75632 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 179 / Monday, September 16, 2024 / Notices 

situations you wouldn’t normally.’’ RJ’s 

Trucking & Logistics LLC stated, ‘‘I 

believe he should be exempt and the 

requirement should be discontinued. 

ELD does nothing but give brokers more 

power. Some use this as a way to fine 

you a load. If its [sic] about safety then 

why do some still let you get a load. 

There is nothing wrong with paper 

logs.’’ 

Of the 24 comments filed opposing 

the exemption, six were from trucking 

companies. The commenters who 

opposed granting the exemption 

emphasized placing safety first. Joint 

comments filed by the Truck Safety 

Coalition, Citizens for Reliable and 

Safety Highways, and Parents Against 

Tired Truckers stated that safety ‘‘must 

be the top priority, not the last to be 

addressed with whatever funds remain 

available. Safety has a cost, and it must 

be paid by all industry stakeholders if 

meaningful progress will be made in 

reducing truck crash deaths and 

injuries.’’ John Bowlby stated, ‘‘This 

exemption should not be granted. ELDs 

make it harder for drivers to cheat. A 

new business tight on cash flow would 

be tempted to cheat to make more 

money.’’ Some commenters also cited 

the relatively low cost of ELDs. An 

anonymous commenter stated, ‘‘I pay 

$300 a year for ELD. If you can’t afford 

that, how are you going to pay for safety 

related items. 1 tire costs more than 

that.’’ 

V. FMCSA Safety Analysis and 

Decision 

FMCSA evaluated GTLM’s 

application and the public comments 

and denies the exemption request. 

GTLM failed to establish that it would 

likely achieve a level of safety 

equivalent to, or greater than, the level 

achieved without the exemption. ELDs 

help drivers more accurately track 

driving time to ensure compliance with 

HOS regulations, which are designed to 

help drivers maintain alertness while 

operating CMVs. Additionally, ELDs 

decrease the likelihood that the RODS 

could be altered after the date the 

records were generated, without leaving 

an electronic trail. For these reasons, 

and as discussed in the amended 

rulemaking proceedings that established 

the ELD requirements [80 FR 78292], the 

Agency believes the level of safety 

provided by the use of ELDs is likely 

greater than that provided by the use of 

paper logs as an alternative. GTLM did 

not propose safety countermeasures to 

compensate for the lower level of safety 

that paper logs entail. Economic 

difficulties, such as those that GTLM 

described, do not justify the granting of 

an exemption. 

For the reasons stated, GTLM’s 

exemption application is denied. 

Vincent G. White, 

Deputy Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20931 Filed 9–13–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2024–0026] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Epilepsy and Seizure 

Disorders 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), Department 

of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of denials. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its 

decision to deny applications from 21 

individuals who requested an 

exemption from the Federal Motor 

Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) 

prohibiting persons with a clinical 

diagnosis of epilepsy or any other 

condition that is likely to cause a loss 

of consciousness or any loss of ability to 

operate a commercial motor vehicle 

(CMV) from operating CMVs in 

interstate commerce. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical 

Programs Division, FMCSA, Department 

of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001, (202) 366–4001, fmcsamedical@

dot.gov. 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 material in 

the docket, contact Dockets Operations, 

(202) 366–9826. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation 

A. Comments 

To view comments go to 

www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket 

number (FMCSA–2024–0026) in the 

keyword box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, 

choose the only notice listed, and click 

‘‘Browse Comments.’’ If you do not have 

access to the internet, you may view the 

docket online by visiting Dockets 

Operations on the ground floor of the 

DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. To be sure someone is there to 

help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or 

(202) 366–9826 before visiting Dockets 

Operations. 

B. Privacy Act 

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 

31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments 

from the public on the exemption 

request. 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 (Federal Docket Management 

System), which can be reviewed at 

https://www.transportation.gov/ 

individuals/privacy/privacy-act-systemrecords-notices, the comments are 

searchable by the name of the submitter. 

II. Background 

FMCSA received applications from 21 

individuals who requested an 

exemption from the FMCSRs 

prohibiting persons with a clinical 

diagnosis of epilepsy or any other 

condition that is likely to cause a loss 

of consciousness or any loss of ability to 

operate a CMV from operating CMVs 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 § 391.41(b)(8). 

III. Basis for Exemption Determination 

Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 

31315(b), FMCSA may grant an 

exemption from the FMCSRs for no 

longer than a 5-year period if it finds 

such exemption would likely achieve a 

level of safety that is equivalent to, or 

greater than, the level that would be 

achieved absent such exemption. The 

statute also allows the Agency to renew 

exemptions at the end of the 5-year 

period. FMCSA grants medical 

exemptions from the FMCSRs for a 2- 

year period to align with the maximum 

duration of a driver’s medical 

certification. 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 eligibility 

criteria 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 § 391.41(b)(8). 

Therefore, the 21 applicants in this 

notice have been denied exemptions 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 179 / Monday, September 16, 2024 / Notices 75633 

from the physical qualification 

standards in § 391.41(b)(8). 

