Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
1 August 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 147 (Monday, August 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50596-50597]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18138]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0032]


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 160 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 160 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 2 applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience over the past 3 years under normal highway operating 
conditions:

Gregory M. Anderson
David Holguin

    The following 52 applicants had no experience operating a CMV:

Dakota G. Abbott
Mohamed A. Barre
William J. Baughman
Drew R. Benton
Michael W. Brown
Ronald G. Burr
Luis A. Cortez
Michael A. DiBiase
Ronnie D. Dingal
Anthony D. Everett
Paul D. Ewey
Abraham Filmalter
Danny S. Flemister
Selese A. Fort
Buddy L. Gibson
Trevor Hall
Richard M. Haugen
Jason S. Hooker
William D. Hulsey II
Daniel M. Jackson
Samuel L. Kirkpatrick
Brian J. LaBarge
Justin T. Lewis
Samantha J. Linberg
Cedrick A. Martin
Aqif Matraku
Aaron A. McBride
Zachary J. Menchaca
Richard W. Merritt
Michael J. Miller
David R. Mitchell
Huon Morris
Lanee T. Morton
Rose M. Neely
Douglas Patton
Tina M. Petkovsek
Brian J. Poe
Derek D. Pratt
Michael S. Pressley
Lawrence K. Proctor
Alexander Pulido
Josue M. Rodriguez-Espinoza
Michael C. Shelp
Jerek Smith
Rashania M. Smith
James E. Soderquist
Kody L. Sullivan
Seifu A. Tilahun
Jovan C. Vega
Patricia A. Williams
Kimberly S. Wilson
Owen W. Witmer

    The following 27 applicants did not have 3 years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies:

Guy L. Banks
Gary W. Brockway
Carlos D. M. Catillo
Tsz Fung Chiu
Eugene J. Corson
Terry D. Eberly
Juan J. Giron
Timothy F. Giza
Crescencio Gonzalez
Tasuli Gramosli
James W. Gray
Gregory L. Grover
Bobby M. James
Robert F. LaMark
Kevin A. Milam
Bryan S. Moses
Manuel Narvaez, Jr.
Kenneth Newswanger
Aaron B. Reke
Kenneth W. Seifert
Charles S. Shaffblower, Jr.
Michael Sierra
Roderick R. Sonnier
Ramon E. Tijerino
Alan L. Viessman
James D. Watters
Kenneth E. Wheland

    The following 14 applicants did not have 3 years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:

Paul C. Alves
Christopher L. Ambers
John W. Black III
Benny W. Bledsoe
Michael C. Boyne
Philip L. Bradford
Jesus Cerros Palos
Richard B. Davis
Zack Fowler
James E. Frederick III
Daniel G. Y. Haile
Dustin M. Mills

[[Page 50597]]

Juan A. Ortiz
Gary W. Stevenson

    The following 13 applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience during the past 3 years under normal highway operating 
conditions:

Caleb E. Boulware
Timothy D. Ferrell
Travis A. Francis
Nicholas D. Hansen
Gabriel L. Harrison
Jeffrey A. Jensrud
Ruslan Kochiyev
Edwin Martinez
William Perez
Daniel C. Sagert
Roger T. Simmons
Joseph L. Smith
Michael K. Soost

    The following 2 applicants were charged with moving violations in 
conjunction with a CMV accident:

Theodore N. Belcher
Perry T. Kolberg

    The following applicant, Bruce A. Rost, has other medical 
conditions that make him or her otherwise unqualified.
    The following applicant, Jeremy M. Row, 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:

Kyle D. Baer
Montie H. Cudd
Walter Gomez
Michael J. Howe
Kelly D. Kitchmaster
Stephen J. Pariseau
Henry Riser
Aaron G. Stoltzfoos
Willie Taylor III

    The following applicant, Rufus L. Jones, submitted false 
documentation during the application process.
    The following applicant, Stuart J. Daniell, did not have stable 
vision for the entire 3-year period.
    The following applicant, Robert J. Duncan, is a Canadian citizen.
    The following 7 applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision:

Dustin C. Barber
Dennis L. Bramlett
Madeline C. Duran
Valerian K. Legah
Larry M. Owen
James M. Trezza
Roger K. Wells

    The following 2 applicants were charged with moving violations in 
conjunction with a CMV accident:

William E. Brown
William Serrano

    The following 19 applicants will not be driving interstate, 
interstate commerce, or are not required to carry a DOT medical card:

Samuel B. Batten
Enrico Farro
Mike Fender
Douglas J. Frey
Joseph G. Gilmore
Dennis P. Keenan
Kenneth A. Lamb
Harlan R. Larson
Steven P. Orrell
Guadlupe Reyes
Robert L. Rice
Steven Rigitano
Ryan E. Rutter
Mario R. Scirica
Lloyd E. Shryock
Antonio Soto
John P. Steffens
John R. Wolfe
Roger D. Woodcock

    Finally, the following 8 applicants perform transportation for the 
federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state.

David M. Field
Jason M. Isaman
Anthony Woodruff
Dexter ONeil
Samuel B. Martinez
Kenneth P. Smith
Daniel L. Homan, Dennis M. Varga


     Issued on: July 25, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-18138 Filed 7-29-16; 8:45 am]
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