Flores, 
Jonathan M. Gilligan, David P. Mello, Edward R. Slater, Hawthorne B. 
Smith, Thomas D. Walsh.
    The following applicant, Christopher D. Boyd, did not have stable 
vision for the entire 3-year period.
    The following 13 applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision: Hani Abiyounes, Kendall K. Chandler, 
Chad A. Curtis, Shorty Ellis, Karl D. Graves, Carl Groves, Alexander J. 
Hartelust, Lark M. Hartsock, James E. Jordon, Dorvin R. Neuberger, 
Peter J. Niedzwiecki, Raimer A. Paredes-Escano, Timothy T. Tyree.
    The following 3 applicants drove interstate while restricted to 
intrastate: Adrienne J. Allen, James L. Jones, Troy A. Stephens.
    The following 19 applicants will not be driving interstate, 
interstate commerce, or are not required to carry a DOT medical card: 
Gary W. Brockway, Fredrick Brown, Richard C. Brust, Joseph L. Cohea, 
Robert L. Damron, James E. Donaldson, Richard Duran, Freddie M. 
Henderson, Brian D. Hoover, Ron E. Hullett, Walter J. Jurczak, Keith 
Kebschull, Charles J. Kruggel, Lois J. Mahar, Dustin M. Mills, Wilbur 
Robinson, Jr., Robert G. Schoenborn, Phillip J. Will, James L. Yingst.
    Finally, the following 8 applicants perform transportation for the 
federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state. 
Randy L. Coney, Rodriquez D. Evans, Jose A. Flores, Ira D. Manuelito, 
Steven C. Myers, Leif H. Stensrud, Joshua E. Weicht, Aaron E. Zelmer.

    Issued on: April 18, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-09529 Filed 4-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P