Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
4 December 2019

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66442-66444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26208]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-5578; FMCSA-1999-5748; FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-
2000-7918; FMCSA-2003-15892; FMCSA-2004-17984; FMCSA-2005-20560; FMCSA-
2005-21711; FMCSA-2007-29019; FMCSA-2008-0021; FMCSA-2009-0086; FMCSA-
2009-0121; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-2009-0206; FMCSA-2010-0161; FMCSA-
2011-0057; FMCSA-2011-0124; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2013-0025; FMCSA-
2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2014-0300; FMCSA-2014-0304; FMCSA-
2015-0048; FMCSA-2015-0052; FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-
2016-0377; FMCSA-2017-0017; FMCSA-2017-0020; FMCSA-2017-0022; FMCSA-
2017-0023]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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 for 79 
individuals from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier 
Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) for interstate commercial motor vehicle 
(CMV) drivers. The exemptions enable these individuals to continue to 
operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision 
requirement in one eye.

DATES: Each group of renewed exemptions were applicable on the dates 
stated in the discussions below and will expire on the dates provided 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Christine A. Hydock, Chief, 
Medical Programs Division, (202) 366-4001,

[[Page 66443]]

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 Operations, (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-1999-5578; FMCSA-1999-5748; FMCSA-2000-
7165; FMCSA-2000-7918; FMCSA-2003-15892; FMCSA-2004-17984; FMCSA-2005-
20560; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2007-29019; FMCSA-2008-0021; FMCSA-2009-
0086; FMCSA-2009-0121; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-2009-0206; FMCSA-2010-
0161; FMCSA-2011-0057; FMCSA-2011-0124; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2013-
0025; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-2013-0029; FMCSA-2014-0300; FMCSA-2014-
0304; FMCSA-2015-0048; FMCSA-2015-0052; FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-2015-
0056; FMCSA-2016-0377; FMCSA-2017-0017; FMCSA-2017-0020; FMCSA-2017-
0022; or FMCSA-2017-0023, 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 Operations 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

    On October 2, 2019, FMCSA published a notice announcing its 
decision to renew exemptions for 79 individuals from the vision 
requirement in 49 CFR 391.41(b)(10) to operate a CMV in interstate 
commerce and requested comments from the public (84 FR 52585). The 
public comment period ended on November 1, 2019, and no comments were 
received.
    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 Sec.  391.41(b)(10).
    The physical qualification standard for drivers regarding vision 
found in Sec.  391.41(b)(10) states that a person is physically 
qualified to drive a CMV if that person has distant visual acuity of at 
least 20/40 (Snellen) in each eye without corrective lenses or visual 
acuity separately corrected to 20/40 (Snellen) or better with 
corrective lenses, distant binocular acuity of a least 20/40 (Snellen) 
in both eyes with or without corrective lenses, field of vision of at 
least 70[deg] in the horizontal meridian in each eye, and the ability 
to recognize the colors of traffic signals and devices showing red, 
green, and amber.

III. Discussion of Comments

    FMCSA received no comments in this proceeding.

IV. Conclusion

    Based on its evaluation of the 79 renewal exemption applications 
and comments received, FMCSA confirms its decision to exempt the 
following drivers from the vision requirement in Sec.  391.41(b)(10).
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), the following 
groups of drivers received renewed exemptions in the month of November 
and are discussed below. As of November 3, 2019, and in accordance with 
49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 31315(b), the following 56 individuals have 
satisfied the renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the 
vision requirement in the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (65 FR 
33406; 65 FR 57234; 65 FR 66286; 66 FR 13825; 68 FR 13360; 68 FR 52811; 
68 FR 61860; 69 FR 33997; 69 FR 61292; 70 FR 12265; 70 FR 48797; 70 FR 
61165; 70 FR 61493; 71 FR 62147; 72 FR 11426; 72 FR 27624; 72 FR 54971; 
73 FR 15567; 73 FR 27015; 74 FR 8302; 74 FR 19267; 74 FR 19270; 74 FR 
26461; 74 FR 28094; 74 FR 34630; 74 FR 37295; 74 FR 48343; 74 FR 49069; 
74 FR 53581; 75 FR 19674; 75 FR 39725; 75 FR 61833; 76 FR 12216; 76 FR 
25762; 76 FR 32016; 76 FR 37168; 76 FR 40445; 76 FR 53710; 76 FR 62143; 
76 FR 64171; 77 FR 23797; 77 FR 56262; 78 FR 18667; 78 FR 20376; 78 FR 
24300; 78 FR 24798; 78 FR 32703; 78 FR 34141; 78 FR 34143; 78 FR 46407; 
78 FR 51269; 78 FR 52602; 78 FR 68137; 78 FR 77782; 79 FR 4531; 79 FR 
23797; 79 FR 51642; 80 FR 2473; 80 FR 14223; 80 FR 16500; 80 FR 18693; 
80 FR 25768; 80 FR 26139; 80 FR 26320; 80 FR 29149; 80 FR 31635; 80 FR 
33011; 80 FR 35699; 80 FR 37718; 80 FR 44188; 80 FR 48404; 80 FR 48409; 
80 FR 49302; 80 FR 50917; 80 FR 59225; 80 FR 59230; 80 FR 62161; 81 FR 
1284; 81 FR 71173; 82 FR 13045; 82 FR 18956; 82 FR 20962; 82 FR 32919; 
82 FR 33542; 82 FR 34564; 82 FR 37499; 82 FR 37504; 82 FR 43647; 82 FR 
47296; 82 FR 47309; 82 FR 47312; 83 FR 2289; 83 FR 3861; 83 FR 4537):

