Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
22 June 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40745-40746]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14753]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0038]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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

ACTION: Notice of denials.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its denial of 78 applications from individuals 
who requested an exemption from the Federal diabetes standard 
applicable to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the 
denials. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the 
diabetes 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 diabetes 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 78 individual exemption requests on 
their merits 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, Robert A. Pettella, withdrew his 
application from the application process.
    The following 12 applicants met the diabetes requirements of 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3) and do not need an exemption:

Reuben T. Askew
Steven E. Eastburn
Quinzell Faison
James Griffin
Bayram A. Kabakci
John C. Lasbury
James M. Moore
Saul N. Morales
Jaime S. Ortiz
Curtis W. Stanley
Eric A. Williams
Allen T. Wooten

    The following 21 applicants were not operating CMVs in interstate 
commerce:

Felipe H. Abrego
Michael D. Adamson
Daniel J. Arena, Jr.
David R. Brooks, Jr.
Roger L. Harper
Gary T. Hedrick
Raymond Honaker
Shaun F. Hutchinson
Sondra R. Jones
Kevin M. Kurpiewski
Randy Lamb
James P. Moran
Jesse L. Mumford
Jason M. Palermo
John J. Raley II
Leonard F. Robinson
Donald G. Ross, Jr.
Tracy A. Rowland
Rachelle M. Seaver
Robert Taylor
Robert Webb

    The following 3 applicants had renal insufficiency:

Harold J. Bowen, Jr.
Robert A. Rye
John J. Steele

    The following 7 applicants had more than one hypoglycemic episode 
requiring hospitalization or the assistance of others, or had one such 
episode but not had one year of stability following the episode:

Timothy W. Adams
Robert A. Beaty
Andrew S. Crawford
Jesse J.D. Graber
Ryan B. Silva
Jimmy R. Toton
Deborah C. Williams

    The following 9 applicants had other medical conditions making the 
applicant otherwise unqualified under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations:

Nader M. Abdelrahman
Richard G. Baker
Patrick L. Beasley
John T. Brecken
Robert E. Davis
Marlin L. Gabbard
Marvin D. Mitchell
David W. Presby
Darrel J. Shafer

    The following applicant, Tina M.M. Kent, was unable to have an 
endocrinologist state the applicant is able to operate a CMV from a 
diabetes standpoint.
    The following applicant, Henry G.E. Martinez, currently resides in 
Puerto Rico. He is not eligible because a Federal exemption is for 
drivers operating only in the United States.
    The following 3 applicants did not meet the minimum age criteria 
outlined in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(1) which states that an individual must be 
at least 21 years old to operate a CMV in interstate commerce:

Ervin L. Fulton, Jr.
Henry G. McGinnis
Samuel J. Opatz

    The following 19 applicants were excepted from the diabetes 
standard based on 49 CFR390.3(f):

Brian K. Aldrich
Christopher A. Ball
John A. Bowman
Wilbert A. Cummings, Jr.
Larry W. Davlin
Theodore J. Hargraves
Erick B. Hobson
Stanley Holiday, Jr.
Mark J. Huselstein
Wesley T. Johnson

[[Page 40746]]

Robert R. Martinez
Robert S. Mendoza
Arbra M. Patton
Vincent Randle
Robert J. Stepien
Franklin T. Sult
Calvin R. Williams
Melissa F. Williams
Ronald D. Williams

    Issued on: June 13, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-14753 Filed 6-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P