Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Diabetes

Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
27 July 2017

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35032-35033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15843]



[[Page 35032]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2017-0040]


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 denial of 111 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 two 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 111 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 17 applicants met the diabetes requirements of 49 CFR 
391.41(b)(3) and do not need an exemption:

Javier V. Alonso (CA)
Gerald G. Blacklock (PA)
Nakoo S. Bridgemohan (NY)
Ruben Camacho Nunez (WA)
Norman P. Day, Jr. (NE)
James F. Deig (TX)
Mehmed Dogdic (GA)
Charles P. Doss (AL)
Antonio Hernandez-Mejia (NJ)
Anthony Juarez (NM)
John D. Ladik (PA)
Rickey A. Mills (IA)
Richard W. Shawley (PA)
Randall D. Shiflett (WV)
Hector R. Taveras (NJ)
Javier Vasquez (CA)
James W. Wickham (WA)

    The following 43 applicants were not operating CMVs in interstate 
commerce:

Vincete N. Beltran (CA)
John J. Blankenship (IL)
James W. Brennan (CT)
John C. Bushendorf (WI)
Christopher A. Carmel (WA)
Mark A. Crossley (PA)
Roy S. Decker (KY)
Jeffrey Dockhorn (NJ)
Danny Estrella (NY)
Robert J. Fabbro (MN)
Nicholas A. Fenty (NC)
Eusebio J. Fernandez-Caba (NJ)
Jeffrey D. Firme (CO)
Javier G. Gonzales (CO)
Gregory F. Gradisek (OH)
Jennifer L. Groth (CO)
Matthew S. Helm (PA)
Justin R. Hetherington (MN)
Bryant C. Kongsted (MD)
Joseph V. Kozak (NJ)
Randall A. Mercer (MA)
Alice J. Mitchell (LA)
Pablo G. Montez (TX)
Bruno Morelli (PA)
Thomas L. Nichols (WA)
Terry Nihart (PA)
Gil J. Pablo (CA)
Manuel Perales-Ferretiz (GA)
Berkley Pridgen (NC)
Jose N. Ramirez (TX)
Tommy R. Reeves (AR)
Henry A. Reyenga (CA)
David M. Sheeran (NY)
Linda Smith (WA)
Leonard A.G. Stary (KS)
Gary S. Stasiowski (MA)
Jordan A. Teets (PA)
Steven A. Travers (MA)
Bobby T. Trussell (MO)
Charles T. Watts (TN)
William J. Weber (CO)
John G. Weinhofer (PA)
Charles D. Zahn (FL)

    The following 14 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:

Kenneth E. Brogden (NC)
Kevin E. Cooke (NC)
Lawrence G. Difolco (NJ)
Daniel E. Dingley (ME)
Richard S. Feicht (PA)
Raymond J. Freeman (TX)
Dana L. Guest (TN)
Anthony M. Hamilton (MO)
Parkinson B. James (NY)
Kevin R. Kerrigan (MI)
Ryan A. McCorkle (ID)
Russell D. Millican (OK)
Henry H. Rowen (MO)
Joseph A. Silva (MA)

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

Manuel R. Arciniega (NM)
Scott N. Clark (IA)

    The following four applicants did not have endocrinologists willing 
to make statements that they are able to operate CMVs from a diabetes 
standpoint:

Rodney G. Barber (GA)
Donald L. Russell (MD)
Anthony Sandoval (DE)
Fritz A. Thomas (NY)

    Sebastian H. Thomas (ME) is unable or has not demonstrated with 
willingness to properly monitor and manage his diabetes whether by a 
personal decision or medical inability.
    The following three applicants have peripheral neuropathy or 
circulatory insufficiency of the extremities likely to interfere with 
the ability to operate a CMV:

Joseph F. Houska (MI)
Richard B. Maurer (PA)
Keith A. Shaffer (PA)

    The following six 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:

Cody M. Burwell (SC)
Michael M. Dunkelberger (PA)
Robert L. Garcia (NM)
Caleb Strong (OR)
Blake A. Wing (MI)
Austin D. Yuill (IL)

    The following 21 applicants were exempt from the diabetes standard:

Duane D. Bredin (WA)
Milton Burel (TX)
Jose L. Cortes (TX)
Timothy J. Dryml (IA)

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Cindy E. Grimes (NE)
Gregory H. Harris (TX)
Anthony R. Howard (GA)
Kenneth D. Klein (WA)
Richard E. Lomicka (FL)
Kirby G. Lunsford (TX)
Thomas C. McGee (SC)
Henry J. Perry (NJ)
Jimmy D. Pharis (KY)
Michael A. Ralston (OH)
Wesley R. Schmid (CT)
Brett A. Smith (IN)
Kelly R. Toliver (CO)
Richard B. Walker (IN)
Wesley G. Walton (VA)
Anthony J. White (NY)
Spencer D. Wooden (WI)


    Issued on: July 19, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-15843 Filed 7-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P