Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
24 October 2018

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 53740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-23226]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2018-0206]


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 decision to deny applications from seven 
individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) prohibiting persons with insulin-treated 
diabetes mellitus (ITDM) from operating a commercial motor vehicle 
(CMV) in interstate commerce.

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 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
ET, 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. Public Participation

A. Viewing Documents and Comments

    To view comments, as well as any documents mentioned in this notice 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Insert the docket number, FMCSA-2018-0206, in the keyword box, and 
click ``Search.'' Next, click the ``Open Docket Folder'' button and 
choose the document to review. If you do not have access to the 
internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket 
Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the DOT West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

B. 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 www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

II. Background

    FMCSA received applications from seven individuals who requested an 
exemption from the FMCSRs prohibiting persons with ITDM from operating 
a CMV in interstate commerce.
    FMCSA has evaluated the eligibility of these applicants and 
concluded that granting these exemptions would not provide a level of 
safety that would be equivalent to or greater than, the level of safety 
that would be obtained by complying with the regulation 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3).

III. Basis for Exemption Determination

    Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315, FMCSA may grant an exemption 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 Agency's decision regarding these exemption applications is 
based on the eligibility criteria, the terms and conditions for Federal 
exemptions, and an individualized assessment of each applicant's 
medical information provided by the applicant.

IV. Conclusion

    The Agency has determined that these applicants do not satisfy the 
criteria eligibility or meet the terms and conditions of the Federal 
exemption and granting these exemptions would not provide a level of 
safety that would be equivalent to or greater than, the level of safety 
that would be obtained by complying with the regulation 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3). Therefore, the seven applicants in this notice have been 
denied exemptions from the physical qualification standards in 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3).
    Each applicant has, prior to this notice, received a letter of 
final disposition regarding his/her exemption request. Those decision 
letters fully outlined the basis for the denial and constitutes final 
action by the Agency. 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 four applicants met the diabetes requirements of 49 
CFR 391.41(b)(3) and do not need an exemption:

Randal B. Bivin (TX)
Joel D. Dillahunty (TX)
Donald D. Gueiss (NC)
Kurt A. Taranto (NY)

    The following two applicants had other medical conditions making 
the applicant otherwise unqualified under the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations Norman C. Hutchinson, (IA); Curtis D. Lansdell, 
(AR).
    The following applicant, David L. Fisher (PA), did not have 
endocrinologists willing to make statements that he is able to operate 
CMVs from a diabetes standpoint.

     Issued on: October 15, 2018.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-23226 Filed 10-23-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P