Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision |
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Larry W. Minor
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
12 August 2020
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 12, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48756-48758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17555]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[Docket No. FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-2006-24015; FMCSA-2006-24783; FMCSA-
2008-0106; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-2011-0379; FMCSA-
2012-0104; FMCSA-2012-0159; FMCSA-2014-0002; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-
2014-0005; FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2015-0348; FMCSA-2016-0027; FMCSA-
2016-0028; FMCSA-2016-0029; FMCSA-2016-0030; FMCSA-2018-0012; FMCSA-
2018-0014]
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 32
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, 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-1999-6480; FMCSA-2006-24015; FMCSA-
2006-24783; FMCSA-2008-0106; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2010-0114; FMCSA-
2011-0379; FMCSA-2012-0104; FMCSA-2012-0159; FMCSA-2014-0002; FMCSA-
2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0005; FMCSA-2014-0007; FMCSA-2015-0348; FMCSA-
2016-0027; FMCSA-2016-0028;
[[Page 48757]]
FMCSA-2016-0029; FMCSA-2016-0030; FMCSA-2018-0012; FMCSA-2018-0014, 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
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.transportation.gov/privacy.
II. Background
On June 30, 2020, FMCSA published a notice announcing its decision
to renew exemptions for 32 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 (85 FR 39265). The public comment
period ended on July 30, 2020, 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 32 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).
As of August 1, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315, the following 15 individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (64 FR 68195; 65 FR 20251; 67 FR
17102; 69 FR 17267; 71 FR 16410; 71 FR 32183; 71 FR 41310; 73 FR 28186;
73 FR 36955; 75 FR 25917; 75 FR 27623; 75 FR 36779; 75 FR 39729; 77 FR
15184; 77 FR 27847; 77 FR 27850; 77 FR 29447; 77 FR 36338; 77 FR 38384;
77 FR 38386; 79 FR 10611; 79 FR 14571; 79 FR 22003; 79 FR 27043; 79 FR
27681; 79 FR 28588; 79 FR 29495; 79 FR 35218; 79 FR 35220; 79 FR 38649;
81 FR 6573; 81 FR 26305; 81 FR 28136; 81 FR 28138; 81 FR 39320; 81 FR
42054; 81 FR 66720; 81 FR 66722; 81 FR 66724; 81 FR 77173; 81 FR 90050;
81 FR 91239; 81 FR 96196; 83 FR 6919; 83 FR 24146; 83 FR 28320; 83 FR
28325; 83 FR 28332; 83 FR 34661; 83 FR 45749):
Daniel A. Bahm (FL)
Felix Barajas Ramirez (IL)
William C. Dempsey, Jr. (MA)
Miguel H. Espinoza (CA)
Troy L. Hargrave (MO)
Timothy B. Hummel (KY)
Darius R. Law (FL)
Randall L. Mathis (AL)
Cody N. McDonnell (OR)
Hassan Ourahou (KY)
Tommy L. Ray, Jr. (AL)
Elston L. Taylor (VA)
Steve A. Taylor (NC)
Ronald L. Walker (FL)
James C. Wechsler (OR)
The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-1999-6480; FMCSA-
2006-24783; FMCSA-2010-0082; FMCSA-2011-0379; FMCSA-2012-0104; FMCSA-
2014-0002; FMCSA-2014-0003; FMCSA-2014-0005; FMCSA-2015-0348; FMCSA-
2016-0027; FMCSA-2016-0028; FMCSA-2016-0029; FMCSA-2018-0012. Their
exemptions are applicable as of August 1, 2020, and will expire on
August 1, 2022.
As of August 6, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315, the following individual has satisfied the renewal conditions
for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in the FMCSRs
for interstate CMV drivers (77 FR 36336; 77 FR 46795; 79 FR 38661; 81
FR 90050; 83 FR 34661):
Jay Turner (OH)
The driver was included in docket number FMCSA-2012-0059. The
exemption is applicable as of August 6, 2020, and will expire on August
6, 2022.
As of August 8, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315, the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (79 FR 38659; 79 FR 53514; 81 FR
90050; 83 FR 34661):
Jimmy A. Baker (TX); David L. Miller (OH); and Cory J. Tivnan (WA)
The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2014-0007. Their
exemptions are applicable as of August 8, 2020, and will expire on
August 8, 2022.
As of August 9, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and
31315, the following three individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (75 FR 34210; 75 FR 47888; 77 FR
40945; 79 FR 40945; 81 FR 90050; 83 FR 34661):
Mark S. Berkheimer (PA); Michael A. Jabro (MI); and Buddy W. Myrick
(TX)
The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2010-0114. Their
exemptions are applicable as of August 9, 2020, and will expire on
August 9, 2022.
As of August 12, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, the following two individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (81 FR 45214; 81 FR 66726; 83 FR
34661):
Roger S. Orr (IA) and Keith R. Tyler (NC)
The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2018-0014. Their
exemptions are applicable as of August 12, 2020, and will expire on
August 12, 2022.
As of August 17, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, the following two individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for interstate CMV drivers (83 FR 33292; 83 FR 54644):
Joseph P. Markley (PA) and Curtis C. Williams (MO)
The drivers were included in docket number FMCSA-2018-0014. Their
exemptions are applicable as of August 17, 2020, and will expire on
August 17, 2022.
As of August 18, 2020, and in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, the following six individuals have satisfied the renewal
conditions for obtaining an exemption from the vision requirement in
the FMCSRs for
[[Page 48758]]
interstate CMV drivers (71 FR 14567; 71 FR 30228; 73 FR 28187; 73 FR
35197; 73 FR 35199; 73 FR 35200; 73 FR 35201; 73 FR 48275; 75 FR 44051;
77 FR 46153; 79 FR 46153; 81 FR 90050; 83 FR 34661):
Steven G. Harter (OR)
Robert W. McMillian (MA)
Ryan J. Reimann (WI)
Brandon J. See (IA)
Ricky L. Shepler (PA)
Nils S. Thornberg (OR)
The drivers were included in docket numbers FMCSA-2006-24015 and
FMCSA-2008-0106. Their exemptions are applicable as of August 18, 2020,
and will expire on August 18, 2022.
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).
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-17555 Filed 8-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P