Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
7 March 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12898-12899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04388]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2016-0384]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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

ACTION: Notice of denials.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its denial of 74 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: Ms. 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 74 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 7 applicants met the diabetes requirements of 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3) and do not need an exemption:

James D. Bohanan (TN)
Dean A. Dahlheimer (MN)
James A.E. Harris (PA)
Clifford D. Humphrey (NJ)
Gary L. Knox (MN)
Brian T. McGill (UT)
John C. McGrath (WI)

    The following 33 applicants were not operating CMVs in interstate 
commerce:

Epifano M. Alonzo (TX)
Henry W. Beeler (VA)
David Boutwell (NH)
Gary D. Buzzard (OK)
William J. Couch (GA)
Gladys N. Crespo (CT)
Russell L. Fortna (CO)
Glenda L. Haines (IN)
Nan W. Hendley (TX)
Phillip L. Kidney (CT)
Socrates Landestoy (NJ)
Kevin R. Loder (NJ)
Thomas W. McNeil (KY)
Rafael Mendez (CT)
Pamela J. Meziere (MS)
Edward V. Mixdorf (WI)
William C. Moore (GA)
Derek G. Norde (MO)
Alejandro Palacios (FL)
David A. Panza (OH)
Sonel Pierre-Louis (FL)
Robert B. Riley (NC)
Niguel A. Salinas (TX)
Warren A. Smith (NJ)
Donald S. Staiger (NJ)
Ernest P. Stengel (CT)
Vicki L. Stone (HI)
Zachary L.D. Tennant (WV)
Danny Thomas (PA)
Carlos F. Webb (VA)
Shane D. Weber (LA)
Charles L. Willingham (AZ)
Edward B. Wilson (VA)

    The following 8 applicants have had more than one hypoglycemic 
episode requiring hospitalization or the assistance of others, or has 
had one such episode but has not had one year of stability following 
the episode:

Weston Arnick (MD)
Ryan L. Cox (NY)
Patricia A. Koch (AR)
Clarissa M. Olson (MO)
Silvio N. Pantaleon (NY)
Clinton W. Reynolds (VA)
Kevin G. Snyder (IN)
Hans J. Woelk (WA)

    The following 3 applicants had other medical conditions making the 
applicant otherwise unqualified under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations:

James V. Maiorana (NY)
Robert A. Shamberger (NC)
Kenny L. White (OR)

    The following applicant, Ray S. Justus (PA), did not have an 
endocrinologist willing to make a statement that he is able to operate 
a CMV from a diabetes standpoint.
    The following 2 applicants are unable or have not demonstrated with 
willingness to properly monitor and manage his or her diabetes, whether 
by a personal decision or medical inability:

Gerald W. Fitch (OH)
Tyler T. Turner (TN)

    The following 2 applicants currently reside in Canada. They are not 
eligible because the Federal exemption is for drivers operating only in 
the United States:

Tony J. Basaraba (SK)
Jerzy R. Rudowski (BC)

    The following applicant, Dale W. Perkins (MO), has peripheral 
neuropathy or circulatory insufficiency

[[Page 12899]]

of the extremities likely to interfere with his ability to operate a 
CMV.
    The following 5 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:

Alex J. Erickson (ND)
Michael T. Fitzpatrick (MA)
Bradley R. Knudson (ND)
Grant A. Mason (WA)
Zachary Vanrossum (WI)

    The following 12 applicants were exempt from the diabetes standard:

Antonio Ballo (NY)
Davarus L. Bouknight (SC)
John V. Buehler (CT)
Alfred E. Canfield (OK)
Burl E. Cox (KY)
Mitchell F. Durkan (CO)
Thomas E. Fooshee (AZ)
Steven J. Hamilton (CO)
Sarah M. Harrison (PA)
Rupert N. Isaac (PA)
Larry D. Lambert (TX)
Yesimar P. Lozada (IA)

     Issued on: February 27, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-04388 Filed 3-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P