Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 8, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13042-13043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04528]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2011-0382; FMCSA-2011-0383; FMCSA-2013-0194; FMCSA-
2014-0012; FMCSA-2014-0013]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

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

ACTION: Notice of final disposition.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its decision to renew exemptions of 47 
individuals from its prohibition in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations (FMCSRs) against persons with insulin-treated diabetes 
mellitus (ITDM) from operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in 
interstate commerce. The exemptions enable these individuals with ITDM 
to continue to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

DATES: Each group of renewed exemptions was effective on the dates 
stated in the discussions below and will expire on the dates stated in 
the discussions below.

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 W64-224, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. If you have 
questions regarding viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
contact Docket Services, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Electronic Access

    You may see all the comments online through the Federal Document 
Management System (FDMS) at: http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov and/or Room W12-140 on the 
ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its rulemaking process. DOT 
posts these comments, without edit, including any personal information 
the commenter provides, to http://www.regulations.gov, as described in 
the system of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed 
at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    On November 25, 2016, FMCSA published a notice announcing its 
decision to renew exemptions for 47 individuals from the insulin-
treated diabetes mellitus prohibition in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) to operate 
a CMV in interstate commerce and requested comments from the public (81 
FR 85317). The public comment period ended on December 27, 2016, and no 
comments were received.
    As stated in the previous notice, FMCSA has evaluated the 
eligibility of these applicants and determined that renewing these 
exemptions would achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater 
than the level that would be achieved by complying with the current 
regulation 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding diabetes 
found in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3) states that a person is physically 
qualified to drive a CMV if that person has no established medical 
history or clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus currently requiring 
insulin for control.

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received no comments in this preceding.

IV. Conclusion

    Based upon its evaluation of the 47 renewal exemption applications 
and that no comments were received, FMCSA confirms its' decision to 
exempt the following drivers from the rule prohibiting drivers with 
ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(3):
    As of April 1, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 24 individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (79 FR 6987; 79 FR 
18388):

Dana A. Albert (NY)
John R. Benshoff (OH)
George A. Blanda (NY)
Terrence K. Cannon (IL)
Trisha J. Davis (ME)
Paul D. Ferris (NY)
Larry Gaskill (RI)
Thomas H. Gaskins (NC)
Gary A. Grant (WA)
Brian C. Halcomb (IL)
Gerald Lee (CA)
Timothy R. Lewis (OR)
Gregory J. Littlefield (MN)
Glen H. Miller (MI)
Ryan M. Ottis (ND)
Steven M. Parsons (WV)
William L. Reece (ND)
Jay R. Rude (AZ)
Denise D. Ruffin (MS)
Ryan E. Stretch (MO)
William F. Sullivan, IV (NY)
John R. Thompson (WI)
Everette L. Twyman (MO)
John F. Whitesides (NC)

    The drivers were included in Docket No. FMCSA-2013-0194. Their 
exemptions are effective as of April 1, 2016, and will expire on April 
1, 2018.
    As of April 6, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the

[[Page 13043]]

following 10 individuals, have satisfied the renewal conditions for 
obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from 
driving CMVs in interstate commerce (77 FR 10612; 77 FR 20874):

Rick J. Birdsall (NE)
Steven L. Drake (CA)
Benjamin J. Duea (MN)
Steven E. Greer (MN)
Jonathan E. Hunsaker (OR)
William D. Larsen (SD)
Lee A. Richardson (NC)
William W. Simmons (FL)
Ronald O. Snyder (OH)
Douglas J. Wood (NY)

    The drivers were included in Docket No. FMCSA-2011-0382. Their 
exemptions are effective as of April 6, 2016, and will expire on April 
6, 2018.
    As of April 15, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, Maximo E. Gaytan (CO) has satisfied the renewal conditions for 
obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers with ITDM from 
driving CMVs in interstate commerce (79 FR 14579; 79 FR 28590):
    This driver was included in Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0013. The 
exemption is effective as of April 15, 2016, and will expire on April 
15, 2018.
    As of April 27, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 10 individuals, have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (77 FR 13686; 77 FR 
25227):

Alvin Acevedo (NJ)
Bobby D. Bennett (GA)
Mark S. Clemence (KS)
Elwood F. Gorom (WA)
Mike W. Holland (IL)
Dan M. McAllister (WI)
Paul F. Rivers (MN)
Marcus V. Romo (ID)
Wayne L. Snyder (OH)
Justin K. Zimmerschied (KS)

    The drivers were included in Docket No. FMCSA-2011-0383. Their 
exemptions are effective as of April 27, 2016, and will expire on April 
27, 2018.
    As of April 30, 2016, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 
31315, the following 2 individuals, have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the rule prohibiting drivers 
with ITDM from driving CMVs in interstate commerce (79 FR 10612; 79 FR 
14579; 79 FR 28590; 79 FR 27685):

Charles L. Bryant (PA)
Christopher P. Martin (NH)

    The drivers were included in Docket Nos. FMCSA-2014-0012; FMCSA-
2014-0013. Their exemptions are effective as of April 30, 2016, and 
will expire on April 30, 2018.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315, each exemption will be valid 
for two years from the effective date unless revoked earlier by FMCSA. 
The exemption will be revoked if the following occurs: (1) the person 
fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the exemption; (2) the 
exemption has resulted in a lower level of safety than was maintained 
prior to being granted; or (3) continuation of the exemption would not 
be consistent with the goals and objectives of 49 U.S.C. 31136 and 
31315.

    Issued on: February 28, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-04528 Filed 3-7-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P