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 

constitute 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 21 applicants do not 

meet the minimum time requirement for 

being seizure-free, either on or off antiseizure medication: 

Nolan Beck (CA) 

Christina Branch (NC) 

Marqui Bunting (WV) 

Michael Burke (SC) 

Gostave Dessources (NJ) 

Antonio Dominguez (TX) 

Justin Elliott (OH) 

Tyler Fleischauer (MN) 

Ronald Glasener (TN) 

Patrick Grimes (PA) 

Timothy Howard (NY) 

Dylan Huynh (FL) 

Zachary Lee (MI) 

Trent May (MD) 

Christian Mouton (LA) 

Steve Patterson (NC) 

Kevin Pustelak (PA) 

Antonio Reddick (FL) 

Christopher Aaron Rowe (VA) 

Steven Shirley (UT) 

Andrew Stevens (AR) 

Larry W. Minor, 

Associate Administrator for Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20926 Filed 9–13–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration 

[Docket No. FMCSA–2024–0015] 

Qualification of Drivers; Exemption 

Applications; Hearing 

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Administration (FMCSA), Department 

of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of applications for 

exemption; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces receipt of 

applications from 13 individuals for an 

exemption from the hearing requirement 

in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 

Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a 

commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in 

interstate commerce. If granted, the 

exemptions would enable these hard of 

hearing and deaf individuals to operate 

CMVs in interstate commerce. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before October 16, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by the Federal Docket 

Management System Docket No. 

FMCSA–2024–0015 using any of the 

following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov/, insert the docket 

number (FMCSA–2024–0015) in the 

keyword box and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, 

choose the only notice listed, and click 

on the ‘‘Comment’’ button. Follow the 

online instructions for submitting 

comments. 

• Mail: Dockets Operations; U.S. 

Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building 

Ground Floor, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001. 

• Hand Delivery: West Building 

Ground Floor, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 

SE, Washington, DC 20590–0001, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday 

through Friday, except Federal 

Holidays. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

To avoid duplication, please use only 

one of these four methods. See the 

‘‘Public Participation’’ portion of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 

instructions on submitting comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Christine A. Hydock, Chief, Medical 

Programs Division, FMCSA, DOT, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W64–224, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001, (202) 366– 

4001, fmcsamedical@dot.gov. Office 

hours are 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 Dockets Operations, (202) 366– 

9826. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation 

A. Submitting Comments 

If you submit a comment, please 

include the docket number for this 

notice (Docket No. FMCSA–2024–0015), 

indicate the specific section of this 

document to which each comment 

applies, and provide a reason for each 

suggestion or recommendation. You 

may submit your comments and 

material online or by fax, mail, or hand 

delivery, but please use only one of 

these means. FMCSA recommends that 

you include your name and a mailing 

address, an email address, or a phone 

number in the body of your document 

so that FMCSA can contact you if there 

are questions regarding your 

submission. 

To submit your comment online, go to 

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/ 

FMCSA-2024-0015. Next, sort the results 

by ‘‘Posted (Newer-Older),’’ choose the 

only notice listed, click the ‘‘Comment’’ 

button, and type your comment into the 

text box on the following screen. Choose 

whether you are submitting your 

comment as an individual or on behalf 

of a third party and then submit. 

If you submit your comments by mail 

or hand delivery, submit them in an 

unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 

11 inches, suitable for copying and 

electronic filing. FMCSA will consider 

all comments and material received 

during the comment period. 

B. Viewing Comments 

To view comments go to 

www.regulations.gov. Insert the docket 

number (FMCSA–2024–0015) in the 

keyword box and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, 

choose the only notice listed, and click 

‘‘Browse Comments.’’ If you do not have 

access to the internet, you may view the 

docket online by visiting Dockets 

Operations on the ground floor of the 

DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590– 

0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. To be sure someone is there to 

help you, please call (202) 366–9317 or 

(202) 366–9826 before visiting Dockets 

Operations. 

C. Privacy Act 

In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 

31315(b)(6), DOT solicits comments 

from the public on the exemption 

requests. 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 (Federal Docket Management 

System), which can be reviewed at 

https://www.transportation.gov/ 

individuals/privacy/privacy-act-systemrecords-notices, the comments are 

searchable by the name of the submitter. 

II. Background 

Under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e) and 

31315(b), FMCSA may grant an 

exemption from the FMCSRs for no 

longer than a 5-year period if it finds 

such exemption would likely achieve a 

level of safety that is equivalent to, or 

greater than, the level that would be 

achieved absent such exemption. The 

statutes also allow the Agency to renew 

exemptions at the end of the 5-year 

period. FMCSA grants medical 

exemptions from the FMCSRs for a 2- 

year period to align with the maximum 

duration of a driver’s medical 

certification. 

The 13 individuals listed in this 

notice have requested an exemption 

from the hearing requirement in 49 CFR 


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