Steven B. Anderson (ID)
Gregory W. Babington (MA)
Ronald Bostick (SC)
Brian M. Bowman (TN)
Eric L. Boyle, Jr. (MD)
Steven J. Brauer (NJ)
Robert J. Burns (KY)
Charles C. Chapman (NC)
Roderick Croft (FL)
Jeffrey S. Daniel (VA)
Mark P. Davis (ME)
John J. Davis (SC)
Chris M. DeJong (NM)
Dan J. Feik (IL)
Saul E. Fierro (AZ)
John A. Gartner (MN)
Elias Gomez, Jr. (TX)
Keith N. Hall (UT)
Donald A. Hall (NC)
Walter A. Hanselman (IN)
Robert D. Hattabaugh (AR)
Dustin L. Hawkins (MO)
Dean R. Hawley (NC)
Steven E. Hayes (IN)
Amos S. Hostetter (OH)
James T. Johnson (KY)
Michael A. Kelly (TX)
Mark L. LeBlanc (MN)
David F. LeClerc (MN)
Stephen C. Linardos (FL)
Daniel C. Linares (CA)
Robert E. Mayers (MN)
James G. Miles (TN)
Jeffrey M. Mueller (MO)
Charles W. Mullenix (GA)
Pablo R. Murillo (TX)
Ricky Nickell (OH)
Jesse A. Nosbush (MN)
Lonnie D. Prejean (TX)
Matias P. Quintanilla (CA)
Alonzo K. Rawls (NJ)
Berry A. Rodrigue (LA)
Roger D. Rogers (PA)
Manuel H. Sanchez (TX)
Ricky J. Sanderson (UT)
Brandon L. Siebe (KY)
Gregory C. Simmons (VA)
Efren J. Soliz (NM)
Wayne M. Stein (FL)
John B. Stiltner (KY)
Dale G. Stringer (TX)
James B. Taflinger, Sr. (VA)
James B. Tucker (KY)
Arnulfo J. Valenzuela (TX)

[[Page 66444]]

Danny L. Watson (TN)
William E. Zezulka (MN)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2000-7165; FMCSA-
2000-7918; FMCSA-2003-15892; FMCSA-2004-17984; FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-
2008-0021; FMCSA-2009-0086; FMCSA-2009-0121; FMCSA-2009-0154; FMCSA-
2010-0161; FMCSA-2011-0141; FMCSA-2013-0025; FMCSA-2013-0027; FMCSA-
2013-0029; FMCSA-2014-0300; FMCSA-2014-0304; FMCSA-2015-0048; FMCSA-
2015-0052; FMCSA-2015-0055; FMCSA-2015-0056; FMCSA-2016-0377; FMCSA-
2017-0017; FMCSA-2017-0020; FMCSA-2017-0022; and FMCSA-2017-0023. Their 
exemptions are applicable as of November 3, 2019, and will expire on 
November 3, 2021.
    As of November 6, 2019, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315(b), the following nine individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (70 FR 17504; 70 FR 30997; 70 FR 
48797; 70 FR 61493; 72 FR 40362; 72 FR 54971; 74 FR 34394; 74 FR 43217; 
74 FR 49069; 74 FR 57551; 76 FR 18824; 76 FR 29024; 76 FR 34136; 76 FR 
54530; 76 FR 55463; 76 FR 66123; 78 FR 77782; 79 FR 24298; 80 FR 63869; 
83 FR 3861):

James J. Doan (PA)
James E. Fix (SC)
James P. Greene (NY)
Steven R. Lechtenberg (NE)
Joseph L. Mast (OR)
Jesse R. McClary, Sr. (MO)
Halman Smith (DE)
Jerry W. Stanfill (AR)
Scott C. Teich (MN)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2005-20560; 
FMCSA-2005-21711; FMCSA-2009-0206; FMCSA-2011-0057; and FMCSA-2011-
0124. Their exemptions are applicable as of November 6, 2019, and will 
expire on November 6, 2021.
    As of November 28, 2019, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315(b), the following eight individuals have satisfied the 
renewal conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision 
requirement in the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (69 FR 33997; 69 
FR 61292; 70 FR 48797; 70 FR 61493; 71 FR 55820; 72 FR 54971; 72 FR 
58362; 72 FR 67344; 73 FR 65009; 74 FR 49069; 74 FR 57553; 76 FR 4413; 
76 FR 70212; 80 FR 63869; 83 FR 3861):

Robert W. Bequeaith (IA)
Clarence N. Florey, Jr. (PA)
Loren H. Geiken (SD)
Michael A. Hershberger (OH)
Patrick J. Hogan, Jr. (DE)
Amilton T. Monteiro (MA)
David G. Oakley (SC)
Brent L. Seaux (LA)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2004-17984; 
FMCSA-2005-21711; and FMCSA-2007-29019. Their exemptions are applicable 
as of November 28, 2019, and will expire on November 28, 2021.
    As of November 30, 2019, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) 
and 31315(b), the following six individuals have satisfied the renewal 
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in 
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (64 FR 27027; 64 FR 40404; 64 FR 
51568; 64 FR 66962; 66 FR 63289; 68 FR 64944; 70 FR 67776; 72 FR 64273; 
74 FR 62632; 76 FR 70215; 78 FR 64280; 80 FR 63869; 83 FR 3861):

Terry J. Aldridge (MS)
Jerry D. Bridges (TX)
Gary R. Gutschow (WI)
James J. Hewitt (WI)
Thomas E. Walsh (CA)
Kevin P. Weinhold (MA)

    The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-5578; and 
FMCSA-1999-5748. Their exemptions are applicable as of November 30, 
2019, and will expire on November 30, 2021.
    In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31315(b), each exemption will be valid 
for 2 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(e) and 
31315(b).

    Issued on: November 26, 2019.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-26208 Filed 12-3-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P