Document ID: FMCSA-2009-0233-0001
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision
Posted Date: 2009-08-26T04:00Z

[Federal Register: August 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 164)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43216-43217]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au09-144]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

 
Qualification of Drivers; Exemption Applications; Vision

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

ACTION: Notice of denials.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: FMCSA announces its denial of 138 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: Dr. Mary D. Gunnels, Director Medical 
Programs, 202-366-4001, U.S. Department of Transportation, FMCSA, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W64-224, Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office 
hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 2-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 out in 49 CFR part 381.
    Accordingly, FMCSA evaluated 138 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 his/her exemption 
request. Those decision letters fully outlined the basis for the denial 
and constitute final Agency action. The list published today summarizes 
the Agency's recent denials as required under 49 U.S.C. 31315(b)(4) by 
periodically publishing names and reasons for denials.
    The following 24 applicants lacked sufficient driving experience 
during the 3-year period prior to the date of their application: Henry 
P. Ashbacher, Edgar Berrios, Donald R. Bond, Kory J. Bortz, Joel S. 
Cadbury, Thomas J. Farrell, Robert M. Fleming, Larry F. Graves, Michael 
Hansen, Jackie L. Harris, David Hunt, Kelly Jasperson, Robert J. 
Korybski, Carl Kuhn, Ray S. Martin, Steven G. Mason, James M. 
McCormick, Anthony P. Mercer, Terry L. Mosel, Randy T. Richardson, 
Benjamin J. Schoenrock, Joseph M. Vlosich, Jr., William Walker, Harlan 
H. Zimmerman.
    The following 9 applicants did not have any experience operating a 
CMV: Philip W. Arneson, Wayne Hoyne, Edward L. Knutson, Juan Moreno, 
Jammie A. Noblit, Stephen W. Petro, Jr., Daniel Salazar, Bruce 
Shepherd, Andrew C. Simpson.
    The following 35 applicants did not have 3 years of experience 
driving a CMV on public highways with the vision deficiency: James W. 
Bittle, Jack A. Boyd, Charlene Brown, Steven W. Brown, John W. Caswell, 
Westcott Clarke, John Cooper, Thomas T. Currier, Ron L. Deering, Daniel 
DePaul, Wayne E. Easter, Brandy Jackson, Kelly L. Johnson, Max B. 
Kelso, James Koons, Craig C. Lowry, Ruben Lozano, Alan T. Lukosunas, 
Thomas M. Manz, Stephen G. McSpadden, Paul L. Medis, Bennis Monte, Greg 
A. Nichols, Edward J. Popow, Carrol R. Posey, Ricky A. Rahmlow, Dana L. 
Riggs, Johnny F. Rivera, Herdis Rumph, James S. Stevens, Kevin 
Sullivan, Earl L. Tanner, Andrew A. Thompson, David K. Walling, Jack 
Wood.
    The following 9 applicants did not have 3 years of recent 
experience driving a CMV with the vision deficiency: Carlos D. 
Castillo, Gerald E. Diedrich, Dale A. Kelso, Victor H. Lindsay, Michael 
E. Loudermilk, Larry Rapp, Ernest W. Roy, Richard M. Telliho, Douglas 
V. Williams.
    The following 24 applicants did not have sufficient driving 
experience over the past 3 years under normal highway operating 
conditions: Patrick D. Blair, Jason W. Bowers, Kenneth Bryant, Clifford 
C. Commeau, Jr., William R. Cummings, Diane DuMonte-Slater,

[[Page 43217]]

Richard P. Frederiksen, Johnny Gibson, John Knapp, Matthew P. 
Littleton, Robert R. Martin, John J. Mattefs, Randy A. Miller, Scott R. 
Miner, Francisco Montero, Francis E. Paquin, Armando Pedroso, Matias P. 
Quintanilla, Jim Sampson, John P. Stoetzel, Donald Stone, Terry G. 
Theberge, Albert Villa, Jr., Jack L. Woolever.
    One applicant, Gregory C. Simmons, had more than 2 commercial motor 
vehicle violations during the 3-year review period and/or application 
process. Each applicant is only allowed 2 moving citations.
    One applicant, Thomas E. Sprague, Jr., did not have sufficient 
peripheral vision in his better eye to qualify for an exemption.
    One applicant, Robert C. Hill, had other medical conditions making 
him unqualified under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. All 
applicants must meet all other physical qualifications standards in 49 
CFR 391.41(b)(1-13).
    The following 2 applicants had commercial driver's license 
suspensions during the 3-year review period in relation to a moving 
violation. Applicants do not qualify for an exemption with a suspension 
during the 3-year period: Steven F. Albro, Carlos Diaz.
    One applicant, David L. Napier, did not hold a license which 
allowed operation of vehicles over 10,000 pounds for all or part of the 
3-year period.
    One applicant, Elizel Martinez, did not have an Optometrist/
Ophthalmologist willing to state that he is able to operate a 
commercial vehicle from a vision standpoint.
    The following 9 applicants were denied for miscellaneous/multiple 
reasons: Walter Clark, James E. Cotton, Joseph E. Lochotzki, David C. 
Moran, Vincent R. Neville, Steven R. Parker, Enrique Perez, Justinie R. 
Phillips, Lee G. Smith.
    The following 2 applicants never submitted the required documents: 
Bernard Sippin, Michael E. Williams.
    Finally, the following 19 applicants met the current federal vision 
standards. Exemptions are not required for applicants that meet the 
current regulations for vision: Dennis Burdett, Brian J. Douglas, 
Clarence Elsea, Servando T. Escudero, Wayne Figroid, Shawn T. Girgen, 
Sandra L. Gravett, Daniel R. Hicks, Richard Hull, Eric L. Kinner, 
Luther B. Livingston, Thomas W. May, Spencer Melton, David M. Nelson, 
Tommy J. Shelton, Kent D. Tufvander, W. Hall Van Horn, Etienne D. 
Vincent, Ricky Wilkinson.

    Issued on: August 20, 2009.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy and Program Development.
[FR Doc. E9-20623 Filed 8-25-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P