Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35039-35040]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15836]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2017-0021]


Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

ACTION: Notice of denials.

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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its denial of 140 applications from 
individuals who requested an exemption from the Federal vision standard 
applicable to interstate truck and bus drivers and the reasons for the 
denials. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the 
vision 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 vision 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 140 individual exemption requests on 
their

[[Page 35040]]

merit 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 three applicants do not have sufficient driving 
experience over the past three years under normal highway operating 
conditions (limited hours):

Allen K. Anderson (TN)
Stephen M. D'Orazio (PA)
Jamie A. Edson (MI)

    The following 36 applicants had no experience operating a CMV:

Frederick T. Aguilar (WA)
Javier Anguiano (TX)
Lacresia M. Armstead (MS)
Zane L.E. Beddow (MN)
Dennis K. Bench (MT)
William D. Blasius (OH)
Todd Brown (IL)
Victor M. De La Cruz (NM)
Brandon A. Dees (OR)
Allen D. Ethridge (AR)
Joseph R. Garcia (NM)
Orelvis Gracia Dominguez (FL)
Clayton G. Grinnell (AL)
James W. Hanley (PA)
Jody R. Higdon (WV)
Dennis R. Ingraham (TX)
Brett D. Johnson (ND)
Marcus L. Jones (MS)
Donny D. Joseph, Jr. (TX)
Joseph A. Kennedy (ME)
Dustin W. Limberg (ND)
Henry M. Medlin (NM)
Dale W. Messenger (NM)
Rene O. Miranda (NV)
Fnu Muhabat (IL)
Raphael I.C. Olegario (MD)
Elijah B. Otis (DE)
Brenda L. Pino Feliciano (KY)
Frank Rodriguez (FL)
Jimmy W. Rowland (FL)
Edward B. Sullivan (TX)
Edward M. Vaillancourt (ID)
Noak O. Vong (KS)
Tywan R. Wilkerson (FL)
Dewayne M. Woodard (DE)
Mohammad J. Yousufzai (NJ)

    The following 13 applicants did not have three years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with their vision deficiencies:

Israel Aguilar Amaro (TX)
Brian P. Babcock (OH)
Thomas D. Carnall (IN)
John B. Casper (OK)
Anthony Dixon (NY)
Armando Dominguez (NJ)
William R. Fehlau (TX)
Daniel W. Hodge (TN)
Ron J. Kamys (OR)
Charles E. Miller (SC)
John G. Nicholson (CO)
Al D. Swiney (LA)
Edward J. Ustico (CT)

    The following eight applicants did not have three years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency:

Ralph M. Bickerdyke (NJ)
Joanne L. Harrison (OH)
Gary O. Johnson (TN)
Anthony E. Saum (AR)
Steven M. Shackleford (AL)
Justin O. Thompson (GA)
James E. White (CA)
Jock A. Yost (OK)

    The following five applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience during the past three years under normal highway operating 
conditions (gaps in driving record):

Cornelius J. Odendaal (ND)
Duane S. Owens (PA)
Richard F. Phillips (MA)
Lawrence B. Reyes (WA)
Larry L. Stewart (NC)

    William J. O'Neill (NJ) contributed to accident(s) in which the 
applicant was operating a CMV, which is a disqualifying offense.
    The following 22 applicants were denied for multiple reasons:

Jose R. Ayvar (IL)
Robert J. Briceno (CA)
Felix Burgos (DE)
Linwood V. Campbell (VA)
Andy M. Chambers (VA)
Russell D. Cooney (IA)
Casey D. Dresselhouse (MI)
Jerry B. Gibson (KY)
Marlon I. Godoy (CA)
Randall A. Hazelwood (IL)
Ray M. Hicks (MD)
Bruce F. Hunter (NJ)
Donnell V. Jones (MD)
John A. King (CO)
Jeffrey G. Laughlin (AR)
Michael R. Lynn (OH)
Jonathan Marin (NJ)
Jeffrey F. Moore (NC)
Danny Quiles (NJ)
Josue M. Rodriguez-Espinosa (CA)
Loyd B. Rolan (NM)
Cody Zappen (VT)

    The following seven applicants have not had stable vision for the 
preceding three year period:

Ronald E. Adams (NJ)
Douglas R. Barto (KS)
Jimmie E. Curtis (NM)
Robert O. Danner (MN)
Donald E. Ratliff (KY)
William F. Stroup (MT)
Christopher M. Worley (NC)

    The following eight applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants who meet the 
current regulations for vision:

Craig K. Benjamin (NY)
Brent M. Hanson (ND)
Antonio LaFata (IL)
Holland P. McLaughlin (NY)
Donald B. Pickering (TN)
Robert A. Severin (TX)
Barry W. Sharp (GA)
Regis S. Tornabene (PA)

    The following 32 applicants will not be driving interstate, 
intrastate commerce, or are not required to carry a DOT medical card:

Alex J. Albani (SC)
John R. Anders (PA)
Joni K. Asiryan (FL)
Jorge Balarezo(AK)
Pieter B. Banninga (KS)
Jason Beer (NE)
George N. Bitar (CA)
Jacob T. Boyd (NY)
Richard B. Bursaw (MA)
Cameron L. Card (FL)
Ronald L. Cooper (NC)
Hugo A. Cuevas vargas (ID)
Joshua W. Decker (NY)
William Dunaway (IL)
Douglas M. Frank (SD)
Favian C. Gutierrez (CA)
Alvin H. Horgdal (IA)
Thomas M. Langan (NE)
Jose L. Marinez (FL)
Adriana Marulanda (NJ)
Mario D. Molden (GA)
Hany A. Mousa (PA)
Mantez F. Owens (AL)
Robert W. Petrich (MN)
James H. Raiford (CT)
Michael L. Randazzo (NJ)
Michael Roedl (IL)
Roger C. Schmelzer (MO)
Joe L. Sledd (KY)
Felix Tillman (NJ)
Stephen A. Veats (WA)
Dale A. Wiesehan (IL)

    The following five applicants perform transportation for the 
Federal government, state, or any political sub-division of the state:

Robert A. Anderson (GA)
Stephen L. Hickinson (NJ)
James S. Hosmer (AL)
Peter J. Hoyt (NH)
Richard R. Roggeman (IN)

    Issued on: July 19, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-15836 Filed 7-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P